New blow for Sheridan Smith as ticket prices on under-fire West End show are slashed and seat filling service is used
SHERIDAN Smith’s under-fire West End play Opening Night has seen its ticket prices slashed in a fresh blow.
Not only are there huge discounts but the production has also turned to a seat-filling service to draw people in.
Punters can now pick up tickets for the final two weeks of the disastrous run for just £15.
Band A tickets inside the Gielgud Theatre were £106 at full price but can now be picked up for a mere £25, while £88 seats are going for £15.
The much-maligned stage play, which premiered on March 6, was due to wrap up on July 27, however it will now close on May 18 after disappointing reviews and sales.
There were reports of audience members falling asleep and walking out.
The MailOnline reported that one person was seen nodding off before being woken by Sheridan’s singing.
One person told the publication: “It was terrible. This is the first time I’ve walked out from a West End play. It was just very confusing – none of us got what they were trying to do.
“I thought Sheridan was fantastic but I couldn’t work out whether she was the main character in the play or one of the supporting cast.”
Producers Wessex Grove confirmed that the show would be coming to a revised end in a statement.
It said: “It is an honour to produce this beautiful new musical in the West End, and everyone at Wessex Grove is proud to have delivered the artistic vision of Ivo Van Hove and Rufus Wainwright and their incredible team, led by the exquisite Sheridan Smith.
“In a challenging financial landscape, Opening Night was always a risk and, while the production may not have had the life we had hoped for, we feel immensely proud of the risk we took and of this extraordinary production.
“Our world class cast delivers a brilliant show night after night, and there are still five weeks left to see Sheridan Smith in the role of a lifetime.
“What is sure-fire and safe has its place. But Wessex Grove exists to produce great artists in the West End and to provide the space for original, artist-led productions in the commercial sector, productions exactly like Opening Night.
“We’re grateful for all of the support everyone has given us as we made this show, and look forward to celebrating the rest of the run.”
Before the the show launched Sheridan was optimistic about the run and revealed she had to have the part, drawing parallels between her own stage meltdown eight years ago and that of her fictional lead Myrtle Gordon.
NEW ROLE
She seems unscathed by the play’s poor performance.
This week we revealed she is set to play Ann Ming, who fought for 15 years to change the “double jeopardy” law — which stopped people being tried twice for the same crime, after her daughter Julie Hogg was murdered by her former partner in 1989.
A source said: “Sheridan is taking on the role for a new ITV drama based on Ann’s book, For The Love Of Julie.
“Ann campaigned tirelessly to change the 800-year-old double jeopardy law and saw Julie’s killer, Billy Dunlop, eventually jailed for life.
“She will work with Sheridan and ITV on the four-part drama which will follow Ann’s fight for justice for Julie.
“It is an incredibly emotional story and Sheridan has promised Ann she will do her, and Julie, proud.
“Filming will start later this year.”
Ann discovered Julie’s body hidden behind a bath panel at her home 80 days after she first went missing in November 1989.
Two years later, Dunlop, a former boyfriend of Julie’s, was tried twice at Newcastle Crown Court for killing her.
On both occasions the jury failed to reach a verdict — leading the second trial judge to order that he should be formally acquitted.
He later confessed to killing Julie, who was 22 when she was killed, and bragged he had got away with the “perfect murder”. The ancient double jeopardy law meant Dunlop could not be tried again.
Ann worked to change the law and in 2005 finally made it happen.
A year later, Dunlop was jailed for life and became the first killer to be convicted under the new legislation.
Ann and Julie’s story was made into a Channel 5 documentary, The Incident Room, last year.
Speaking to our newspaper at the time, Ann said: “I’m pleased I have made a difference.
“I was just a one-man band, writing letters into the night.”