Fans were incensed when a Coronation Street star’s new musical was canceled “with immediate effect” just hours before the performance began.
It wasn’t to be. Former Coronation Street favorite Catherine Tyldesley, who portrayed Eva Price in the ITV soap opera for seven years, was supposed to lead a new musical adaptation of Bonnie and Clyde. Although Mail Online reported that the show was “financially unviable” due to low ticket sales, the show’s five-star reviews and standing ovations left fans stunned.
Only hours before Catherine was scheduled to hit the stage in Southend, the show was abruptly canceled, ending her run as gangster Blanche Barrow. The April premiere of the show was originally scheduled to run through October, but fans were confused by the most recent announcement.
The production team issued the following statement on Twitter: “The UK and Ireland tour of Bonnie & Clyde the Musical will end immediately. We would like to express our gratitude to the incredibly talented and dedicated cast and crew, whose show has delighted thousands of people nationwide.”
They further stated that “ticket holders will be contacted by their point of purchase shortly with further information” . For some fans, who had traveled hundreds of miles by train to witness their favorite soap opera star perform in a new format, that wasn’t good enough.
The team was called “disgraceful,” particularly by those who had left for Tuesday’s performance at Cliffs Pavilion in Southend before learning of the unfortunate development. “A disgraceful decision to do this half way through a tour and just hours before a show in which people have travelled for,” wrote one person on Twitter.
“Play the remaining shows, pay your talented cast, and declare the event a loss at that point. No show or tour should ever be led by your producers again!”
A different fan complained: “Well done to your producers for ruining a great show with a cult following that’ll now be lost.”
They went on: “You should have used the word “cancelled” instead of “conclude.” A shameful choice made mere hours before a series of Southend performances to which people had already made travel arrangements!”
Some expressed their shock and disappointment at the news, calling the show unfairly “underrated.”
According to Mail Online, Bonnie & Clyde The Musical’s representatives informed the publication that the show would be ending its UK and Ireland tour immediately.
“The Best New Musical winner at the Whatsonstage Awards kicked off its national tour at Leicester Curve in February, to standing ovations and reviews ranging from five stars at various locations around the nation.
Sadly, it has been determined that the tour is no longer financially feasible to continue because of the underwhelming ticket sales.
“We would like to thank the extremely hard working and endlessly talented cast and company that have entertained thousands of audience members across the country with this production.”
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