Betty Blue Eyes Posts Early Closing Notices, 24 Sep
Cameron Mackintosh‘s first original musical production in over a decade, Betty Blue Eyes has posted closing notices at the West End’s Novello Theatre. The Stiles and Drewe-scored show, which is a screen-to-stage adaption of A Private Function, will play its last performance on 24 September 2011 after a run of six months. The musical comedy had been booking until 28 January 2012.
In a press statement released this evening Mackintosh continued: “It is very curious – after such amazing reviews and positive word of mouth, no-one knows the real reason why Betty couldn’t find a bigger audience. We have been consistently playing to just over 50% (of capacity) but it just isn’t enough to cover the costs. Of course I am disappointed but I’m not despondent, I am enormously proud of Betty. I know that she will eventually have her day and another life.”
Betty Blue Eyes, which opened at the Novello Theatre on 13 April 2011 (previews from 19 March), is helmed by former National Theatre director Richard Eyre. The action is set in a Yorkshire village after the Second World War, where rationing presents a challenge for the locals who want to celebrate the Queen’s Royal wedding to Prince Philip in style.
Looking to slaughter an illegally raised pig (a blue-eyed creature named Betty) for the event, chaos ensues when the sow is stolen and a food inspector arrives, determined to stop such activities.
The production’s cast includes Sarah Lancashire, Reece Shearsmith, David Bamber, Jack Edwards, Ann Emery, Mark Meadows and Adrian Scarborough.
The show, the first completely new musical produced by Cameron Mackintosh in over ten years, features a book by Americans Ron Cowen and Daniel Lipman with music and lyrics by British writing partnership George Stile and Anthony Drewe.
