The Drowsy Chaperone, the spoof 1920s musical at the Novello, is to close on 4 August, just two months after its opening night. It had been booking until 23 February 2008.
According to producer Kevin McCollum, the comedy musical, which stars Elaine Paige in the title role, has been slow to sell. In a statement he said: “London ticket sales for our show have been slower than needed to sustain a longer run at the Novello. Whilst regrettably having made the decision to close the show we are pleased to have brought this wonderfully original new musical to the West End with a first class company who have brought to life a production we are incredibly proud of.”
The Drowsy Chaperone started life in Canada, where it was written in its initial form by Lisa Lambert, Greg Morrison and Don McKellar as a wedding gift for their friends Bob Martin and Janet Van De Graaff. Martin then came on board to develop the 40-minute piece into a full length show. The Drowsy Chaperone subsequently ran on Broadway where it picked up several Tony Awards in 2006, including Best Original Score.
It tells the story of a lonely musical theatre fan, known only as Man In Chair, who listens to the recording of his favourite show, the 1928 musical The Drowsy Chaperone, to cheer himself up. As he does so, the musical comes to life in his apartment. It tells of pampered Broadway starlet Janet who intends to give up stardom to marry her debonair groom, her producer who sets out to sabotage the wedding, a Latin lover, a pair of gangsters-come-pastry-chefs and the starlet’s diminutive chaperone.
In addition to Paige, the London show currently stars co-book writer Martin as Man In Chair, with Steve Pemberton scheduled to take over the role on 10 July, Summer Strallen as Janet, Anne Rogers as Mrs Tottendale and Nickolas Grace as Underling.
To book tickets for The Drowsy Chaperone .
CB