The play wrote on Twitter that its screening in London will end on June 12, less than a year after its opening, with the theater’s impresario planning a Broadway release for next year. Many productions have struggled with the cast and crew being isolated due to COVID, beyond a long period of being forced to close due to the lockdown. Cary Hope Fletcher, who plays Cinderella, hinted that she was outraged by how they were told they were losing their jobs. She wrote on Twitter: “I think I have no words. And if I had them, they would probably advise me not to say them. I send love to all those who were affected by today’s news and how this news was transmitted.” Image: Lord Lloyd Webber said he was “devastated” when Cinderella was forced to stop because of the Omicron variant earlier this year The cast members were notified in a message from management shortly before Sunday’s show, according to entertainment site Deadline. He reportedly thanked staff for the “countless contributions” and said there was “deep sadness”, but cited the “incredible challenge” of launching a new show amid the pandemic.
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Several actors who are going to take on roles in the coming months have also expressed their shock. Summer Stralen wrote on Twitter that she found out that she was “fired through social media” after a friend sent her an article. She posted a moving video of herself reacting to the news. Bake Off and Strictly Come Dancing star John Whaite was set to take on the role of Prince Charming in July, saying the series’s death was “heartbreaking” – especially for the current cast and crew. He said on Instagram: “I was lucky enough to watch Cinderella in December 2021 and it was one of the most wonderful musicals I have seen in a long time. “I was so excited to be part of the cast, it was a life dream come true, but unfortunately it is not right now. Who knows what the future holds – I will not lose hope.” The Equity union called the closure of the show an “abusive attack on Cinderella’s dignity” and said staff should be compensated. In a previous statement, Lord Lloyd Webber said he was “incredibly proud” of the show. “Not only did it receive some of the best reviews of my career, but we were led to reopen the West End, ensuring that theater and live entertainment remained relevant to the news,” he added. “While creating a new show in the middle of COVID was an incredible challenge, we kept the government’s feet on fire throughout the change of heart during the pandemic.” Cinderella premiered only in August, having been rescheduled for COVID isolation protocols. In late December, Lord Lloyd Webber said he was “utterly devastated” after being forced to close by February due to a disturbance caused by the Omicron variant. He has repeatedly accused the government of not doing enough to support the theater industry during the pandemic.
