Brexit didn’t ruin Rufus Wainwright’s musical

Blaming Brexit for everything has become a kind of tic among the great and good. Like the buck-passing politicians who used to blame everything on Brussels, the cultural elites have taken to blaming all manner of ills on the British people’s revolt against the EU back in 2016. Economic stagnation? Brexit! Covid deaths? Brexit! Poor mental-health provision? That’s the fault of Brexit, too – according to some Guardianistas, at least. 

Now we have learned of Vote Leave’s latest, innocent victim: Rufus Wainwright’s West End prospects. According to the singer-songwriter and composer, Brexit is to blame for the poor reception to his show, Opening Night, which has closed early after some bad reviews and audience walkouts. This Sheridan Smith-fronted musical, Wainwright’s first foray into the genre, apparently drew on more avant-garde influences and so sailed right over the heads of the unenlightened English.