Dazzling: Harry Clarke, at the Ambassadors Theatre, reviewed

Sheridan Smith’s new show is more a mystery than a musical. Opening Night is based on a 1977 film by John Cassavetes that failed to attract a major US distributor. After opening briefly in LA, it vanished without trace. It’s a backstage drama about a tattooed drunk, Myrtle, who accepts the lead role in a new play which she starts to dislike. Realising her error, she tries to improve the script at the rehearsals and during preview performances ahead of the opening on Broadway. In real life, an actor who sabotaged a show like this would be fired and replaced. But never mind. This is make-believe.

Myrtle’s attempts to vandalise the script are opposed by the producer, the director and the writer, and they each moan to her in private about her behaviour. Myrtle is a tricky customer who seems to alienate everyone she meets and it’s hard to care about her squabbling over a few lines in a pretentious play.