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Sheridan Smith to miss Funny Girl performance for third night running Sheridan Smith to miss Funny Girl performance for third night running
(35 minutes later)
Sheridan Smith pulled out of her second consecutive performance of West End play Funny Girl on Tuesday night after saying she “wasn’t strong enough”. Sheridan Smith has pulled out of her third consecutive performance of the West End play Funny Girl on Wednesday evening after saying she is not strong enough.
Her leading role as Fanny Brice was instead taken on by her understudy, leaving it uncertain whether Smith will continue for the five months left of the show. Her leading role as Fanny Brice will be taken on by her understudy, leaving it uncertain whether Smith will continue for the remaining five-month run.
Related: Fanny, Barbra and Sheridan: Funny Girl on stage and screen – in picturesRelated: Fanny, Barbra and Sheridan: Funny Girl on stage and screen – in pictures
Smith, 34, missed a performance on Monday night after angrily responding to suggestions in the press she had been a sore loser at the Baftas for missing out on the best actress award for her role as the cancer blogger Lisa Lynch in The C Word. Smith, 34, first missed a performance on Monday night after angrily responding to suggestions in the press that she had been a sore loser at the Baftas for missing out on the best actress award for her role as the cancer blogger Lisa Lynch in The C Word.
On Twitter, she accused the press of “bullying”, adding that she had had “the best night in memory of my girl Lisa Lynch!”On Twitter, she accused the press of “bullying”, adding that she had had “the best night in memory of my girl Lisa Lynch!”
The Savoy Theatre later issued a statement that Smith was “indisposed” and would be replaced by her understudy, Natasha Barnes. The Savoy theatre later issued a statement that Smith was “indisposed” and would be replaced by her understudy, Natasha Barnes.
Smith responded to disappointed ticket holders by writing: “Well done press! U let down me, the cast & everyone who spent money to see me. I apologise profusely! Sorry! Sorry I’m not strong enough!”Smith responded to disappointed ticket holders by writing: “Well done press! U let down me, the cast & everyone who spent money to see me. I apologise profusely! Sorry! Sorry I’m not strong enough!”
Just before her performance on Tuesday, the Savoy theatre again announced that Barnes would take on the role of Fanny Brice and Smith’s publicist would not confirm when she will return to the stage. Shortly before her performance on Tuesday, the Savoy theatre again stated that Barnes would take on the role of Fanny Brice because of the “indisposition” of Smith, and then repeated the same announcement on Wednesday afternoon. Smith’s representative has not confirmed when she will return to the stage.
Due to the indisposition of Sheridan Smith, Fanny Brice will be played by Natasha J Barnes at today’s matinee & evening perfs of Funny Girl
Smith spent much of Monday responding on Twitter to trolls who criticised her for dropping out of her performance.Smith spent much of Monday responding on Twitter to trolls who criticised her for dropping out of her performance.
She wrote: “Sat behind your computer u little geek, love to see what u look like. Come say your s*** to my face & let’s see what happens.” She later made her Twitter account private.She wrote: “Sat behind your computer u little geek, love to see what u look like. Come say your s*** to my face & let’s see what happens.” She later made her Twitter account private.
Related: Sheridan Smith's Funny Girl is a masterclass in musical comedyRelated: Sheridan Smith's Funny Girl is a masterclass in musical comedy
Smith also alluded to her “dad dying”, suggesting that she was struggling with the recent news that her father, who she is very close to, was recently diagnosed with cancer, the same disease that killed her brother.Smith also alluded to her “dad dying”, suggesting that she was struggling with the recent news that her father, who she is very close to, was recently diagnosed with cancer, the same disease that killed her brother.
In March she accused producers of “pressuring” her into returning to the show. Shortly after, a performance of Funny Girl was pulled 15 minutes in, following accusations that Smith was drunk on stage and slurring her words, though her publicist said this was “categorically not true”.In March she accused producers of “pressuring” her into returning to the show. Shortly after, a performance of Funny Girl was pulled 15 minutes in, following accusations that Smith was drunk on stage and slurring her words, though her publicist said this was “categorically not true”.
Graham Norton’s opening monologue at the Baftas appeared to contain a joke at Smith’s expense, when he quipped: “We’re all excited for a couple of drinks tonight. Or, as it’s known in theatrical circles, a few glasses of ‘technical difficulties’.”Graham Norton’s opening monologue at the Baftas appeared to contain a joke at Smith’s expense, when he quipped: “We’re all excited for a couple of drinks tonight. Or, as it’s known in theatrical circles, a few glasses of ‘technical difficulties’.”
Smith had received glowing reviews for her performance as Fanny Brice, a role that was responsible for catapulting Barbra Streisand to fame on Broadway in 1964. It became the fastest-selling show at the Menier Chocolate Factory theatre in London before transferring to the West End this year. Smith had received glowing reviews for her performance as Brice, a role that was responsible for catapulting Barbra Streisand to fame on Broadway in 1964. It became the fastest-selling show at the Menier Chocolate Factory theatre in London before transferring to the West End this year.