After receving scathing notices from London critics, the Alexandre Dumas-based musical Behind the Iron Mask will go out of the Duchess Theatre. The swashbuckling show will close on August 20th; it opened on August 2nd.
The recent drop-off in West End business after the tragic London terror attacks has been cited by producers as the reason for the show's premature closing, but the London papers gave it a unanimous drubbing, with Lyn Gardner of The Guardian proclaiming," This musical three-hander is not Dumas the elder or even Dumas the younger, but entirely Dumas the dumber." Paul Taylor of The Independent scoffed, "There were weird, vacant moments when it seemed to run completely out of
steam, as though, like its audience, it was losing the will to live." Starring Sheila Ferguson (lead singer of The Third Degrees, Thoroughly Modern Millie in London) and Robert Fardell (Les Miserables in London), the show features music and lyrics by John Robinson ("A Tale of Two Cities" for CBS, the ballet Alice Through the Looking Glass) and a book by Colin Scott and Melinda Walker;
Tony Craven directs the romantic musical, which boasts designs by Nicolai Hart Hansen, lighting by Tim Mascall and sound by Mark Dunne, as well as music direction by Alisdair MacNeill. Behind the Iron Mask is presented by GBM Productions.
Behind the Iron Mask
is based on the romantic legend of the Man in the Iron Mask (which
inspired the novel on which it is based). Unjustly imprisoned by King
Louis XIV, the title character forms relationships with his mysterious
jailer Monsieur St. Mars, as well as a gypsy (played by Ferguson). For more information on Behind the Iron Mask, call (0)870 890 1103.
