Sheridan Smith
Sheridan Smith
#1Sheridan Smith
Posted: 5/1/16 at 4:55am
A previous post was deleted, but national newspapers are reporting that Ms Smith was drunk onstage. I hope this isn't true but both she and the management are being spectacularly unpersuasive with their denials.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/04/30/sheridan-smith-denies-being-drunk-after-funny-girl-performance-i/
nataliealana
Stand-by Joined: 2/4/13
#2Sheridan Smith
Posted: 5/1/16 at 8:02am
I read something about her being totally miserable in the show and at war with the producers. Is this from them urging her back to work too early or is there something else?
#3Sheridan Smith
Posted: 5/1/16 at 5:17pm
This show seemed to be blessed by the gods as it came together- now it seems it has invoked their wrath...
Ouch! And now:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3568603/Revealed-Sheridan-Smith-locked-dressing-room-slurring-stage-meltdown.html
scampsweep
Stand-by Joined: 8/25/07
#4Sheridan Smith
Posted: 5/2/16 at 6:28am
Absolutely appallingly unprofessional behaviour. I have little sympathy for Sheridan Smith. Whatever her gripes with producers, you sort them out behind the scenes. The ticket-paying fans deserve better than that. I know they have offered ticket exchanges, but many people have travelled a long way to see the show and now may have to fork out further travel expenses (often very costly) to see a different performance. Trips to London to see a show are a luxury to many people. She may well be very good in the role, but 'star quality' encompasses much more than just performing. Sorry to rant, but lots of people have problems of one kind or another in their jobs - and in jobs that pay a lot less in terms of salary - but they get on with the daily job of the task in hand!
#5Sheridan Smith
Posted: 5/2/16 at 9:02am
scampsweep said: "Absolutely appallingly unprofessional behaviour. I have little sympathy for Sheridan Smith. Whatever her gripes with producers, you sort them out behind the scenes. The ticket-paying fans deserve better than that. I know they have offered ticket exchanges, but many people have travelled a long way to see the show and now may have to fork out further travel expenses (often very costly) to see a different performance. Trips to London to see a show are a luxury to many people. She may well be very good in the role, but 'star quality' encompasses much more than just performing. Sorry to rant, but lots of people have problems of one kind or another in their jobs - and in jobs that pay a lot less in terms of salary - but they get on with the daily job of the task in hand!
"
As much as I feel bad for the paying customers, I think you should let Sheridan be human and let her have her fight with the producers and put the understudy on. Just my opinion.
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
Signed,
Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
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scampsweep
Stand-by Joined: 8/25/07
#6Sheridan Smith
Posted: 5/2/16 at 9:40am
Yes, of course she is human, but she is also a professional - and that comes with a responsibility to the show and the ticket-paying public. Plus, she is being paid handsomely for doing her job. Putting the understudy on does affect producers, but the audience deserves better. If, indeed, she was drunk (as was widely reported), that shows complete disrespect to the audience, many of whom have travelled and spent hard-earned cash to be there. Being human or not, this kind of disregard for the audience is unacceptable by any performer.
#7Sheridan Smith
Posted: 5/2/16 at 11:06am
Her behaviour does appear to be selfish: if she is not in the right frame of mind to perform, the least she could do is accept the understudy going on.
kp
Understudy Joined: 8/14/04
#8Sheridan Smith
Posted: 5/3/16 at 1:47am
For the people who are saying that her behaviour is being selfish and unprofessional, you might want to consider that she is ill. I am not saying she is because like everyone, we don't really have the facts. However, it is quite possible that she is suffering from depression or anxiety or another illness, which make her behave erratically. If that is the case, she needs help and support.
nataliealana
Stand-by Joined: 2/4/13
#9Sheridan Smith
Posted: 5/3/16 at 7:57am
I definitely thought that Daily Mail article read more like some kind of manic episode than alcohol related.
But, it's the daily mail.
#10Sheridan Smith
Posted: 5/3/16 at 10:48am
kp said: "For the people who are saying that her behaviour is being selfish and unprofessional, you might want to consider that she is ill. I am not saying she is because like everyone, we don't really have the facts. However, it is quite possible that she is suffering from depression or anxiety or another illness, which make her behave erratically. If that is the case, she needs help and support."
Agreed. But that is what company managers, agents, (business managers even), and producers should be doing so that we don't get to the point where shows gets cancelled.
Spotlight61
Broadway Star Joined: 8/28/06
#11Sheridan Smith
Posted: 5/4/16 at 6:54am
All other parties; producers, agents and the company manager are behaving responsibly and professionally.
The majority of what we are learning about Ms. Smith's behaviour is either from social media or the red tops. She has made use of this to criticise the producers for their stance towards her but has not admitted her irresponsible behaviour has affected the production.
All other parties are being professional and not issuing statements or making use of Twitter to play out this sad situation.
All other parties are in a difficult place. The producers can't do right for doing wrong. But I strongly suspect that the box office for this show is potntially suffering as the game of 'will she appear/won't she appear' creates an uncertainty in the theatre going public.
Sheridan Smith's 'star' reaches beyond theatre because of her high profile award winning/nominated performances on TV screens.
What is eveident from her behaviour and the need to portray herself as the 'victim' is that she is a person beset with emotional based insecurities and this often requires validation from others. However, when your behaviour begins to impact upon them, this make that validation all the more difficult to command or merit. When this isn't forthcoming from those immediately around you, you then have a situation that requires more professional based help and intervention.
The producers may see fit to give her time out to seek this help but as the show is sold on Sheridan's name, this creates a difficulty in terms of promoting the show unless they are able to secure the services of another star name.
I suspect that the producers in conjunction with all other parties involved will be working tirelessly and discreetly behind the scenes to find a resolution to this problem and one that I hope doesn't mean cancelling the show altogether and thereby putting out of work her fellow cast and crew.
But I hope a resolution will be forthcoming and soon and one that offers Ms. Smith the time-out she needs to seek the help she obviously needs and the producers the opportunity to recoup the vast sums of money they have invested in this production.
#12Sheridan Smith
Posted: 5/4/16 at 9:09am
I'm sorry- I didn't intend to suggest those people were not offering support. I meant that it shouldn't be expected from the print media or social media- that's not what they are about.
Spotlight61
Broadway Star Joined: 8/28/06
#13Sheridan Smith
Posted: 5/9/16 at 5:36am
At last night's BAFA TV Awards, the host Graham Norton made a joke that has, it appears, caused some offence, with Sheridan Smith in the sudience, having been nominated in the Best Actress catergory for The C Word.
Graham said; the sooner we hand these out (the awards) the sooner we can, as they say in theatrical circles, have a glass or two of 'technical difficulties'.
Today Ms. Smith has taken to Twitter and asked that people stop the bullying. Is it bullying to mention something and make light of an issue that is already in the public domain?
Doesn't Ms. Smith's reply show her attempting to be the victim of the scenario and not the perpetrator of the drama that her behaviour created on stage?
Was it a joke too far?
#14Sheridan Smith
Posted: 5/9/16 at 6:06am
I wish the term 'bullying' would only be used where it is actually appropriate. Crying wolf undermines situations where real bullying occurs.
I love the idea of 'technical difficulties' becoming a generally used euphemism as in "this weekend I plan to get totally technical difficultied!"
Spotlight61
Broadway Star Joined: 8/28/06
#15Sheridan Smith
Posted: 5/9/16 at 6:55am
You're right, it's a perfect euphenmism for all alcohol related sessions.
I look forward to having a few technical difficulties after tonights performance!
However, I suspect that some will experience more technical difficulties than others.
#16Sheridan Smith
Posted: 5/9/16 at 7:25am
Yes, it was a joke too far and, while its not bullying in its most pernicious form, I have every sympathy for Ms Smith on this one. Her father is seriously (possibly terminally) ill and the last thing she needs is someone making fun of her struggles on national TV. It may already be in the public domain, but Graham Norton has made even more of it by his crass and tasteless remark.
Spotlight61
Broadway Star Joined: 8/28/06
#17Sheridan Smith
Posted: 5/10/16 at 4:36am
..and so the drama continues for all parties concerned.
A night after attending the high profile BAFTA Awards, Ms. Smith misses Monday nights performance of Funny Girl.
#19Sheridan Smith
Posted: 5/10/16 at 9:03am
Im just wondering the general consensus across the board... Do you feel sorry for Sheridan? Or do you think she is acting unprofessionally and should pull herself together?
Selfishly I want her to pull herself together as I have tickets to see Funny Girl in July. She was the readon I wanted to see the show. I loved her in Cilla and the C-Word. I also saw in her Legally Blonde. She is a great actress.
She has a lot going on at the moment with her fathers illness, but I think she needs to take a break from social media. She's almost creating more bad press for herself.
Whatever the situation is I hope she pulls throw and sorts her head out. Clearly she's not having an easy time of it at the moment!
AnnieBlack
Leading Actor Joined: 4/3/14
#20Sheridan Smith
Posted: 5/10/16 at 9:08am
She seems to be trolling the media as much as the media is trolling her- I can see why some artists stay away from social media altogether, and I think she should be one of those people. Great talent, but this is sad to watch.
decast
Understudy Joined: 10/2/14
#21Sheridan Smith
Posted: 5/10/16 at 11:11am
My mum has terminal cancer and I'm her sole carer and I'm holding down a full time job so I understand what stress and emotional onslaught is, and as much as I feel for Sheridan dealing with an ill parent, life has to go one, we deal, and we do our job, it can even be cathartic and an escape sometimes. My sympathy dissolved slightly after all of the fall out from the BAFTAs. Graham Norton made a joke, people commented on her bad loser face on social media. It happens all the time to performers, I'm sure if half of them really paid attention to things like that they'd never get out of bed. I don't see it as much of an excuse to then drop out of the show the next night to be honest. If she needs actual time off, talk to the producers and arrange a block of time, or sort out a few shows a week that she just doesn't go on on a schedule. I'm sure the production itself is wonderful but the fact is people are buying tickets to see her and the backlash will only increase if she keeps dropping out of shows at random on the day.
#22Sheridan Smith
Posted: 5/10/16 at 11:48am
decast said: "My mum has terminal cancer and I'm her sole carer and I'm holding down a full time job so I understand what stress and emotional onslaught is, and as much as I feel for Sheridan dealing with an ill parent, life has to go one, we deal, and we do our job, it can even be cathartic and an escape sometimes. My sympathy dissolved slightly after all of the fall out from the BAFTAs. Graham Norton made a joke, people commented on her bad loser face on social media. It happens all the time to performers, I'm sure if half of them really paid attention to things like that they'd never get out of bed. I don't see it as much of an excuse to then drop out of the show the next night to be honest. If she needs actual time off, talk to the producers and arrange a block of time, or sort out a few shows a week that she just doesn't go on on a schedule. I'm sure the production itself is wonderful but the fact is people are buying tickets to see her and the backlash will only increase if she keeps dropping out of shows at random on the day.
"
I couldn't agree more with this post!
AnnieBlack
Leading Actor Joined: 4/3/14
#23Sheridan Smith
Posted: 5/10/16 at 11:55am
There are a ton of actors, stagehands, dressers, ushers, publicists, assistants, etc whose income is dependent on one person right now, and that person is Sheridan Smith- and who knows who those people are taking care of in their own lives. While things may be tough for her, she did make the decision to move this show to the West End, solely on her shoulders & her name. While I feel bad for the travails in her life right now, I feel a lot worse for the other people who are potentially affected if this show closes because she doesn't want to go on stage.
#24Sheridan Smith
Posted: 5/10/16 at 11:58am
AnnieBlack said: "There are a ton of actors, stagehands, dressers, ushers, publicists, assistants, etc whose income is dependent on one person right now, and that person is Sheridan Smith- and who knows who those people are taking care of in their own lives. While things may be tough for her, she did make the decision to move this show to the West End, solely on her shoulders & her name. While I feel bad for the travails in her life right now, I feel a lot worse for the other people who are potentially affected if this show closes because she doesn't want to go on stage.
"
Obviously this is speculation... But is Sheridan was to pull out the only comfort the producers can take from it is the musical itself is an easy sell! People recognise the name, therefore may be less likely to give it a miss or ask for a ticket refund!
AnnieBlack
Leading Actor Joined: 4/3/14
#25Sheridan Smith
Posted: 5/10/16 at 12:09pm
Are the West End ticketing rules the same as Bway, in that if a performer is above the title that refunds are given if the audience members desires it?
