Sydney Theatre Woes

David Spicer reports.

Producers in Sydney are licking their wounds, with a number of shows struggling at the box office. Despite a thunderous opening night ovation and brilliant reviews the latest adult pantomime from Trevor Ashley has had the second part of its season cancelled.

The season of The Lyin' Queen opened last month at the Sydney Opera House for one week. It was scheduled to extend at the Eternity Theatre in Darlinghurst Theatre for two weeks during December.

However the entire season at the Eternity Theatre has been pulled due to poor ticket sales.

This comes as a surprise because the piece written by Trevor Ashley and Phil Scott was described by Stage Whispers as "one of (Ashley's) best" and "hilarious and irresistable" by Stage Noise.

A number of Producers have told Stage Whispers that it is a tough time to sell tickets in the Harbour city. The season of Billy Elliott: The Musical commenced offering discounted tickets and lottery tickets earlier than expected, and is rumoured to have had disappointing houses.

Andrew Lloyd Webber's School of Rock The Musical is said also to be struggling.

All of this is speculation as (unlike Broadway) actual box office returns are not made public.

Billy Elliott :The Musical received a publicity boost when the composer Elton John dropped in for a photo.

The musical is also expected to do better in cities where it has not been seen before.

However not every show in Sydney is struggling. Cirque du Soleil is reportedly selling well.

Belvoir Street Theatre has extended its season of Packer and Sons and Jonathan Biggins' one man play Krapp's Last Tape - an adaptation of a rather grim play by Samuel Beckett - is selling out at the Old Fitz.