SHORT TAKES : ‘Barnum’ Closes After 11 Shows
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LONDON — “Barnum,” the musical about the life of P. T. Barnum, has closed after 11 performances and losses of $2.4 million, the producers said today.
The show, a revival of the original 1981 version, suffered scathing reviews, dwindling audiences and technical difficulties.
The production, staged under a big-top tent in west London with a 25-member cast and 22-piece orchestra, was to have toured 20 British towns in the summer after its London run.
“Barnum” starred Peter Duncan, who trained for months to perform tightrope walking, stilt dancing and juggling.
“It is very sad, but the ax dropped,” Duncan said. “The receivers were there, these men in suits came in saying ‘You can’t take anything away.’ It was the final insult.”
Michael Fontaine of LMC Entertainments, the show’s producers, confirmed that the company had been placed in receivership.
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