Andrew Lloyd Webber Booed After Calling His ‘Cinderella’ Musical a ‘Costly Mistake’ During Final Curtain Call

variety.com:

J. Kim Murphy The West End’s production of “Cinderella” took its final bow in London Sunday evening, although a key member of the production’s creative team was not in attendance at the Gillian Lynne Theatre.

Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, who composed the music for the new adaptation of the classic fairy tale, did not appear at the venue in the flesh.Instead, the musical theater titan penned a letter that was read aloud by the production’s director, Laurence Connor, thanking the members of the production before calling the endeavor a “costly mistake” — a comment that was met by resounding boos.“I am hugely sorry not to be able to be with you today, but I want to thank everyone from our fabulous cast, crew and musicians, the superb creative team, Laurence,” Connor read aloud, pausing to indicate that Webber was thanking him, before listing off other key contributors. “I keep thinking if only we had opened three months later, we wouldn’t have had to postpone our opening twice because of COVID… I promise you we would have been here for a very long time to come.” “My huge thanks to everyone.

We kept the government’s feet to the flames and led the charge to the West End opening again,” Webber’s statement continued. “It might have been a costly mistake, but I am proud of what we did and will forever be grateful to everyone who supported me.”The recitation of “costly mistake” spawned murmurs among the audience and looks of visible confusion from the production’s ensemble as they stood on stage.“‘Cinderella’ got some of the best reviews of my career and I am immensely proud of it and it’s hugely due to you all.