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DJ's show closes after one night
By This is London Last updated at 00:00am on 22.10.04Former Radio 1 DJ Mike Read's new musical about Oscar Wilde has closed after just one night, it emerged today.
The show has achieved the dubious distinction of becoming the fastest-closing London musical in recent memory.
It opened on Tuesday to a mauling from the critics, who panned it as "excruciating", "bilge" and "over two hours of leaden dross".
Only five of the 466 tickets were sold for the following night's performance.
Read, a contestant on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, reluctantly took the decision to close the production.
"I am naturally devastated at the turn of events. We had a fantastic West End cast and the reaction of the audience at the press night was terrific," he said.
Read's friends Sir Cliff Richard and Alvin Stardust were among the celebrities who attended the first night.
But the overnight reviews were scathing.
The Evening Standard critic wrote: "In 1895, Oscar Wilde was sentenced to two years' hard labour. A more cruel and unusual punishment has been devised by the former DJ Mike Read - a musical of exquisite awfulness."
Read, 53, wrote, produced and directed the production, the first show to be staged at the newly reopened Shaw Theatre in Euston, central London.
He previously staged a musical based on the songs of Sir Cliff Richard.
The former DJ remains undeterred by Oscar Wilde's failure.
He has already put the finishing touches to his next project, a tribute to the Village People.
