Umbrellas of Cherbourg closes early 21 May 2011

Kneehigh's production of The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, by Jacques Demy & Michel Legrand, is to close early 21 May 2011, after a run of only a couple of months. ( It was originally booking to 1 Oct 2011)

The musical, which opened at the West End's Gielgud Theatre 22 March 2011, following previews from 5 March, received below average notices from the popular press: Henry Hitchings for The Evening Standard says , "It's all rather insipid and bitty." Michael Billington for The Guardian says, ""A strangely prosaic attempt to capture the elusive poetry of the Demy original." Charles Spencer for The Daily Telegraph says, "There is only one decent song amid the interminable recitative."

It is adapted and directed by Emma Rice. Lyrics are translated by Sheldon Harnick. Designed by Lez Brotherston, with lighting by Malcolm Rippeth, sound by Simon Baker and musical supervision by Nigel Lilley.

Cast includes Joanna Riding (Madame Emery), Meow Meow (Lola), Carly Bawden (Genevieve), Gareth Charlton (Sailor), Andrew Durand (Guy), Cynthia Erivo (Madelaine), Dominic Marsh (Cassard), Aki Omoshaybi (Sailor), Laura Brydon, Matt Wilman.

It is produced by Daniel Sparrow and Mike Walsh Productions, Curve Leicester and City Lights International in association with Be Yu Productions.

Twenty year old French auto mechanic Guy Fouchier has fallen in love with 17-year-old Genevieve Emery, an employee in her widowed mother's chic umbrella shop. On the evening before Guy is to leave for a two-year tour of combat in Algeria, he and Genevieve vow to remain lovers. After discovering she is carrying Guy's child she must choose between waiting for his return or accepting an offer of marriage from a wealthy diamond merchant.