Cynthia Erivo appeared visibly emotional as she took her bow on the opening night of her ambitious one-woman stage production Dracula in London, following a wave of criticism over alleged teleprompter use that has divided theatre-goers.
The 39-year-old Wicked star is tackling the formidable challenge of portraying Dracula and 22 other characters in a daring new adaptation of Dracula at the Noel Coward Theatre. But after the press performance on Tuesday night, Cynthia struggled to hold back tears as she acknowledged the audience’s applause.
Dressed in a black vest top that showed off her muscular arms, with stage blood still smeared across her forehead, Cynthia bowed proudly alongside the production’s support crew — a poignant moment that did not go unnoticed by those in attendance.
The opening night drew a star-studded crowd, with Florence Pugh leading arrivals in a sleek black velvet dress. She was joined by familiar faces including Lizzie Cundy, Myleene Klass and Lady Victoria Hervey, all there to support the actress as she returned to the West End spotlight.
However, the emotional curtain call came just days after Cynthia faced backlash from some audience members, who claimed she relied on teleprompters to remember her lines during the complex performance. According to The Telegraph, early viewers were left “disappointed” after spotting what they believed were visible auto-cues.
Disgruntled theatre-goers quickly took to social media, Reddit and West End blogs to vent their frustration. One wrote: “I saw it last night and was so disappointed. I spent the last 30 minutes wondering when it would end. I honestly regretted spending £70 on a ticket.” Another echoed: “Same — I tried so hard to get into it and just couldn’t.”
A further comment read: “I wish I hadn’t bought an early ticket for this,” while another attendee complained of technical issues and staging problems, adding that Cynthia appeared to struggle with remembering her place in the script.
Despite the criticism, some viewers conceded that early performances can be rough around the edges. “I’m sure the issues will be ironed out in a couple of weeks,” one theatre-goer admitted. “But honestly, on the night I went, it was disappointing.”
After the show, Cynthia later left the theatre in a striking all-red ensemble, pairing long boots with a matching bag, and appeared in good spirits as fans gathered outside to greet her.
No stranger to the West End, Cynthia made her London stage debut in The Umbrellas of Cherbourg in 2011 before winning the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical in 2013 for The Color Purple. She later reprised the role on Broadway, securing a Tony Award in 2016.
The Dracula performance marks a pivotal moment for the actress following a turbulent period in the public eye. Since the release of Wicked in 2024 and its sequel last year, Cynthia and co-star Ariana Grande faced intense scrutiny over their behaviour during the promotional tour, despite strong reviews for the films.
Both stars were notably snubbed during the most recent awards season, missing out on Oscar nominations — a decision that surprised many fans and critics alike.
As Dracula continues its run, the production now sits at the centre of a heated debate about innovation, pressure and perfection on the modern stage — with Cynthia’s emotional response serving as a stark reminder of the human cost behind ambitious theatrical risks.
