After just a week, the sun goes down on Elton John’s Broadway musical following a battle to sell tickets

Just days ago he was on the red carpet of the premiere for his new Broadway show showing off his new trimmed-down look.

But now Elton John’s pockets look even slimmer as his play was cancelled just a week into production after a battle to sell tickets.

The Tammy Faye musical announced last night it will close its curtains on December 8 after playing just 24 previews and 29 performances.

The show – based on the life of televangelists Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker, had been struggling to sell tickets at the Palace Theatre despite a highly anticipated transfer from London.

Now, insiders have told The Mail the show was always ‘at risk of not working’ after reviews ‘killed it’.

A source close to the production said: ‘It was always going to be difficult, even the writers feared the storyline didn’t translate for the audience.

‘The 1700 capacity venue was only selling 300 tickets a night. This is not exactly great for Elton.

Elton John ‘s  play was cancelled just a week into production after a battle to sell tickets. Pictured: : Elton John during the opening night curtain call for the new Elton John musical Tammy Faye

The Tammy Faye musical announced last night it will close its curtains on December 8 after playing just 24 previews and 29 performances

The Tammy Faye musical announced last night it will close its curtains on December 8 after playing just 24 previews and 29 performances

Katie Brayben - who plays Tammy Faye - and Elton John during the opening night curtain call for the new Elton John musical

Katie Brayben – who plays Tammy Faye – and Elton John during the opening night curtain call for the new Elton John musical

‘The first night reviews were not exactly positive, they thought they’d be cancelled before the year is out.’

The show, which cost close to £20 million to produce, opened on November 14 and last week was the lowest-grossing show on Broadway.

The audience was reportedly consistently 37 per cent empty.

Elton John, 77, wrote the music for the show while Scissor Sisters’ Jake Shears wrote the lyrics.

Tammy Faye is also produced by Rocket Stage, John’s production company.

Fans called the decision ‘brutal’ and said theatregoers have been walking out mid-performance.

‘When I ran to the bathroom at the immediate start of intermission, I passed by a woman sprinting past the usher near the main entrance,’ one person said.

The show - based on the life of televangelists Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker, had been struggling to sell tickets at the Palace Theatre despite a highly anticipated transfer from London

The show – based on the life of televangelists Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker, had been struggling to sell tickets at the Palace Theatre despite a highly anticipated transfer from London 

A source close to the production said: 'It was always going to be difficult, even the writers feared the storyline didn't translate for the audience

A source close to the production said: ‘It was always going to be difficult, even the writers feared the storyline didn’t translate for the audience

‘The usher yelled after her, ‘Ma’am, you’re going toward the exit’ and she responded loudly, ‘I KNOW’. Several empty seats after intermission too, including the couple directly in front of us.’

Another wrote: ‘This is brutal! New theatre hardly stands a chance these days’.

Last week at the opening night Elton John showcased his new slimmed down look after revealing he has quit sugar.

He wore a bright pink suit beamed as he posed alongside husband David Furnish, 62, before later taking to the stage following the performance where he was greeted with wild applause.

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