The musical is the latest in a string of shows that have closed quickly at the Shaftesbury Theatre. Recent years have seen big-budget, early closing shows, including Napoleon and Thoroughly Modern Millie. The next production scheduled to play there is Stephen Clark's musical The Far Pavilions, about the forbidden love of an Indian princess and a British soldier in the 25 years after the 1857 Sepoy uprisings. Bat Boy, however, will live on, with a movie version to be directed by John Landis in the pipeline. It is not known yet whether Deven May, who played the title role in both New York and London — and recorded it in both cast recordings — will step up for the movie lead.

The show is by Laurence O'Keefe (music and lyrics) and Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming (book), and tells of a bat-like boy and his impact on a small American community. Three songs featured in the New York premiere were replaced in the London staging. “Ugly Boy” was been superseded by “Hey Freak,” “Ugly Freak Two” by “What You Wanna Do” and “Inside Your Heart” by “Mine All Mine.”

For more information about Bat Boy or The Far Pavilions, call (0)20 7379 5399.