Cheryl shed a tear on stage on Wednesday night as her 'official' debut in London show 2:22: A Ghost Story warned her great reviews from notoriously hard to please theatre critics.
A few eyebrows were raised when it was announced that Cheryl would be joining the cast of the award-winning production, with some cynics calling it a 'stunt' casting, as the Geordie star follows in the footsteps of Lily Allen, Giovanna Fletcher and Laura Whitmore to play Jenny in the gripping thriller.
Cheryl shared her excitement with fans at being given the opportunity to show her acting chops and many of them have already followed to the Lyric Theatre in the capital to see her and co-stars including EastEnders' Jake Wood. And, there were some very special guests in the audience as the Call My Name singer entertained celebs and the press on Wednesday - her Girls Aloud bandmates Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh.
Cheryl admitted she was nervous about the girls coming to see her but, both they and critics were mightily impressed by her star turn, while also noting that the 39-year-old looked visibly moved by the reaction she received during the curtain call.
The Times review applauded Cheryl for making a 'confident debut,' while, reviewing for The Guardian, Arif Akbar writes: "As her own X Factor moment, it is respectable enough for a first go, if blunt-edged: big on volume and sudden, thunderous anger," adding: "Cheryl convincingly plays rattled new mother Jenny."
Giving Ghost Story 4 stars out of 5, Evening Standard's Nick Curtis writes: "But is Cheryl any good? Actually, yes: certainly good enough to bring a new crowd to this superior, remorselessly effective spine-chiller," adding: "Those dimples, those empathetic doe eyes, that nutcracker Geordie accent… Blimey, it’s really her! A sensational event, in every sense."
Also impressed, The Independent's Isobel Wise comments: "As Jenny, Cheryl gives a confident, measured performance. Her Geordie accent may be instantly recognisable, but she fully inhabits the role. She excels in the show’s quieter, more naturalistic moments, and has a knack for comic timing."
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