Sir Elton John hasn’t yet had the chance to truly see his latest musical, an adaptation of The Devil Wears Prada — quite literally.
The music icon revealed during the show’s London opening night on December 1 that his worsening vision made it impossible for him to watch the stage debut.
“I haven’t been able to come to many of the previews because, as you know, I have lost my eyesight,” the 77-year-old shared with the audience.
Though unable to see the production, John found joy in its sound. “It’s hard for me to see it, but I love to hear it, and, boy, it sounded good tonight,” he said.
The musical, based on the beloved 2006 film, features John’s score alongside lyrics by Shaina Taub and Mark Sonnenblick and a book by Kate Wetherhead. Vanessa Williams stars as the fearsome Miranda Priestly, famously played by Meryl Streep in the movie.
The gala, held at London’s Dominion Theatre, doubled as a fundraiser for the Elton John AIDS Foundation, drawing a stylish audience, including Donatella Versace and Anna Wintour, reportedly the real-life inspiration for Priestly.
Elsewhere in his speech, John revealed that an infection earlier this year resulted in total vision loss in his right eye, severely impacting his work.