Slipped discs force actor off hit show
Actor Nathan Lane has had to pull out of his remaining performances in the West End hit The Producers after suffering from two slipped discs, it was announced today.
The back problem meant Lane was replaced by an understudy for a performance of the Mel Brooks show watched by the Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles before Christmas.
A spokesman for the musical said: “Suffering from two newly slipped discs, Nathan Lane and the producers of The Producers have been advised that he should abstain from any further performances for the remainder of his London contract, due to finish on January 8.”
The London production of the stage show, which originally began life as a film in 1968, has received rave reviews since it opened at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in November.
This is the second casting problem to hit it, however.
The original choice for the role of Max Bialystock, 56-year-old Oscar-winning American actor Richard Dreyfuss, pulled out ahead of the opening night due to injuries.
Lane, who won a Tony award for his role in the smash hit Broadway version, which opened in 2001 and won an unprecedented 12 Tony Awards, stepped in to play Bialystock in London.
Lane is also in line to play the character in the Hollywood film of The Producers, alongside actors Matthew Broderick and Will Ferrell.
The spokesman for the show said that Lane should recover in six weeks, enabling him to start shooting the film version at the end of February.
The role of Max Bialystock will be played by Cory English until January 10, when Brad Oscar will take over the role as scheduled.
“Cory English has already played the role with great success for the five performances Nathan Lane has already missed due to his condition,” the spokesman said.
English played the role the night that Charles and Camilla watched the musical.
