Performances of 'Six Characters' Cancelled After McDiarmid Falls Ill

What's on Stage is reporting that actor Ian McDiarmid has fallen unexpectedly ill during curtain call of Monday's opening press performance of "Six Characters in Search of an Author." As a result, the Tuesday evening performance was cancelled as was tomorrow's matinee performance. Until further notice Stephen Crane will be taking over McDiarmid's role of the Father.

A spokeswoman told What's On Stage, "It’s completely regrettable - especially after having just opened a great show with such fantastic reviews - but Ian’s health is obviously the most important thing, and we’re very happy that he’s now making a speedy recovery. We hope to have the full cast back on by Monday.”

Patrons who have tickets to cancelled performances should call the theater's box office for refunds or rescheduling.

"Six Characters In Search Of An Author" by Luigi Pirandello with a new translation by Rupert Goold, which is currently playing at Chichester’s Minerva transfered to the West End’s Gielgud theatre. The play transfered with the original cast and opened September 10th.

Premiered in Rome in 1921, Luigi Pirandello’s innovative and probing drama changed theatre’s perception of itself and is regarded as a master work by a master dramatist.

"Six Characters in Search of an Author" blurs the border between fiction and life, between the stage and the world outside. Now updated and re-contextualised for the twenty-first century, it is a sinister parable for a media-obsessed age and an exhilarating exploration of how we define ourselves and what we call ‘reality’.

"Six Characters in Search of an Author" is directed by Rupert Goold whose production of Macbeth was the runaway hit of Festival 07 andvwent on to play sell-out seasons in London and New York. He is Artistic Director of Headlong Theatre.

Photo Credit Walter McBride/Retna Ltd

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