Audiences of Player Kings in London's West End got a scare June 17 when the play's 85-year-old Tony- and Olivier-winning star Ian McKellen fell off the stage during a battle scene, according to BBC journalist Aleks Phillips. The fall resulted in the cancellation of the remainder of that performance and the June 18 show as well.
"Sir Ian—who plays John Falstaff—had been circling a battle scene involving the Prince of Wales and Henry Percy when I saw him fall off the front of the stage," writes Phillips, who was in the audience June 17. "It happened so quickly that at first it appeared to be part of the performance. But the actor cried out and staff rushed to help. The house lights came up and staff evacuated the theatre. The performance was cancelled 'so that Ian can rest,' the spokesperson said."
But, also per Phillips, we can all rest easy. McKellen has been scanned and is expected to make a full recovery, and fast. Producers have shared that the stage legend will be back in the show as of the June 19 matinee performance.
McKellen stars as John Falstaff in the new Robert Icke play, an adaptation of Shakespeare's Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2. The production began performances April 1 at the Noël Coward Theatre, and performances are continuing there through June 22. The West End run follows earlier bows at New Wimbledon Theatre and Manchester Opera House.
McKellen is joined by Toheeb Jimoh (Ted Lasso, Romeo and Juliet) as Hal and Richard Coyle (Ink, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore) as King Henry IV.
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Toheeb Jimoh, Hal Daniel, and Rabin Poins in Player Kings
Samuel Edward-Cook in Player Kings
Robin Soans and James Garnon in Player Kings
Richard Coyle in Player Kings
Richard Coyle in Player Kings
Ian McKellen in Player Kings
Ian McKellen and Toheeb Jimoh in Player Kings
Ian McKellen and Geoffrey Freshwater in Player Kings
Clare Perkins in Player Kings
Ian McKellen in Player Kings
Cast of Player Kings
