Sam Mendes clearly has a lucky touch when it comes to beautiful American screen stars making their West End debuts at the Donmar: Nicole Kidman was a hit in The Blue Room, and Gwyneth Paltrow has had a great personal success in Proof, which closes on June 15.

David Auburn's play (directed by John Madden) about the daughter of a mentally ill mathematical genius, who may have inherited more then her fair share of intellectual ability, gives Paltrow plenty of opportunity to show her intelligence as well as her looks, and she is fortunate in her cast of co-stars, including her love interest Richard Coyle (lately of The York Realist where, by contrast, he played a gay theatre director).

Although the Donmar sold out almost as soon as her appearance at the prestigious central London theatre was announced, the Donmar holds some tickets for sale (in person, at the box office) on the day.

As a result there have been long queues — for day tickets and returns — outside the Donmar every morning, and this day release system means there is still a chance — if you get up early — to see Gwyneth Paltrow on the London stage, before the show closes on Saturday, June 15.