North American engagements of a revised version of the little-known Irish musical that was to play Toronto in May, followed by an engagement in San Francisco, have been canceled by its producer, Narina Entertainment Ltd.

Garrett McGuckian, producer of Ha'Penny Bridge, said in a Feb. 20 statement, "Despite the outstanding job our creative staff has done reshaping the book, music and lyrics of the show, we, as producers, feel the production is not yet commercially ready."

The musical was to have played in Toronto May 16-June 29 at the Princess of Wales Theatre before moving to a run at the Golden Gate Theatre in San Francisco. New York actress Anika Larsen (Xanadu) had been announced to play the show's heroine, in a cast of 31. The show was optimistically characterized by producers as being Broadway-bound.

Mirvish Productions in Toronto will soon be announcing another production to fill the final slot of the subscription season.

* American actress Larsen, of Broadway's Xanadu, All Shook Up and Rent was announced to play the central role of Molly — "a beautiful yet principled young woman" angered by the senselessness of civil war in 1920s Ireland.

Written and composed by Alastair McGuckian and directed and choreographed by Donna Feore, the musical "tells the story of Ireland and a love torn apart by a country divided," according to producers. "Set in Dublin during the civil war in the early 1920s, the rich but troubled love story is played out against a backdrop of heightened nationalistic tension, divided loyalties, greed and deceit ultimately leading to dramatic consequences."