The show survived the withdrawal of its original director Angela Richards, who departed over “artistic differences” according to a press release. But now Hall has succumbed to a bout of glandular fever, and cannot go on. Nor, apparently, can the show, which has not yet been rescheduled. It is not yet known what, if anything, will replace My Darlin’ Janey at the King’s Head.
The world premiere of Douglas Squires’ play was to have taken place at Islington’s King’s Head Theatre on Oct. 26. It aimed to tell the true story of Jane, who lived between 1848 and 1903 but whose life has been distorted by the outrageous lies she used to spread. It’s known that she had a love affair with Bill Hickock and they produced a daughter, Janey. She gave up the daughter for adoption but kept a diary of letters, which her “darlin’ Janey” could one day read. This play is based on those letters, which are now kept in the Wonderland Museum, Billings, Montana.