Like Doyle's Watermill Theatre version of Sweeney Todd, for which the director recently won a Tony for Best Director of a Musical, Mack and Mabel is cast with an ensemble of actor/musicians.

Stewarts book is a story of mismatched lovers. When "hash-slinger" Mabel Normand turns up on the set of filmmaker Mack Sennett, creator of the Keystone Cops, she catches his eye and soon captures his heart. Before long, Mabel is starring in Sennett's two-reelers. With songs such as "I Won't Send Roses" and "Tap Your Troubles Away," the poignant story of unrequited love is considered to be amongst Jerry Herman's finest work.

Double Tony-winner Herman's string of Broadway successes started with Milk and Honey in 1961 and includes Mame (which is currently playing Washington's Kennedy Center); Hello Dolly!; and La Cage aux Folles.

David Soul is best known as the blonde half of the seventies TV show "Starsky and Hutch." He has carved out a successful stage career in London most recently taking on the title role of Jerry Springer the Opera.

Janie Dee appeared with Soul in Ayckbourn's Comic Potential as the robot Jacie, a role which she reprised for the transfer to the Manhattan Theatre Club. Double Olivier-award winner Dee's other credits include My One and Only and Carousel. She was last seen in the West End in Peter Hall's production of Pinter's Betrayal.