Bad Throat Pushes ’s Woman in White Debut to Sept. 2

By James Inverne
01 Sep 2005

Simon Callow
Simon Callow

Simon Callow has had to delay his debut as the villainous Count Fosco in the London production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Woman in White.

The actor was scheduled to begin performances Aug. 29, but throat problems have kept him away. He is now scheduled to join the cast on Sept. 2.

In the meantime, Fosco has been played by Dale Branston. Branston, an alumnus of Jerry Springer — The Opera, has been playing The Signalman in the show.

Callow recently appeared in the movie version of Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera. Although best known for his work in such movies as “Four Weddings and a Funeral” and “A Room With a View,” Callow’s career has been extensive and multi-faceted. As a stage actor, his most recent West End appearance was in Simon Gray’s The Holy Terror (he also famously created the role of Mozart in Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus). He has directed both plays and operas. And, his writings include a much-praised biography of Orson Welles. Coincidentally, his television credits include playing Fosco in a BBC version of “The Woman in White.”

He follows Michael Crawford, Michael Ball and Anthony Andrews in the part at London’s Palace Theatre. His Marian will be Ruthie Henshall. Meanwhile, as previously reported here, the original Marian, Maria Friedman, is preparing to return to the role for the show’s Broadway debut.

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