The Witches of Eastwick, the Cameron Mackintosh-produced musical which was once poised to become the next mega-musical, will end its run in Melbourne prematurely and cancel the remainder of its Australian tour, Ronelle Bianchet, a spokesperson for the show told Playbill On-Line.

Witches, by John Dempsey and Dana P. Rowe and based on the novel of John Updike, began performances at Melbourne's Princess Theatre on Aug. 7. It will close Nov. 16, having run a little more than three months. Producers had planned to move the show on to Brisbane, Adelaide and Sydney.

No reason was given for the shuttering of the musical.

Witches closed in London on Oct. 27, 2001. The show first opened at the Theatre Drury Lane on July 18, 2000, to much ballyhoo and mixed reviews. It was then revamped before opening a second time at the Prince of Wales on July 17, 2001. The transfer was designed to create a more intimate feel to the show, which also received new tunes, and some cast changes. A predicted transfer to Broadway never materialized.

The Australian production features Paul McDermott as Darryl Van Horne, Marina Prior as Jane, Pippa Grandison as Sukie, Angela Toohey as Alexandra and Geraldine Turner and Tony Sheldon as Felicia Gabriel and Clyde Gabriel. —By Robert Simonson