Martine McCutcheon is believed to be planning to leave Sir Cameron Mackintosh's hugely successful My Fair Lady at Drury Lane in April, when her year-long contract will expire.
Whether she emulates Eliza's move into the flower trade remains to be seen, but the fact of her having braved several illnesses to appear on the stage of the National and the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, will have given a huge boost to her career.
Several names are, as usual, being bandied about as possible replacements for her: the smart money seems to be on Denise Van Outen, following her success at the Adelphi in Chicago. Ruthie Henshall has also been mentioned. Whoever is eventually chosen, the search will provide another useful shot of publicity for a show whose appeal to the press has been almost as great as its attraction for audiences.
Theatre Royal Drury Lane Box Office: 020 7494 5000.
—by Paul Webb Theatrenow