John Carlisle has stepped into the breach and begun rehearsals, a National Theatre representative has confirmed, but whether the curse of the Cure strikes again remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, the part of Freud continues to be read, during performances at the Cottesloe, by actor Dominic Rowan, so audiences can still see the play — starring Ralph Fiennes — even if theatre critics have to wait a little longer for a new press night.
On the other side of the river, Macbeth, a play more usually associated with disaster, continues accident-free (touch wood) at the Albery, and has recently announced an extension to March 1, 2003.
—By Paul Webb