Doctor's warning for McCutcheon

Martine McCutcheon takes a bow after a performance

Martine McCutcheon has been told to reduce the number of appearances in My Fair Lady by doctors.

The former Eastenders star, playing the lead role of Eliza Doolittle, has been told she must reduce the number of scheduled performances from eight to six a week.

She has very reluctantly agreed to do this

Production spokesman

Despite McCutcheon's frequent absences from the production through illness, theatre-goers are undeterred, with some £10m taken in advance bookings so far.

This is believed to be a new record for West End theatre admissions, with the show fully booked until April 2002.

Understudies

McCutcheon has been praised by the critics for her performances in My Fair Lady, which opened at the National Theatre in March and finished on 30 June.

However, she has been dogged by recurring illnesses including blood clotting problems, viruses, bacterial infections, and chest infections.

As a result, McCutcheon's main understudy Alexandra Jay made 64 appearances to some acclaim, whereas McCutcheon managed 63. Kerry Ellis, a second understudy, had to play Eliza Doolittle five times.

A spokesman for the theatre production talked of Martine's battle with "serious illness" to stay on the stage.

Reluctant

"Although she achieved this at the National, her doctors have now instructed that, in order to protect against a recurrence of the virus, she must only perform six times per week at Drury Lane, rather than the eight that both she and the producers had originally intended," said the spokesman.

"She has very reluctantly agreed to do this," he added.

The lavish production co stars Jonathan Pryce as Professor Henry Higgins, the man who teaches Eliza how to "speak proper", and Dennis Waterman as Henry Doolittle, Eliza's father.

Understudy Alexandra Jay is pencilled in to play Eliza on Monday evenings and in the Wednesday matinee.

Ian McShane on stage in The Witches of Eastwick

From January 2002, ticket holders for the nights when Jay is performing will be able to exchange them subject to availability, or obtain a full refund.

A recent survey by theatre website whatstonstage.com showed that audiences are fed up with pop and TV stars who go absent from starring roles.

In The Witches of Eastwick, understudy Earl Carpenter took over in the lead role of Darryl Van Horne when McShane dropped out due to illness.

My Fair Lady reopens at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane on 21 July, where the musical was first performed.