Dutch stars hurt in Grease mishap

Newton-John and Travolta played Sandy and Danny on film

The stars of a Dutch production of Grease were injured when their car fell into the theatre's orchestra pit.

Jim Bakkum, a runner-up in the Idols TV talent contest, was concussed when the modified convertible plunged into an empty part of the pit, reports said.

His co-star Bettina Holwerda may have broken her arm jumping from the car, the theatre director told Dutch TV, according to the Associated Press.

The accident occurred at the Almere Theatre, nine miles east of Amsterdam.

Over the edge

Bakkum and Holwerda were playing Danny and Sandy, the roles made famous by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John in the 1978 film.

"Jim was driving," theatre director Peter Swinkels said. "She [Bettina] was able to jump off before it went over the edge, and Jim went down with the car."

The car was made from the chassis of a convertible and a golf cart engine. No musicians were hurt.

Built by the Dutch on flat, reclaimed land to the east of Amsterdam, Almere is only 30 years old.