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Technical problems hit My Fair Lady

McCutcheon has had rave reviews for performances

Celebrity theatre-goers were left waiting more than an hour for the technical hitch to be rectified.

But producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh insisted: "The show must go on."

Sir Cameron told the audience: "It might not have 75% of the scenery, but it will have 175% of the talent.

"What I can guarantee is that you're going to see the most inspired production of My Fair Lady."

Buskers

He said they would just have to "busk it", in the fine tradition of British musicals, without the usual behind-the-scenes mechanics.

Occasionally, props were carried on to the stage.

The performance was a homecoming for the Lerner and Loewe's musical which originally opened at the theatre 40 years ago.

Sir Cameron's production opened at the Royal National Theatre in March where it won rave reviews for McCutcheon's performance as Eliza Doolittle.

Among those in the audience to see the show on at its new home on Tuesday were Ulrika Jonsson, Duran Duran star Simon Le Bon and comedian Griff Rhys Jones.

McCutcheon has had a run of bad luck and was struck by ill health during the season which ended on 30 June, leaving her with fewer appearances than her understudies.

But audiences were not put off and the show had a record-breaking £10m box office advance for the run at the Theatre Royal.

McCutcheon has been told to scale down her performances by the doctor and she is now scheduled for six shows a week instead of her original eight.

In the show, she stars as the Cockney flower girl who is taken under the wing of Professor Henry Higgins, played by Jonathan Pryce, and trained to act and speak like a lady.