Broadway star Nathan Lane won a thunderous ovation when he stepped in at the last moment to replace Hollywood veteran Richard Dreyfuss in the London premiere of the hit musical The Producers.
The British, normally much more reserved than Broadway audiences, went wild for Lane, who created the role and made
it his own in New York, where the show won 12 Tony awards.
But there was high drama in the lead-up to opening night.
Dreyfuss, star of Jaws and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, was forced by injury to pull out last month, leading writer Mel Brooks to plead with Lane to reprise his role.
After the rapturous reception by the first-night audience, Brooks told them: "So much for British reserve, you people should be arrested for disorderly conduct."
Lane, who has agreed to step in until January, said: "It was unexpected. It was like being awoken in the middle of the night and told, 'Come on, you have to do The Producers again.' It was like the actor's nightmare."
In New York, Lane co-starred with Matthew Broderick. In London, he shares top billing with British comedian Lee Evans.
"Matthew was very jealous that I was coming over here to save the day," Lane said.
The two will be reunited when the musical is made into a movie next year. Shooting starts in February.
