Sir Ian McKellen Falls Off Stage During Performance

BBC ^ | 6/17 | Aleks Phillips

[nickcarraway]

Sir Ian McKellen has been taken to hospital after falling off stage during a performance of Player Kings at the Noël Coward theatre in London.

The 85-year-old actor was in a fight scene when he lost his footing and fell. It is not clear whether he has sustained any injuries.

The audience was evacuated from the theatre and informed that the evening show was cancelled. Player Kings is a production of Henry IV, Parts One and Two, and started its 12-week West End run in April.

[TangoLimaSierra]

Someone said the name of the Scottish play.

How its done

[Rockingham]

Yeah, I get that, but I am disinclined to wish misfortune on others. Even without broken bones, a serious fall in old age often leads to physical decline and then disability and death.

[stanne]

“85 is too old for fight scenes”

Round and round the comments go. Superstitions abound. Even this actor who knows nothing of the political affairs of the demonic overlords that we go to lord of the rings to get perspective on it we have to hear him a Brit no less tell us to gate Trump. Who is btw a great public speaker as evidenced by his repeat command performances when all we need to reflect on is

85 is too old for fight scenes

[crusty old prospector]

I know the drill.

[coalminersson]

I am 77 with vertigo, no ore fight scenes unless the money is there. LOL

He’s one of the great actors. Shocked to think some actors are queer How did that happen? So him in lA at the Mark Taper, the audience including me was riveted.

[Beowulf9]

Hope he is going to be alright.

[Beowulf9]

But I thought it was ok for it to be said by a cast member during rehearsal and the last line of the play does not include the name Macbeth?

[Churchillspirit]

Nope.....never OK.

.....and never OK to say "MacBeth".

Just theatre superstitions.

[Beowulf9]

Coincidentally, today I watched the movie “Ghost” . In the beginning of the movie Swayze and Moore go to a play, “Macbeth”. I wonder if that was a reference to the curse.

[Churchillspirit]

Could be, although a play worth seeing - particularly if well-acted.

[Churchillspirit]

Strange that this week's performances have been cancelled. Don't they have understudies anymore?

Suppose his name was the big draw.