BREAKING NEWS: Last night, the English National Opera had its first preview performance of the new London revival of the Benny Anderson and Bjorn Ulvaeus cult classic Chess – The Musical. However, this preview had an unexpected surprise.
Canadian performer Tim Howar (Broadway’s Rent) who plays the role of the American Chess player “Frederick Trumper” performed the first act till he got the biggest emergency call of his life….. His wife Pianist Jodie Oliver-Howar went into labor. Tim left at Interval (UK’s saying of Intermission) to go to the hospital. The Interval ended up lasting for 45 minutes.
Meanwhile, understudy Cellen Chugg Jones (West End’s School of Rock the Musical) who just had a full company rehearsal) went on for “Trumper” for the second act. WHAT A WARRIOR!!
Before the start of the 2nd half, Director Laurence Connor came on stage to announce about the situation.
For Tim and his wife Jodie, they just gave birth to a son Hamish Rex. Congrats to you both and we wish you many years of happiness, excitement, and adventures with your new boy.
The London revival of CHESS will have its official Opening on May 1st, 2018 and will run through June 2nd, 2018.
How crazy is that for a first preview performance?
Chess star forced to leave stage as wife goes into labour mid-show
The opening night of the West End revival of Chess took an unexpected turn when its leading man had to dash off at the interval after his wife went into labour. Tim Howar, who plays Freddie Trumper in the musical penned by Abba stars Bj?rn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, with Tim Rice, exited halfw…..
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