Gossip

Adam Cooper Comes to Rescue of Carousel???

| London's West End |

14 May 2009

The audience at last night’s performance of Carousel at the Savoy Theatre got a special treat when dancer Adam Cooper (who choreographed the show) stepped in at the very last minute to perform in place of the injured Tom Dwyer, who plays the Carnival Boy. Dwyer’s usual understudy, Leon Webster, was also off injured, and the second understudy is currently away on holiday.

Cooper, who is currently choreographing a production of the opera Roberto Devereux at Holland Park, only agreed at the last minute to go on, with producers facing the prospect of having to cancel the show if he couldn’t do it. After 30 minutes of frantic rehearsal, he went on to receive a standing ovation following his 15-minute solo segment, and a bouquet from co-star Leslie Garrett at the curtain call.

The show’s producer Kim Poster told Whatsonstage.com: “It really is a lesson in what theatre is and what it can be with the most disciplined and talented people. The fact that Adam could go on a do that with so little preparation really is magical … it was an amazing evening”.

But Cooper, famed for his performance in Matthew Bourne‘s seminal 1994 all-male version of Swan Lake and appearance in 1999 film Billy Elliot – is unlikely to be called on again. Leon Webster has today been given the “all clear” by doctors and will resume in the role this evening.