As if Tuesdays weren’t bad enough, you have to be faced with the news that Matt Cardle has had to pull out of the UK premiere of Falsettos. But it’s not all doom and gloom. Replacing Matt will be the renowned West End actor Joel Montague.
The seasoned performer has previously appeared in smash hit productions such as Kiss Me Kate, Fat Friends, School Of Rock, Funny Girl, and Urinetown. Now, Joel will take on the role of psychiatrist Mendel in the first UK production of the double Tony Award-winning show by William Finn (Music, Lyrics & Book) and James Lapine (Book).
Despite the sudden change in cast, the run will go ahead as planned. The show will run from 30 August – 23 November for a strictly limited season, with press night on Thursday 5 September.
Not much has been said about why Matt’s had to withdraw other than “unforeseen scheduling complications” but Matt did have this to say about pulling out of the show: “I am truly sorry that circumstances beyond our control have led to my departure from Falsettos. It has been such a hard decision for us to make, as I know Tara Overfield-Wilkinson is going to deliver the most incredible show. It’s a complex and exciting show and I can’t wait to watch the world-class cast bring this to life at The Other Palace and urge anyone who hasn’t yet bought tickets to do so before the run sells out. I for one won’t miss the chance to watch it.”
Falsettos is the story of a modern family: a gay man Marvin, his wife, his lover, his soon-to-be-bar-mitzvahed son, their psychiatrist, and the lesbian neighbours next door. By turns hilarious and poignant, the show is a brilliant exploration of family dynamics under the spectre of the AIDs crisis.
Joel joins the previously announced Natasha J Barnes (Cordelia), Daniel Boys (Marvin), Gemma Knight-Jones (Charlotte), Laura Pitt-Pulford (Trina), Oliver Savile (Whizzer), Albert Atack, George Kennedy, Elliot Morris and James Williams (Jason) and Matthew Mckenna (Understudy) and Natasha O’Brien (Understudy).
Tickets are available through the musical’s website.