Cast Change Riles Audience at Ahmanson

Frank Langella became ill while performing in “Les Liaisons Dangereuses” at the Ahmanson Theater on Thursday afternoon and abruptly left the stage during Act II, Scene 5.

After a 15-minute delay, understudy John Castellanos replaced Langella for the remainder of the matinee and performed the complete role Thursday evening.

Langella was expected to return to the production Friday night.

Castellanos read his lines from a script at both performances. “It was ludicrous,” said playgoer Gil Sinn, who attended Thursday evening’s performance. “Even when he was lying on the floor dying, he held a script. People were laughing.”

Another member of Thursday evening’s audience, Steve Solomon, said that “it was like watching a rehearsal.” He and his wife asked for their money back at the intermission, he said, but were told that the box office was closed and that only exchanges for a later performance would be honored.

“The Ahmanson owes me $65,” Solomon said.

An Ahmanson official said that understudy rehearsals began Wednesday, one week after the opening. So Castellanos had only one opportunity to rehearse with the cast before going on--and “because of the complexity of the role, he had not yet mastered it.”

A free ticket to another performance was offered to anyone who left the Thursday matinee prematurely, and 62 playgoers took advantage of the offer. The cast change was posted inside the lobby and inside the programs at the evening performance, but these notices did not include the information that Castellanos would be carrying his script, nor that ticket exchanges were available. However, 30 playgoers requested and received exchanges Thursday evening before the show or during the first half hour.

Information about exchanges is available by calling (213) 972-7337 (subscribers), by writing to the Ahmanson at 135 N. Grand Ave. Los Angeles, Calif. 90012 or by going to the point of purchase.

Langella’s illness was described as “stomach problems” by the Ahmanson official. But “he did make it offstage before he got very sick,” she added.