Simon Shepherd has abruptly withdrawn from the starring role of Captain Von Trapp in the London production of The Sound of Music after playing the first two previews over the weekend at the London Palladium. Director Jeremy Sams and producers Andrew Lloyd Webber and David Ian “agreed that [Shepherd’s] performance as Captain von Trapp was not working within the production,” according to a statement. The star is being replaced by Alexander Hanson.
Hanson has appeared in the West End in Sunset Boulevard, Aspects of Love and We Will Rock You. His stage credits also include Candide, The Villain’s Opera, Troilus and Cressida and The Merchant of Venice. He was recently seen at Chichester’s Minerva Theatre in Noel Coward’s Tonight at 8.30.
Hanson is expected to step into the role later this week. The role of Captain von Trapp will be played by understudy Christopher Dickins until then. Hanson joins a cast that also includes How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? winner Connie Fisher as Maria and Lesley Garrett as Mother Abbess.
The production will open on schedule on November 15 .