IMELDA STAUNTON - STAUNTON FOLLOWS HORNE OUT OF PLAY

STAUNTON FOLLOWS HORNE OUT OF PLAY

Veteran actress IMELDA STAUNTON pulled out of an appearance in a troubled West End play citing illness - just hours after her co-star MATHEW HORNE collapsed onstage.
British comedy actor Horne fainted during a Thursday (02Apr09) afternoon matinee performance of Entertaining Mr Sloane, and remained motionless for 10 minutes before paramedics arrived to take him to hospital.
Staunton was forced to step in and apologise to the audience, telling them they would be reimbursed for their tickets.
Horne was subsequently released from medics' care, but was forced to pull out of Thursday evening's performance.
And just hours after the actor succumbed to illness, Staunton too became unwell and cancelled her turn that night too.
Horne's agent tells Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper, “He was taken to hospital with a mild case of exhaustion.
“He had tests but is now out of hospital. He didn’t go on last night and he is going to see how he feels before deciding when to go back on stage.”
It is not known whether either Staunton or Horne will return to the production for Friday's (03Mar09) evening performance.