Abrupt end to Abigail's Party as stage star collapses

FOR audiences familiar with Mike Leigh's comedy Abigail's Party, the heart attack at the end comes as no surprise.

But there was a shock for everybody at Musselburgh's Brunton Theatre last night, as actor Steve Dineen suffered a genuine collapse – right in the middle of the play's dramatic finale.

The audience was stunned when, just minutes from the end of the play, actress Anna Kirke stepped out of character and asked if there was a doctor in the house.

Dineen, who was playing the role of Laurence, was faking a heart attack when the rest of the cast realised that he had stopped acting and was in serious distress.

They stopped the show and the audience were asked to leave the auditorium.

In the play the character Laurence dies just after this point.

Fortunately an ambulance was called and, after being treated on stage, Dineen was pronounced fit enough to be taken to Accident and Emergency for further tests.

"The paramedics who attended to him at the theatre said that in principle he seems to be all right," the play's director, Michael Cabot, said last night. "They are still not sure what it was and what caused it. They're running some tests, and I am assuming they will keep him in overnight.

"I would very much doubt that Steve will go on stage tomorrow. We don't have an understudy touring with the show. In a situation like this your first concern is the person who is not well. My priority is to make sure Steve is okay and then, if he can't go on stage, make sure we find somebody who can step in for him."

Dineen had played in more than 120 performances of Abigail's Party in the London Classic Theatre company's touring production. He plays Laurence, an uptight art-loving estate agent whose wife, Beverley, is throwing a party for their new neighbours, Angela and Tony. Sue, another neighbour whose daughter is throwing a house party, is also invited.

In the play's final minutes, the increasingly drunken characters dance together, before Laurence puts on a Beethoven symphony and almost immediately suffers a heart attack. An ambulance is called but he dies in Angela's arms.

"During the dance Steve had whispered to Anna Kirke who plays Sue," said Cabot. "He told her 'I'm not feeling so great' and she said 'Are you feeling well enough to carry on?' and he said 'I think so, yes'."

Paul Brunton, marketing officer at the Brunton Theatre, said Mr Dineen suffered a muscle spasm on stage, and that his condition was not serious. He was accompanied to the hospital by a stage manager, and stayed in until late last night.

He was said to be resting at home this morning, and a full update on his health was expected later on today.

Mr Brunton added: "This evening's performance of Abigail's Party will go ahead as planned with Steve Dineen in the role of Laurence.

"The actor suffered a scare near the end of the production last night but we expect him to return to the role this evening.

"We'd like to thank the audience members who were in attendance for their understanding and good wishes and reassure everyone that Steve is well."