Lisa Palfrey, who plays Big Mama in The Young Vic production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, has taken a temporary leave of absence from the production following an emergency appendectomy.
West End alum Kerry Fox has temporarily stepped into the role at the Apollo Theatre in London’s West End until Palfrey returns. (Understudy Katy Brittain briefly played the role prior to Fox's arrival.)
Fox has appeared on the West End stage in Speaking in Tongues and previously at the Young Vic as Amelia in Cruel and Tender. Her film credits include Country Life, Shallow Grave, and The Hanging Garden.
In a statement, David Lan and Lucy Woollatt of the Young Vic said, “All of us—and especially last week's packed houses—are enormously grateful to Katy Brittain for covering so brilliantly for Lisa Palfrey after Lisa was taken ill. And we're delighted that our old friend the great Kerry Fox has agreed with alacrity to step in to play Big Mama until Lisa is well enough to rejoin the Cat company. Great thanks to everyone for their generosity and good will over this period. All our best wishes and love to Lisa for a speedy recovery.”
The Benedict Andrews staging stars Broadway alum Sienna Miller as Maggie and Jack O’Connell as Brick. Performances will run through October 7. The Tennessee Williams drama marks the first Young Vic production to open directly in the West End.
In addition to Miller and O'Connell, the cast also includes Hayley Squires as Mae and Brian Gleeson as Gooper, as well as Richard Hansel and Michael J. Shannon.
