Every understudy dreams of stepping into the limelight to replace a star performer and Johan Christensen did just that last night — to rapturous applause and acclaim.
He replaced Ukrainian ballet dancer Sergei Polunin, 23, who quit Midnight Express last week without even telling the producers, just days before yesterday’s premiere, and returned to Moscow with fellow dancer Igor Zelensky.
After just a few days of rehearsals for the starring role, Christensen, 20, last night saw the audience rise to its feet and applaud his performance as Billy Hayes, who was jailed in Turkey for smuggling hashish in a story previously filmed by Alan Parker.
Hayes, 66, was in the audience and hailed Christensen as “brilliant”. He said: “It’s amazing to me it’s even happening. It was magic out there. It’s a big weight on your back to get it open. Now they can enjoy it.” Christensen, who comes from Denmark but has lived in London for three years, admitted he was shattered after rehearsing for up to 12 hours a day for the Peter Schaufuss Ballet company production.
“I’m tired but I’m also very relieved,” he said. “I was very excited and very nervous. I haven’t been that nervous in years. I’ve just been pushing and pushing and not even been thinking — which is good, actually.
“I had no idea what to expect. I just wanted to do my absolute best. I was not going to miss this chance.
“I couldn’t be more grateful. This has been a fantastic time, just the best.” Peter Schaufuss, the award-winning director and choreographer of the show, said: “He did fantastic. It is audiences who make stars and it is not every day you get a standing ovation in London.”
Audience members were delighted with the show, and Julian Meers, 52, a TV producer from Kingston, said: “It was so exciting and so different. The understudy was outstanding. Anyone who can perfect the principle part at such short notice is an exceptional dancer.”
Jenny White, 49, a school nurse also from Kingston, said: “Why Sergei Polunin walked away from the part is a mystery. He is a fool — there is always someone ready to replace you.”
