Nicholas Hytner delays <i>His Dark Materials</I> (10748)

Playbill.com reports that out director Nicholas Hytner (The Madness of King George) has pushed back the opening of the National Theatre's elaborate two-part stage adaptation of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials fantasy trilogy at London's Olivier Theatre because of technical difficulties. Hytner canceled two previews for part 1 and has moved part 2's first preview back a night to December 14. The scheduled press night for December 20 will now take place January 3. In a statement to the press, Hytner said, "When I took this on, I thought it was unstageable. Now I know that we can do it--but we need more time to get this hugely ambitious production right. With hindsight, I should have scheduled more time. We have had to cancel the first previews of both parts. I apologize unreservedly to the people we've had to turn away. We're scheduling extra performances to accommodate those people."