Flockhart delays West End debut

Flockhart has postponed her West End debut

LONDON, England -- Ally McBeal star Calista Flockhart has delayed her London stage debut -- blaming the UK elections and the foot-and-mouth crisis.

Flockhart was due to appear at the West End's Shaftsbury Theatre next month playing the role in The Philadelphia Story made famous on screen by Katharine Hepburn.

She is the latest Hollywood star to appear on the London stage following appearences by Kevin Spacey, Kathleen Turner, Daryl Hannah, Nicole Kidman and Jessica Lange.

A spokeswoman for the producers said: "The first two weeks of what was only likely to be a seven-week season are now highly likely to clash with the British general election and the campaign preceding it.

"Coupled with the drop in tourists due to the foot-and-mouth crisis, this could have led to serious financial implications."

The waifish Flockhart, who recently adopted a baby boy, stars as the lovelorn lawyer on the popular Fox television show Ally McBeal.

The producers now plan to stage the play at a later date.

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Ally McBeal

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