Harrelson fares famously on stage

Both stars "act their socks off," the London critics say

LONDON, England -- Hollywood actor Woody Harrelson has put his recent troubles behind him, making his debut on the London stage to rave reviews.

The star of "Natural Born Killers" and "Indecent Proposal" received a standing ovation for his performance in "On An Average Day" opposite fellow American star Kyle MacLachlan.

Harrelson, 41, made headlines in British newspapers in June when he spent the night in a cell after going what was described as "berserk" in the back of a London taxi.

Police charges were dropped after Harrelson paid the cab driver £550 ($844) for repairs.

But the actor who shot to fame as dim-witted barman Woodie Boyd in "Cheers" put all that behind him to take the stage at the Comedy Theatre in London's West End on Wednesday night.

Britain's Independent newspaper reported that both Harrelson and MacLachlan "acted their socks off" with Harrelson "magnificent."

"Both prove to be terrific stage actors," wrote the Daily Telegraph, "turning in fresh, funny, deeply felt performances that are a joy to watch."

"Both of them are really excellent," said the Daily Mail -- though adding one note of dissent, "shame about the play."

Hugh Grant was among the celebrities in the audience, along with Harrelson's ex, "Fatal Attraction" star Glenn Close, due to make her British stage debut next month in "A Street Car Named Desire" at London's National Theatre.

In "On An Average Day" Harrelson and MacLachlan play estranged brothers. MacLachlan's character returns home after 15 years to find his troubled younger brother has retreated into a bizarre private world.

Harrelson's character finds himself in trouble with the authorities after an altercation with a motorist who has offered him a lift.

It is a bizarre coincidence of art imitating life after Harrelson's taxi incident two months ago.

Harrelson's ex-girlfriend, Glenn Close, was in the first-night London audience

The star had ripped out an ashtray after being picked up by cabbie Les Dartnell outside London's China White club. He then fled and was arrested by police after a furious Dartnell raised the alarm.

Officers arrested him on suspicion of causing criminal damage but the case was dropped after Harrelson paid Dartnell's bill. Harrelson later claimed he had torn the ashtray off the door by accident but admitted he had been "a freaking idiot" to do a runner.

The actor was a notorious hellraiser in his younger years.

He has had drink and drugs problems but has now settled down with wife Laura and young daughters Deni and Zoe, who were at the play's after-show party at London club Adam Street.

His next film will be the aptly titled "Anger Management," in which he has a cameo role as a transvestite prostitute opposite Jack Nicholson and Adam Sandler.

MacLachlan, 43, was joined at the after-show bash by wife Desiree, whom he wed in April.

The star was last seen as Charlotte's uptight husband Trey in "Sex And The City," and has gone grey for his role in the play after dispensing with the black hair dye.

Harrelson and MacLachlan follow a raft of Hollywood stars who have been lured to London's theatreland recently to pep up audience interest.

Gwyneth Paltrow, Nicole Kidman, Linda Gray and Matt Damon have all swapped Hollywood for the more humble surroundings of the West End.

They have all had good to wildly enthusiastic reviews -- unlike British-based American star Madonna, whose performance as an ambitious art dealer in "Up For Grabs" received a mixed reception from the critics.