Shock as invisible man vanishes

OLDHAM, England -- A stage performance of "The Invisible Man" has had to be cancelled after a technical fault meant the audience could not see him.

In Herbert George Wells' classic science-fiction novel, the Invisible Man, Griffin, wears bandages in order to make himself visible.

But when the lights failed in a stage production of the book at the theatre in Oldham, northern England, he disappeared completely, a theatre spokeswoman told Reuters news agency.

The audience at the theatre, in northern England, should have been wowed by a display of magic tricks and special effects, but were offered a free drink instead.

Technicians have now managed to solve the problem.