Comeback was worth the weight, says Michael

Michael Crawford talked about his return to the West End stage after 18 years - in a costume that renders him unrecognisable.

Crawford, last seen in London as the Phantom Of The Opera, plays the obese ladies' man Count Fosco in The Woman In White.

He said of his comeback: "Doing this show is a great, great, great treat. You have to make a few choices in life and this was the first thing that had appealed to me for a while. There is so much comedy in the character of Fosco.

"Working with Maria Friedman is a treat, too - but she does have to give me five pounds every time I say that."

Asked whether the extraordinary fatsuit and prosthetics he wears as Fosco hinder his performance, Crawford said: "Fosco is a historical literary character. I read the novel and it was like there was a picture in my mind there. Then we found a portrait of a 19th-century Italian nobleman who had a head of hair like this - so we decided this would be Fosco's hair."

He said the audience response has been superb, adding: "We have had some great reactions. My favourite so far is, 'Oh my God, he's let himself go' - and that was my agent." Maria Friedman, who costars as Marian Halcombe, said: "I've loved the story ever since I was a child."

There was one first night hitch, however. The dramatic moment of Crawford's seduction scene was blighted when a tiny singing bird escaped from its cage and flew around the stage.

Director Sir Trevor Nunn said: "The bird did steal some thunder. It is typical, the bird cannot get out of the cage, there is no possibility of it getting out of the cage - and then on the first night the bird is out of the cage." Despite the upstaging, the audience gave the cast a standing ovation and co-star Jill Paige, for whom this is only her third professional role since university, burst into tears. She said: "I just got this feeling to never ever forget this moment. Me, a little girl from Ohio, on a first night in the West End of London watching a standing ovation. It is unforgettable."

The £5 million show, which uses 3D projection to create a "virtual" backdrop, seemed a huge success with the audience. Minnie Driver said: "The Woman In White is chilling and thrilling, and absolutely captures Wilkie Collins's book. It is so exciting to have an intelligent musical in the West End."

Denise Van Outen said: "I wouldn't have missed this for the world, it is brilliant - and yes, I didn't even recognise Michael."