Spacey blames Old Vic cast

Kevin Spacey blamed his actors for the embarrassing failure of the latest play staged under him at the Old Vic.

The Hollywood star, head of the 1,000-seat theatre since 2003, said the production was crippled by below-standard performances and a bout of stage fright from its all-star cast.

Resurrection Blues, Arthur Miller's last play, was supposed to be Spacey's first major triumph as artistic director of the Old Vic but it is now closing early amid reports of backstage turmoil.

After being torn apart by the critics, the play, starring James Fox, Matthew Modine, Neve Campbell and Oscar-winner Maximilian Schell, was dealt a critical blow when another of the main cast members, Jane Adams, walked out.

During last Wednesday's matinee performance the American actress is understood to have stormed away from the theatre after an incident in which she allegedly pushed Modine so hard he fell off the stage.

At the end of the performance she is said to have said a terse "goodbye" before throwing a tantrum backstage and telling friends she had had enough.

Morale amongst the cast was said to have been low since director Robert Altman gave an interview in which he admitted: "I don't know this script. I read this script all the way through once myself a long time ago.

"And I've heard it read. I've gone to the auditions. But I don't know the play."

The production is now closing a week early with the final performance scheduled for tomorrow.

Today Oscar winner Spacey, star of The Usual Suspects, LA Confidential and American Beauty, claimed he should not be held to account for the failure.

He said: "Nobody walked into this thinking it was a bad idea and nobody in the press questioned the notion of hiring a great director like Robert Altman to stage Arthur Miller's last play.

"Whatever he might have mischievously said in interviews Robert also knew this play backwards, sideways and forwards.