And, Now: 'Diana -- The Musical'

By Stephen M. Silverman

08/23/2001 at 05:51 PM EDT

The first musical based on the life of the late Princess Diana will hold its premiere in Germany this November when the curtain goes up on "Lady Di -- Diana: A Smile That Enchants The World" (the Germans are very literal in their language) in the southwestern city of Saarbruecken. The musical revolves around a lovestruck Diana who is manipulated by the outside world, reports Reuters. "There is such a huge interest in Diana and her life in Germany," said Peter Thomas, 75, the show's composer. "We'll see how things go, but I'm confident this musical will be translated into English as well." The show will cost around $1 million to mount (by comparison, most Broadway musicals now cost in the $8 million to $10 million range). English actress Karen Gillingham, who has appeared in German productions of "The Phantom of the Opera" and "Les Miserables," will play Diana. Only five of the cast of 22 are German. Lawyers advised the show's producers against having actors play living members of the royal family, so Prince Charles reportedly only shows up as a voice and the audience will only see the Queen's back bowing to Diana's coffin in the grand finale. Act I is meant to deal with the wedding and rocky marriage of Charles and Di. Act II, meanwhile, will spotlight her work with the poor and her search for a true love, which will be embodied in the form of Dodi Al Fayed, who died with her a 1997 car crash.