Actor's Face Slashed During Hamlet

An Irish production of Hamlet was cut short in the second half when the star was slashed under the eye and collapsed during the play's famous sword-fighting scene. Director Alan Stanford took to the stage to tell the audience that the blood was real and the show couldn't go on. Actor Conor Madden was hospitalized, but is expected to resume playing the prince this week, the Telegraph reports.

The production used replica swords with rounded tips. "Conor is fine,” Stanford tells the Irish Times. “It is quite a complex sword fight. And I’m always amazed it doesn’t happen more. It was just one of those rare occasions. The sword caught him under the eye and he pulled back to avoid it, but got a small cut. I think he went into a bit of shock." (More Hamlet stories.)