Dogs have their day in quest for new star

It is the sort of scenario theatre directors have nightmares about: You are on tour, opening night approaches - and your star decides to pull a "sickie".

But in the case of Patch the dog and his alleged "homesickness", The Shaughraun director John McColgan is being philosophical. "He was a great dog and much loved. He had a couple of tricks, but we're hoping the next dog will have his own bit of performance too."

McColgan was speaking in London yesterday at an audition at the Albery Theatre, where he is touring with the Abbey production of a play centred on the canine character of Tatters.

The part had been played by Patch, a rescued-dog owned by RTÉ presenter Mary Kennedy, in summer and winter runs of the show in Dublin.

However, the much-loved mongrel is said by production staff to have looked "pale and wan" in recent days, prompting the search for an understudy.

"He is a Dublin dog and we are not sure he will survive away from his home for so long," said McColgan who has booked The Shaughraun into the Albery until September. "His family miss him too, and that's another factor," he added.

McColgan admitted a replacement would be hard to find for Patch, who was discovered at a house party thrown by Kennedy last year at the end of her Open House TV series. He had originally been a birthday present for Kennedy's daughter, Lucy, from singer Linda Martin.

While Patch would be missed, a smooth transition was planned. "We saw 10 dogs today, now we have reduced that to three. We are going to put them into a couple of matinees to see how they do."