As producer Kevin Wallace watched the crowds leaving the Princess of Wales Theatre last night, he was in a positive frame of mind, despite the fact that various technical problems caused the first preview of The Lord of the Rings to run over four and a half hours. "We have a solid show," said a relieved Wallace, "the audience remained engaged throughout, even with all the problems and delays that we will fix in time. We just have to finesse things a little and we'll be home free." Yet only now, with previews underway and the all-important March 23 opening clearly in sight, can Wallace finally admit how close we came to not having The Lord of The Rings here at all. [More]