Unkind cut fells Irish Hamlet

Good night, injured prince.

An audience watching an Irish production of Hamlet   was shocked to see the prince exit the stage too soon — when a sword fight really wounded the star.

Conor Madden, playing the title character of Shakespeare's tragedy, suffered a gash beneath his eye and collapsed at Monday's production in the southwest city of Cork. He was hospitalized but released.

Many playgoers thought the wound was part of the act. Artistic director Alan Stanford took the stage to say the blood and moans were real, and Hamlet couldn't continue without the prince.

Madden is missing Tuesday's two performances at Cork's Everyman Theatre but may return Wednesday, when Hamlet is expected to resume shuffling off this mortal coil in line with the script.