Injured while taking flight, solo performer perseveres

In the theater world, “break a leg” means “good luck” -- but performer Adriana Sevan may have thought otherwise when she collapsed in pain onstage after twisting her knee during a particularly animated sequence in Sunday’s opening night performance of “Taking Flight,” one of four works in the “Solomania!” festival at Culver City’s Kirk Douglas Theatre. “This isn’t part of the show,” she pointed out the from the floor, calling out for backstage aid.

The audience was sent out of the auditorium for about 20 minutes and paramedics were summoned. But, to invoke another hoary theater cliche, the show must go on -- and it did. The show’s director, Giovanna Sardelli, said Monday that after first aid was administered, Sevan continued the performance sitting in a chair, an ice pack on her knee.

Like many audience members, Sardelli at first thought the fall was a creative choice. “In fact, when she fell to the ground, I thought: ‘I wish she’d told me she was going to do that, I’ll have to speak to her later.’ ”

At the end of her performance, Sevan received a standing ovation, and theater namesake Douglas, who was seated in the first row, came onstage to praise Sevan for her talent and courage.

After an emergency room X-ray showed no broken bones, Sevan showed up for the opening night party, sporting Ace bandage and ice pack. “We put her in a wheelchair and rolled her around,” Sardelli said.

Sevan was still waiting to undergo an MRI at press time, but Sardelli said that it appeared the show would continue as scheduled with Sevan remaining chair-bound until her knee improves.

“What’s funny is, 80% of the show takes place with her in that chair anyway,” Sardelli said.