THE show went on again last night. Gadoc’s performance of 42nd Street went ahead at Beau Sejour after key cast member Bridget Carey, who plays Dorothy Brock, recovered from the illness which forced her out of Tuesday’s.

A matinee at 2.30 on Saturday has been added to the run. Those who had tickets for the cancelled show will be given booking priority.

‘Beau Sejour staff have been absolutely brilliant and managed to contact all but about 10 people who were booked for Tuesday,’ said Gadoc chairman Jane Blower.

‘They deserve a massive pat on the back.’

Tickets for that show are not automatically transferable to the matinee. Some people have had their money back while others have been rebooked.

Mrs Blower said that Mrs Carey had no reason to feel bad about the cancellation because people could not help being sick. Last October, a Gadoc performance of Sir Alan Ayckbourn’s Taking Steps, also directed by Pat Blampied, had to be cancelled when cast member Tony Riddle suffered a detached retina.

Mrs Blower said steps would be taken to minimise the risk of cancellations caused by the unavailability of cast members.

‘For some years, we have discussed the possibility of using understudies for our productions like Oliver and Annie where you have a number of children,’ she said.

‘When you have somebody with as much experience as Bridget and who is that good, it can be very difficult. Bridget is a true professional.

‘These things happen and you have to be ready for them.’

Mrs Blower said people should not be too despondent if they did not get the lead role they wanted and could always fill the breach as an understudy.

‘If you get a job as an understudy, it means you are still pretty good,’ she said.

‘It would be a good learning curve for people and I’m sure everybody would feel a bit more relaxed, because Tuesday was a nightmare.’

Mrs Blower said a huge amount of work went into putting on shows.

‘Many people have demanding jobs and it’s mind-blowing how they manage to juggle the two.’

All seven performances of 42nd Street are virtually sold out.

‘When I saw the dress rehearsal, I thought that this was about as professional as you can get.’