The ticketholders have paid their money. Everyone is starting to come by twos, fours, and other combinations into the theater. From their standpoint it is a normal evening at the theater.
But on the other side of the curtain there is near panic. Noel is sick, Andrew is in the hospital with pneumonia, Brian is feeling very queasy. Quick assessments are being made. Obviously if someone is not feeling well but is physically present and capable of filling their role, they are encouraged to do so. It may not be the best performance of their career but it will be a performance. And we just don't have the luxury of understudies for parts in community theater.
But when the person is out literally or functionally it is a different matter. Even an ensemble part is key since dance pairings, choreography cues, and stage hand responsibilities are assigned to everyone. But missing people with key dialog and musical number roles can be near disasters. Another "less important or visible" part may be "robbed" or borrowed which then creates yet another hole in the lineup. Scripts are furiously studied, songs hastily practiced, and interacting actors are briefed on the changes. Replacement actors sometimes appear on stage still holding their scripts, depending frantically on cues from fellow actors for entrances and exits. The audience may or may not hear the repeated verses of a song or notice the missing parts. Let's hear it for the substitutes! We all pull together and the show goes on!
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