IN the true spirit of "the show must go on", a member of the audience stepped into the breach when the pianist for Farnworth Amateur Operatic Society's production of Bitter Sweet was delayed at last night's opening performance.

The pianist had realised shortly before curtain-up at the Albert Halls, Bolton, that the piano parts for the show were missing.

He drove to Worsley to get them while the audience waited for the show to start.

But his journey took longer than expected and when Farnworth officials realised they had Arnold Thornton, an accomplished, professional musician, in the audience, they asked him to join the orchestra for the first half of the show.

Arnold was the Musical Director for Farnworth while still an amateur and after he turned professional was MD for the Octagon Theatre.

"I still think of Farnworth as 'my' society," Arnold said. "I was delighted to play for them, but I still did not have the music parts of course. The conductor kept passing me his sheets of music."

The piano playing was particularly important in the first act because one of the actors in the show had to pretend he was playing the instrument for a music lesson.

"I usually attend Farnworth's first nights," Arnold said. "So the officials knew I was here. But I just expected to be watching the show, not joining the orchestra."

Arnold's "fee" for his performance was a large gin and tonic in the VIP lounge at the interval. Then he went back and joined the audience for the second half of the production.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.