IT’S every theatre group’s worst nightmare.

And it was almost curtains at Meltham Gilbert and Sullivan Society’s (GSS) annual performance when their lead, Paul Richmond, dropped out with swine flu – just one hour before the curtain rose.

But luckily musical veteran Richard Buxton, of Huddersfield GSS, agreed to fill in – at just 45 minutes’ notice.

Brave tenor Richard agreed to take over the role of Colonel Fairfax in The Yeomen Of The Guard at St Bartholomew’s Church, Meltham, at the last minute.

Mr Buxton, of Paddock, dropped his fish and chips to race to the church and don the colonel’s uniform with only a few minutes to spare.

Thankfully Richard, a musical director of Halifax GSS, knew all the songs having performed many of them at concerts.

And while he occasionally dipped into the libretto (the book with the script, songs and stage directions) on the Friday nightperformance, Mr Buxton was able to perform unaided on Saturday afternoon and evening.

Meltham GSS producer Helen Bamforth said: “Paul was a bit croaky but he managed on the Thursday night.

“At 6.45pm on Friday we were desperate and we finally got in contact with Richard.

“Richard is well up on musicals and he’s a concert singer and he’d sung the songs before in concert, but not on stage.

“He came within half an hour. The costume fitted him, thankfully.

“He didn’t need the music book. He just needed the libretto and he hardly used it.

“We asked him to perform the matinee and he didn’t even need the book. He was brilliant.

“He had a very good stage presence and he sung the songs beautifully.

“Before we were panicking – in a mature sort of way! I rang Richard’s wife and he was having fish and chips.

“And he didn’t let us down. Anyone coming to the show wouldn’t have known.

“We were very, very lucky.”

Mr Buxton, 62, said: “I didn’t really get time to worry. They are all friends and people I know. I was going to be in the audience anyway. I was happy to fill in.

“In situations like these you have to help. You might need someone to help you at some stage. It was quite nice to do a show but not have to go to any rehearsals!”