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The show had to go on for performers of the hit musical Wicked who put on an emotional show following the death of musical theatre veteran Rob Guest.
The show's cast and crew did a wonderful job but the tears were flowing among the performers during the final
number, according to Melbourne theatregoers who attended the show.
"They were emotional by the end," said Gerardo Talamo, of Brunswick.
"The producer made a big spiel prior to the show and said it was an emotional night and the case and crew would put their all into it for Rob Guest."
Camberwell couple Chris and Michelle Barber said they had a fantastic night and Guest's understudy, Rodney Dobson, performed well as the Wizard.
"Everyone got behind the show and were really enthusiastic," Barber said.
Guest, 58, suffered a massive stroke on Tuesday evening in Melbourne and died early Thursday in St Vincent's Hospital after he was taken off life support, surrounded by family and friends.
As well as speaking to the audience in paying tribute to Guest and dedicating the performance to him, Wicked producer John Frost also spoke to the cast and crew beforehand.
"He read out a message from Marc Platt, who is a big-time producer of Wicked in the US, who thought Rob was fantastic," the show's publicist, Suzie Howie told AAP.
"The company's still in a bit of shock."
"Rob was the older statesmen of the show, most of the others are quite young, some are only aged 18-20 lost a grandparent."
"Next week we will look at some sort of memorial for Rob."
A large collection of bouquets of flowers and loving messages for Guest sat alongside a picture of him outside the Regent Theatre in Collins Street, in Melbourne's CBD.
Marina Prior, his co-star during his record run as the Phantom in Phantom of the Opera, said he treated everyone the same.
"Robbie always had number one dressing room star on the door but the door was always opened and the couch was always full of cast and backstage crew," Prior told reporters.
"He was exactly the same to his leading lady, to the producer, as he was to the cleaner and the stage door person."
"That's what everybody loved about him."
"He was a star without star attitude."
A mentor to young performers in the industry and a dedicated father to Christopher and Amy, Guest was "one of the good guys" who was a leader in the industry, Prior said.
Guest performed his 100th show in his latest role in hit musical Wicked in Melbourne last Friday.
Wicked producer John Frost said Guest's passing marked the end of an era which saw the rise of performers like Prior, Guest and Anthony Warlow.
Born in Britain, Guest enjoyed fame as a pop star in New Zealand when he began performing on the television show Happen In in the 1970s and 1980s and spent a decade in Las Vegas.
He was best known in Australia for his leading role in The Phantom of the Opera in which he gave 2,289 performances over seven years.
The non-smoker was not a heavy drinker, was in "great shape" and showed no signs of ill health, Frost said.
An industry memorial service will be held at the Princess or Regent Theatre in Melbourne within the next 10 days.
Funeral arrangements are yet to be confirmed.
- AAP