Basic Trope: Despite something happening to the cast/crew/set, the actors decide to put on the show anyway.
- Straight: Alice, Bob's longtime girlfriend, suddenly dies before Bob's big performance, yet he decides to go on stage anyway after hearing about it.
- Exaggerated:
- Alice dies in front of Bob before his biggest, grandest performance ever. Despite being an emotional wreck, he performs his heart out anyway.
- Bob could suffer a sudden cardiac arrest at any time. He makes sure to pour his heart and soul into his biggest, grandest performance ever.
- Downplayed: Alice, Bob's longtime girlfriend, suddenly dies before Bob's big performance. He attempts to perform the show for as long as possible, but eventually emotion overcomes him, and he stops the show halfway through.
- Justified:
- Bob knew Alice would have wanted him to pursue his dream, regardless, so he puts on the show in her memory.
- It's a fairly sad play, and Bob is able to channel his sadness into his performance.
- The orphanage needs the income from this show to survive. IT! HAS! TO! GO! ON!
- Inverted: Bob decides that, because his girlfriend, Alice, is still alive and well, he won't perform that night.
- Subverted: After hearing about Alice's death, Bob almost goes on stage to perform then changes his mind at the last minute.
- Double Subverted: Then, after a friend gives him a quick pep talk, he takes the stage anyway.
- Parodied: ???
- Zig Zagged: ???
- Averted: There is nothing to keep Bob from wanting to perform before an audience that night.
- Enforced: ???
- Lampshaded: "Well, they say the show must go on, no matter what happens."
- Invoked: Bob's manager finds him in no state to perform, grieving Alice's death, but talks/forces him into performing that night anyway, citing this as a reason.
- Exploited: ???
- Defied:
- "No. I'm in no condition to perform tonight. The show can wait."
- The show's manager immediately orders Bob's replacement to go on stage or for the show to pause for the day (even overruling Bob's manager), taking the decision completely off Bob's hands.
- Discussed: ???
- Conversed: ???
- Deconstructed: As much Bob tries to keep up the show, eventually he can't do this anymore, all the performances he's doing reminding him of the person who's always been by his side and having helped him get to where he is today. He breaks down into tears halfway though the performance, ruining the show altogether.
- Reconstructed: The audience feels immense empathy towards Bob, and starts cheering him on more and more, which eventually manages to bring Bob's mood back up. He thanks warmly everyone, and the show resumes.
- Implied: Bob looks like he's on the verge of tears as he comes out on stage, yet performs the show anyway.
Back to The Show Must Go On.
