 Audiences did not respond well to the revised version during early performances . Blake was on the verge of dropping the number from the show when a dancer took ill and had to be replaced . The understudy was a singer who did not know the steps , so when he was unable to follow the routine he ignored it and improvised . America 's Songs quotes Sissle 's recollection of how the performance saved the song : " He dropped out of line and with a jive smile and a high @-@ stepping routine of his own , he stopped the show cold . " 
