Mel B breaks character in final Chicago performance

Not only is it not common, it is an insult to her fellow performers/the production team/the paying audience/the profession. May her D- talent never make it's way onto the professional stage again.

MinnieFay said: "RogerMoore said: "I just saw Mel B's final performance as Roxie and she broke character 3 times during 'Roxie'. The first was to sing the opening of Spice Girl's 'Wannabe', the second was to say it was her final performance and she wanted to dedicate it to her dad. The third was when her child Madison said 'I love you Mommy' from offstage and she said 'I love you too, Madison.' Is this a normal thing that occurs during a star's final performance in this show? Is it condoned?

none of this bothered me but I wonder if it's common "

Yes. Every single Roxie has sung a Spice Girls song, and said "hello" to her daughter Madison and dedicated the show to her dead dad. It's written into the script.







"

I didn't know they allowed laptop use at the Algonquin bar.

Sondheimite said: "Not only is it not common, it is an insult to her fellow performers/the production team/the paying audience/the profession. May her D- talent never make it's way onto the professional stage again.



"

Stick the stick out of your ass. I would have loved to have been there. I love it when this sort of thing happens!

There's a reason she doesn't have much of a career now.

Yes, because saying hi to her daughter is a career ender!!

Being a fan of Chicago AND the Spice Girls - I saw Mel B at the beginning of her run as well as last night. Honestly, I went to see "Scary" Spice - not Sutton Foster - and that's what I got. Last night was obviously a last performance because she was way over the top compared to the first time I saw her. BTW, from what I saw/heard, she didn't actually say "mother&^er" in Act II - she fell in the Jury's lap and while she was hitting him, said "Mutha ! " (while laughing, as OP said - her daughter was in the audience after all!). Anyway, I had a great time last night - kudos to her Velma and the rest of the cast for keeping it together!

^ Roxie Heart?

I guess this strikes me as annoying, but the staging of this show kinda allows for this king of thing, in moderation...I would have thought. It's been a while since I've seen it, but doesn't Mama Morton break character at the start of Act 2? I'm sure there were other instances when I was there, too...although this does seem a little much. She was probably made aware of the tradition and just got carried away, or maybe she genuinely didn't give a fcuk.

Updated On: 2/20/17 at 01:35 PM

Hairspray0901 said: "She just posted a video on her Instagram account of her breaking character. https://instagram.com/p/BQvjOyAlFft/

To be honest, I usually love when actors improvise and give shoutouts during last performances but Usually those actors are seasoned pros and for some reason this irked me the wrong way.



Totally agree with this. Big difference between a few good-natured ad libs that are common in last shows vs shameless (and from the video kind of obnoxious) self-promotion.

I hate "muck up matinees" and last night antics. It smacks of smugness and a lack of respect for those who want to see a story performed with integrity.

Yeah, it sounded like the crowd really hated it.

Normally I'm like "meh" but it's a final show and it's Mel B and it's a Sunday night, lord knows the crowd probably needed to wake up.

I feel like it might have been as the conductor didn't skip a beat - then again, she's a professional doing her job - even when Mel B kissed her on the lips at the end of 'Roxie' (though maybe that's part of this production ... it's been awhile). If it wasn't sanctioned by the higher-ups then everyone in the orchestra and cast did a great job of making it seem like it was part of the fun and that they were sending a beloved (short-term) member of the company member off. Most of the audience seemed to truly love it.

I didn't mind it I had just never seen an intentional break like that before and wondered if Chicago let their stunt-cast performers do it on the regular.

The Wei$$lers haven't cared about the artistic integrity of this show for at least a decade, probably longer.