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A performance of the newest musical adaptation of the 1992 film The Bodyguard was forced to a halt mid-performance after unruly patrons sang along with the live performers.
Variety reported that two female audience members were forcibly ejected from The Palace Theater in Manchester, England after they rudely disrupted the performance more than once on Friday night.
According to tweets from patrons at the theater, the show was stopped during the first act due to the sing-along, and again when the show's star, Pussycat Dolls member Melody Thornton, tried to sing "I Will Always Love You."
With roughly ten minutes left to go until the finale, the women completely ignored the theater's warnings given prior to the show asking audiences not to sing along, and they sang loudly off-pitch as Thornton did her best to keep it together.
The actor's microphone was subsequently cut off and the house lights came on before she could finish the iconic song made famous by Whitney Houston's rendition of the Dolly Parton-penned tune.
Security staff physically removed the resisting patrons from their balcony seats, and the show was canceled for the rest of the evening, much to the dismay of paying ticketholders.
The breaking of theater etiquette that led to the chaos was described by attendees as “fights in the aisles” and even “a mini-riot."
Footage of the ruckus was posted on social media.
Twitter user Karl Bradley filmed and shared clips from the night–including videos of the disruption, patrons cheering the removal of the women, and responding police vehicles parked outside the theater.
"I’m new to the world of theatre," he wrote.
"But sad and disappointed tonight at the state of some peoples arrogance and disrespect while at a show."
"Completely ruined #TheBodyguard, singing over the actors, to the point of them cancelling the show & police being called #Manchester."
\u201cI\u2019m new to the world of theatre. But sad and disappointed tonight at the state of some peoples arrogance and disrespect while at a show. \n\nCompletely ruined #TheBodyguard, singing over the actors, to the point of them cancelling the show & police being called \ud83e\udd26\u200d\u2642\ufe0f\ud83d\ude22 #Manchester\u201d— Karl Bradley (@Karl Bradley) 1680905890
Bradley told BBC Manchester Radio that the women "started to project themselves" by singing along and trying to hit the song's high notes and failed.
"That's when the chaos began," he said.
In a follow-up to his tweet, Bradley continued:
"Staff at the theatre done great keeping as much as they could under control & informing the audience of updates."
"Truly disappointing though, especially for the actors!"
"@MelodyThornton smashed it as predicted. However a shame we never got the see it all end @PalaceAndOpera."
\u201cStaff at the theatre done great keeping as much as they could under control & informing the audience of updates. Truly disappointing though, especially for the actors! @MelodyThornton smashed it as predicted. However a shame we never got the see it all end @PalaceAndOpera \ud83d\udc94\u201d— Karl Bradley (@Karl Bradley) 1680905890
Another user posted footage from that night of the uncooperative women being yanked from their seats.
\u201cThis was last night at @PalaceAndOpera during #bodyguard . Shocking behaviour. Some people just have no respect for the cast and their fellow audience members. We pay to watch the professionals who have trained for years not Wannabe Wilma & her drunk pals.\n#manchester\u201d— Jordan Doolan (@Jordan Doolan) 1680965704
When Thornton arrived home following the canceled performance, she addressed the evening's Manchester audience in a video post prior to removing her show makeup.
“I respect that you paid your money, and I am so grateful to everyone who respects the people on stage who want to give you a beautiful show."
She continued:
"For everything that happened tonight, I cant say, I don’t have all of the details. I just am very, very sorry that we couldn’t finish the show."
"I fought really hard. It feels awful. I just hope that we see you again. The Bodyguard is a great show."
"It's a wonderful love story and I know people were out to see the beatutiful story and I thank everyone who was respectful of the performers and am very, very sorry for those who weren’t. I hope we see you soon.”
\u201chttps://t.co/f49duyxzRQ\u201d— Melody Thornton (@Melody Thornton) 1680946586
People commented on the increasing cases of rude and disruptive behavior among audiences at live theatrical shows.
\u201c@KarlBradley_1 I had the same experience when lion king came to Manchester! People thought it was a sing along, consistently talking, kids screaming\u2026. Never again!\u201d— Karl Bradley (@Karl Bradley) 1680905890
\u201c@KarlBradley_1 @MelodyThornton @PalaceAndOpera 1/ Went to see moulin rouge December when they just opened theatres. Everyone had to wear a mask. Two young girls made their way to their seats next to us and promptly took off their masks DESPITE staff holding up signs to wear masks throughout the performance\u201d— Karl Bradley (@Karl Bradley) 1680905890
\u201c@KarlBradley_1 @MelodyThornton @PalaceAndOpera 2/ I told her to put her mask back on. She told me they were exempt. I told her she was lying as she had worn one to the seat. She then accused me of being rude for telling her to put her mask on\u2026 but I made sure she did!! I would have thrown that woman out myself! People! \ud83d\ude16\u201d— Karl Bradley (@Karl Bradley) 1680905890
\u201c@MelodyThornton I\u2019m so sorry this happened to you and all the people who wanted to enjoy the show. I remember when my friend saw TB in London and drunk people disturbed @Beverleyknight belting out the last number - everyone was so upset that it ruined such a special moment \u2764\ufe0f\u2764\ufe0f\u2764\ufe0f\u2764\ufe0f\u201d— Melody Thornton (@Melody Thornton) 1680946586
\u201c@BBCNWT This is becoming more and more of a problem. It really winds me up. Essentially people are starting to take their new found festival culture into the concert halls. Usually pissed and lairy by the time they get in. No respect for tbe artists audience or anyone.\u201d— BBC North West (@BBC North West) 1680969880
\u201c@BBCNWT No doubt drunk. People have forgotten to behave.\u201d— BBC North West (@BBC North West) 1680969880
\u201c@KarlBradley_1 @MelodyThornton @PalaceAndOpera I thought I\u2019d seen the worst of the worst, turns out you can never underestimate the British public\u2019s ability to be drunk and disruptive \ud83d\ude15 the people I work with are absolute legends for putting up with it, thanks for recognising their efforts x\u201d— Karl Bradley (@Karl Bradley) 1680905890
When a user asked if involving the police was necessary for the situation, Bradley replied:
"I can’t comment on what fully happened, but it looked like it was the only way to difuse it."
"Someone seemed to be sitting on a the safety barrier, a very thin ledge, they clearly had no respect for the staff and could have gone terribly wrong. Better to be safe than sorry."
The very first production of Bodyguard opened at the Adelphi Theatre in London's West End, on November 6, 2012.
Talk of having a stage version of the movie made famous by its leading lady Whitney Houston was discussed in February 2012, just days following the singer's untimely death.
The show, with a book by Alexander Dinelaris, shares the same premise as the eponymous 1992 film starring Whitney Houston as Rachel Marron, a pop diva who hires a secret service agent–played by Kevin Kostner– after she had been repeatedly harassed by a dangerously obsessive stalker.
This is the third UK and Ireland tour of The Bodyguard that started on January 28, 2023.
Ushers in the Palace Theater had been spotted holding signs asking audience members to refrain from singing along to the stage show's popular songs–including "I'm Every Woman," and "Run To You."
"PLEASE REFRAIN FROM SINGING ALONG. Thank you," read one sign held by an usher as theatergoers entered the venue.
The prohibitive initiative started as previous stops on the tour experienced similar "anti-social behavior" from audiences.
A representative for The Palace told the BBC:
"We ask that customers are considerate towards the cast, fellow audience members, and theater team so that everyone can enjoy the wonderful entertainment on stage."