GOSSIP: SPICE GIRLS MUSICAL VIVA FOREVER DELAYED DUE TO BAND BICKERING?
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London Theatre Direct
Upcoming musical Viva Forever based on the back catalogue from the biggest-selling girl group of all time the Spice Girls has been setback by infighting between the two Mels, according to The New York Post. It seems that Sporty Spice Melanie C and Scary Spice Mel B are at loggerheads over numerous decisions concerning the musical.
Absolutely Fabulous creator Jennifer Saunders is said to be getting exasperated by the lack of harmony within the camp. She signed on to write the book of the production in 2010 and has always been a big advocate of the girls, appearing with comedy partner-in-crime Dawn French in the girls' high energy video for Who Do You Think You Are, and recently Baby Spice Emma Bunton featured in both the Absolutely Fabulous Christmas and Sports Relief specials.
It had been hoped that the musical would be ready to open later this year as 2012 is seen as the perfect year to celebrate all things British with the The Queen's upcoming Diamond Jubilee and the Summer Olympics being hosted by the capital. It now seems more likely that the show will get pushed to a 2013 opening.
The two Mels plus Bunton, Ginger Spice Geri Halliwell and popstar-tuned-fashion world-darling Victoria Beckham, aka Posh Spice, are all involved in the show's creative process. Their relatively short career still generated a monster back catalogue that will bring a high energy to the West End show, such as Latin-infused stomper Spice Up Your Life, boisterous Wannabe and the slinky Say You'll Be There. They have also been feted for their emotional ballads such as Too Much, 2 Become 1 and the show's stirring title track.
In their illustrious career the girls have sold over 75 million records worldwide, spawned tie-in movie Spice World and broken numerous records. It has been estimated that at their peak their global branding brought in £300-500million gross between 1996 and 1998 alone.
Rumours had been circulating that the show would be perfect for the Prince Of Wales Theatre after current show Mamma Mia vacates at the start of September to transfer to the Novello. If the show is not ready to debut in an October/November date it looks like it will have to zig-a-zig ahh elsewhere in the New Year, which would work well with the end of Beatles show, Let It Be finishing its limited run at the Prince of Wales from 14th September to 19th January...
Book Mamma Mia tickets online now.
[posted by James, 03/04/2012]