Saturday » March 7 » 2009

Victoria fans went wild for Girlicious, but did they go too far?

Mike Devlin
Victoria Times Colonist

Friday, March 06, 2009

They were there to scream for Girlicious and in the eyes (and ears) of some, they behaved badly. But maybe it was just a difference of opinion over how you're supposed to behave at a concert.

Dozens of Girlicious fans rushed to the front of the Royal Theatre stage to get closer to the U.S. pop act. Some climbed on speakers, others danced in the aisles, blocking the view and knocking against those still in their seats.

Nothing was broken and no injuries were reported at Thursday night's Victoria show, attended by about 600, mostly teen girls.

To the eyes and ears of Lloyd Fitzsimonds, executive director of the Royal and McPherson Theatres Society, it was among the loudest and most rambunctious crowds he has encountered in his 10 years at the Broughton Street venue. "They drove us nuts all night long," he said. "It was a tough night for security and a tough night for my ushers."

Fitzsimonds called a staff meeting yesterday to discuss the raucous concert, and how staff could better handle such a situation in the future. The meeting also addressed an angry letter he received from Girlicious fan Ceilidh Hague, 26, who was struck in the side of the head and hit in the knee by concertgoers as she sat in a second-row aisle seat.

Dozens rushed the stage at the request of opening act Danny Fernandes, and remained there while security looked on, she said. "The first eight rows were covered in a mob of people."

Hague's complaint was the only one the theatre received, said Fitzsimonds.

Ticket-holders will have varying views about concert etiquette, he said. "I feel for her sitting there, because the audience came to scream. This ain't the opera. This is what happens at teenager shows."