Parents With Young Kids Walk Out Of Britney's Toronto Show
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Parents with young children walk out of racy Britney Spears show in Toronto
Updated at 0:23 on April 4, 2004, EST.
TORONTO (CP) - Britney Spears bought her raunchy show to Toronto on Saturday
for the first Canadian date of her tour, complete with scenes of simulated
sex that sent some parents and their young children home early while a mostly
female audience of teens and 20-somethings hooted and hollered for more.
"Disgusting," was the one-word review from nine-year-old Carly Woodcox.
"I think she should never do that again," said the Peterborough,
Ont., resident, reacting to the American superstar's performance during Touch
of My Hand.
Emerging from under a white robe in the later part of the show to reveal a near-transparent sequin-covered bodysuit, Spears thrashed about in a bathtub while dancers simulated sex acts in various rooms of the hotel-themed backdrop.
Silhouettes of couples and threesomes could be seen as a fit young male dancer rubbed a red silk pillow about his nether-regions in the foreground.
The soft-core inspired choreography continued into the next song, Breathe on Me, in which the 22-year-old singer rolled about on a bed in her bra and panties under the watchful gaze of the same male dancer. The two ended up in a full, open mouthed kiss displayed on three giant video screens.
"That would be something for adult viewing only," said Woodcox's aunt, Judy Doughty, who added she was embarrassed for having brought her niece to the show and said they would talk about it on the drive home.
"A little too much for this age group," said Lucy Triagiai, who stood up to escort home three young girls, ages five through 11, moments after the simulated sex acts began. "I don't think it was necessary."
But the majority of the audience stayed and gave Spears a standing ovation at the end of it all. The singer, who cancelled three shows in as many weeks after injuring her knee during a dance routine last month, showed no signs of slowing down Saturday.
The American music superstar wriggled her toned and tanned body to such hits as Toxic and I'm A Slave 4 U, rarely venturing too far back into her five-year career that's seen her transform from schoolgirl cutie to provocative temptress.
While the Lolita-esque video for her 1999 debut single Baby One More Time was delivered in the guise of schoolgirl innocence - after all it's not Britney's fault if men find kilts attractive - Saturday's show left no doubt that former Mickey Mouse Club regular is all grown up.
Taking a number of cues from her mentor Madonna, who actually ran into trouble with Toronto police in 1990 when her Blonde Ambition tour came to town complete with scenes of simulated self-pleasure and general naughtiness, Spears bared a lot more than her soul through her music.
Through numerous costumes changes there was plenty of exposed skin on display by Spears and the male and female dancers who accompanied her on stage.
Not one to leave any suggestive stone unturned, Spears also made reference to her Las Vegas quickie wedding on Jan. 3 that ended in an annulment some 55 hours later.
"I see a lot of cute fellas," she said in a scripted moment that's been repeated many times during the tour. "Are you feeling lucky? Who knows, I might marry you."
If the object of those saucy antics was to once and for all put to bed a virginal image so carefully cultivated early in her career, Spears has succeeded. Even Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, 77, is impressed. He told Us Weekly magazine earlier this year that not only would he like Spears to pose naked in his magazine, but that he'd gladly take her on as one of his many girlfriends.
Spears was scheduled to perform Sunday night in Montreal before heading back to the U.S.
There have been reports that the tour could be headed to China, pending approval
from the government. If the show goes off as planned, Spears -with more than
54 million records sold worldwide - would become one of the biggest international
pop stars to play the communist state since it was established in 1949.