Madonna Performs Strange Concert After Four-Hour Delay Taking The Stage In Australia
Madonna’s Australian fans had waited 23 years for her to return to their country. On Thursday, the wait was extended by an unexpected four-hour delay. According to Australia’s News site, Madonna left fans waiting — and then proceeded to pepper her performance with some swigs from a cocktail glass.
Page Six reported that Madonna spoke onstage about her ongoing custody battle with ex-husband Guy Ritchie over their son Rocco. A childhood picture of Rocco was shown onstage. The paper noted Madonna’s appearance in a clown costume riding a children’s tricycle, part of the songstresses’ unique stage show.
By Saturday, Madonna’s tune had changed; she apologized for Thursday night’s performance, according to The Daily Mail, and got started only 45 minutes after the expected start time. The Saturday show was a return to Madonna’s established Rebel Heart Tour stage show. The Thursday performance was a one-off performance called Tears of a Clown.
Clowning around in Melbourne #tearsofaclown pic.twitter.com/FAHRiUBH0z
— Madonna (@Madonna) March 10, 2016
“I only had two days to rehearse — I’m gonna do it better next time, I promise.”
“Thank you for your patience, you’ve waited over 20 years. What the f*** is wrong with me?”
But fans on Thursday weren’t necessarily upset about seeing a different side of Madonna. New Zealand Herald reported that the intimate show was free and attended by 1,400 lucky concert goers. In addition to downing cosmopolitans, Madonna told stories and spoke extensively between songs. Due to start at 9 p.m., Madonna didn’t show up until after midnight and the show eventually wrapped at 3 a.m.
One Australian fan, Nicole Condon, who has spent $20,000 going to Madonna shows outside of her home country, told News she was not disappointed in the least.
“That Forum show was very unpolished. For a fan, that’s a money-can’t-buy situation, we loved it. To see her struggle with confidence, to surrender that control live was a massive risk for her. That was another side of her letting her guard down. Perhaps in this emotional state she needs to be creative and express that.”
Sidney Morning Herald reported that fans passed the time by singing medleys of Madonna’s songs. When she took the stage, she gave what SMH called a vulnerable and open performance. Fans who missed the show can catch a glimpse by forking down money for the tour version of the Rebel Heart album. NZH reported it was filmed for release as a bonus disc.
News reported that while Rocco is in London with his father, Madonna’s two youngest children are on tour with her. Her daughter Lourdes, 19, is attending college in the United States.
That touring life…………,,,,,#tearsofaclown Finally made it to Melbourne a href=”https://t.co/6sDTknO85J”>pic.twitter.com/6sDTknO85J
— Madonna (@Madonna) March 12, 2016
The Telegraph reported Friday on Ritchie’s and Madonna’s ongoing court appearances over Rocco’s custody. Speaking on Madonna’s behalf, her lawyer said the pop icon does not want to prolong litigation.
“She doesn’t wish for these proceedings in England to continue any longer than necessary.
“What she has always sought to date is to find a way in which this family can come together to heal the wounds which have been inflicted on the family in the past four months or so.
“She wants to chart a course for Rocco and the family to help put this behind them and restore peace to the family.”
The paper reported that court proceedings are also underway in the United States. Through her British lawyer, Madonna said she wanted the family to reconcile and settle back into their normal lives. Rocco reportedly traveled to London to visit his father and never returned to the U.S.
Madonna’s Rebel Heart Tour wraps up its Australian dates on March 20, 2016, in Sydney.
[Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images]
