Spice Girls Take Manhattan

by Joal Ryan
Jul 2, 1998, 9:10 AM PT

Live from New York: What's left of the Spice Girls.

The chart-topping singing group hit Manhattan Thursday night in the Ginger-less quartet's most key U.S. tour date yet.

The sold-out Madison Square Garden show avoided mention of the dearly departed Geri Halliwell, who got her fill of that "friendship lasts forever" business and walked last month.

Ten shows into their 40-city tour, the remaining Spices--Baby, Sporty, Scary and Posh--stuck to the script (honed to a Donny & Marie-esque sheen), the dance moves and the 20 (count 'em, 20!) sing-a-long sing-songs.

If Halliwell really was the Generation Next band's secret thirtysomething (as reported this week), her ex-bandmates weren't telling Thursday.

Short on tabloid-teasing controversy, the concert still proved useful in helping solve several long-standing Spice Girl mysteries. Such as:

So, who buys their records anyway?

Nine-year-olds with disposable income.

The Garden looked like a Woodstock for third-graders--packed with prepubescent types (mostly girls) and their bedraggled parents. Never before have so many missed their bedtimes.

How does a Spice Girls concert differ from other arena rock shows?

Three ways.

(1) The aisle vendors hawk cotton candy.

(2) It's possible to watch the entire event from the comfort of your seat. Given the average stature (or lack thereof) of the young audience, having your sight blocked by on-their-feet fans is a non-issue.

(3) About the worst thing you can catch is cooties.

When did Valerie Perrine join the group?

That's not Ms. Perrine. That's Baby Spice. Doing a very good Perrine imitation from the actress' Lenny years.

Do the Spices really have enough material for an arena show?

Well, they certainly have enough outfits. The two-hour show (including a 30-minute intermission/nap time) featured some nine costume changes.

Performance-wise, they burned through the highlights of their two-album career--"Wannabe," "Spice Up Your Life," etc.--and gamely tried some cover tunes--"Baby Love," "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves," included.

Any remaining dead time was filled with cries of that old reliable, "So, who's got Girl Power tonight?"

Where does Sporty get her moves?

Based on her performance Thursday, the Sportster appears to be cribbing her act from Patti Lupone's Evita--from the tied-back hair to the incessant bicep-flexing and finger-pointing.

Has Ginger been totally expunged from Spiceworld?

Yes and no.

Halliwell is gone from the group. But her old video self popped up occassionally on the show's Jumbotrons. Each cameo was greeted with appreciative applause. It's so nice to see older people stay active.

What kind of reviews does a show like this get?

What do you think? Raved Jennifer Fabricant, 9, of Long Island, New York: "It came out really great!"

The Spice tour wraps August 26 in Dallas.