Tweet

 

I’ll tell you what I want, what I really, really want… I want a Spice Girls reunion, and I want it yesterday!

 

Well, looks like I’m in luck, because the fab five did indeed reunite yesterday! Scary, Sporty, Ginger, Baby, and Posh all congregated at the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel in London, and if that location looks a little familiar to you, you’re right – that’s the same staircase where the girl group first danced their way into our hearts in their debut “Wannabe” video 16 years ago. Talk about coming full circle!

 

 

But the reunion wasn’t just a kitschy photo-op – The gals (better known as Melanie Brown, Melanie Chisholm, Geri Halliwell, Emma Bunton, and Victoria Beckham) came out as a united front to support Viva Forever, an upcoming stage musical that will integrate their music into the plot, sort of like Mamma Mia! did for ABBA a few years back (no coincidence there – both shows are produced by the same woman, Judy Craymer). This musical won’t actually be about the Spice Girls though; the story will center around a girl group (again, not Spicey) who compete on a reality TV talent competition show and find their friendships tested like never before.

 

Now, when I think of Britain in the ‘90s, not only do the Spice Girls immediately spring to mind, but so does “Absolutely Fabulous”, the cult favorite TV comedy from across the pond that became a minor success here as well when Comedy Central started airing reruns mid-decade. So, it comes as no surprise to me that Viva Forever is actually being written by “AbFab” star Jennifer Saunders. Throw in a cameo by Austin Powers, and you have the perfect Swinging ‘90s London triumvirate!

 

It’s been quite a year for the U.K. in general, what with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee earlier this month and the London Olympics coming up next month. Opportunities abound for this group of lovely ladies to come together again… Alas, this might be the only time we see that happening. Victoria was the wrench in the group’s plans to perform together for the Queen, and there seems little hope that we’ll be seeing (or hearing) from them during either the Opening or Closing Ceremony at the Olympics. So, feast your eyes on the photo at the top of this page, because it is likely a fleeting moment!

 

Hopefully, all 5 Spices will be in attendance when Viva Forever opens December 11 at London’s Piccadilly Theatre. In the meantime, I’ll be playing “Spice Up Your Life” on repeat for the rest of the day…

 

 

- Katie Marzullo, YH Staff Editor

katie@younghollywood.com