A performance of The Bodyguard musical in the UK ended unexpectedly early on Friday when some audience members could not refrain from singing along to the anthemic finale.
Two unruly patrons were ejected from the performance at the Palace Theatre in Manchester for joining the lead performer in singing I Will Always Love You — the soaring, emotional ballad written by Dolly Parton and made famous by Whitney Houston — which ends the musical.
Organisers had warned audience members the performance was not supposed to be a singalong.
Ushers carried signs saying, "Please refrain from singing" and announcements were made in advance that patrons would have a chance to join along at the end but not to sing during the show, an audience member, Tash Kenyon, said.
During the closing number, somebody shouted: "Does this mean we can start singing now?" Ms Kenyon said.
An audience member's voice projected from the balcony and competed with the vocals of Melody Thornton, a former member of The Pussycat Dolls, as she sang the finale.
Laughter then turned to anger and confusion, audience member Karl Bradley told the Manchester Evening News.
"The stage then just went black again and that's when it really started to kick off on the higher tier, you could really hear screams and audible gasps," Mr Bradley said.
"Everyone starting standing up and looking over. There was chants of 'out, out, out' to get them gone."
When the lights came up, the singing audience members were hauled out of their seats by theatre security and the remaining audience members began cheering.
However, the musical did not recommence.
A spokesperson for the theatre said the show finished early because disruptive fans who refused to stay seated had spoiled the performance.
Meanwhile, Thornton posted a video on Instagram thanking respectful fans and apologising for those who were not.
Greater Manchester Police said the two people who were removed by security were spoken to and they would review evidence before taking any action.
AP/ABC
