Madonna breaks down during a performance of Like a Virgin... but it was all just for show

She's flashed her nipple, shown off her bottom and had a dig at her younger rival Lady Gaga.

So you'd think there wasn't really much more that Madonna could do to leave her audience open-mouthed and aghast at her antics - until last night.

The Material Girl was in Berlin last night at the O2 World Arena where she is playing two dates as part of her MDNA world tour.

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Life is a cabaret: Madonna sunk to her knees as she sang a throaty slow version of Like A Virgin to her audience in Berlin last night

The veteran pop star plays a mixture of her new material and her pop classics and last night was no exception as she treated the audience to her 1984 hit Like A Virgin.

And she gave the classic 80s pop tune a Caberet-style twist as she sunk to her knees and performed a slowed-down version of the song.

She was sad and blue: The Material Girl looked deep in thought as she leant on her cane

It's all too much: Madonna started crying as she started to sing the chorus

As a man in a top hat and tails accompanied her on the piano, Madonna started singing the song in a throaty deep voice before crawling across the stage and stopped on all fours as the crowd went wild.

Propping herself up on a black cane, she got to the chorus as a semi-naked dancer made his way to her across the stage.

Semi-naked man to the rescue! As Madonna stopped her fake blubbing, one of her male dancers headed over to her...

... and put his arms around her, lifting her to her feet

Then, as she sang the line, 'your love thawed out what was scared and cold', she leaned against her cane and started to cry.

Still sobbing, she then launched into the chorus as the dancer cradled her in his arms, picked her up and fastened a corset around her.

Feeling shiny and new? The dancer held Madonna close as her tears subsided...

... before fastening a corset around her waist

As she finished the song, he tenderly took her hair down before tugging at the corset strings, causing Madonna to gasp out theatrically.

Her theatrics certainly made a change from flashing the flesh to thousands of people, but the singer has been warned that her antics on stage will not be tolerated when she arrives in Russia at the beginning of August.

Theatrical: Madonna gasped out as her dancer pulled the corset tight

Earlier this year, St Petersburg passed a resolution that forbids the 'promotion of homosexuality' and some advised Madonna to cancel her concert there on August 9.

But the singer said she will not back down and added: 'I will come to St. Petersburg to speak up for the gay community and to give strength and inspiration to anyone who is or feels oppressed. I'm a freedom fighter. … I don’t run away from adversity. I will speak during my show about this ridiculous atrocity.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2169454/Madonna-breaks-performance-Like-Virgin--just-show.html#ixzz1zvF9zJmq