By Tom Bourton BBC News Online

While the stream of Aussie soap stars steaming onto the UK charts doesn't seem capable of drying up, Kylie's latest tour shows any wannabes what to aim for with an energy-filled extravaganza of ditties, dazzle and disco.

This time around, the diminutive chanteuse invites you into the futuristic world previewed in her recent videos, complete with suspended metallic dancers, glitter balls, beds and tap dancing.

Kylie leaves the energetic dancing to her younger rivals

As you'd expect from the Fever tour which kicks off with a four night stand at the Cardiff International Arena, she concentrates on tracks from her latest album of that name.

But for everyone who remember her from her days as greasy mechanic Charlene in Neighbours, all the old favourites get a run-out, albeit with suitably contemporary remixes.

The costume changes are quick, slick and wide-ranging.

Starting off with what can only be described as mini-micro-mini-skirt, Kylie whips through a wardrobe of corsets, gowns, luminous combats and, for the finale, an enormous skirt that covers half the stage.

Saturday's rain in Cardiff failed to dampen the occasion

Meanwhile, her dancers pop up as lightsabre-wielding power rangers, aboriginal punks and even as part of a somewhat bizarre Clockwork Orange tribute for Spinning Around.

As if to show off her diverse fan base, Kylie even finds time to cement her place as the queen of gay kitsch with a slowed down version of The Locomotion surrounded by men in tights and high heels.

But the stand-out moment was her sublime rendition of Confide In Me in an arresting police outfit while one of the dancers provides a breathtaking display of acrobatics.

Skipping star

On the whole, the concert was more of a show than a gig, although the family atmosphere might annoy fans who want to dance all night.

Rather irritatingly, we found ourselves being asked to sit down just as the evening was getting going.

Grab yourself a bottle of Kylie water on the way out

Up on stage, there's no question of sitting down - the set is in a state of perpetual motion, but don't expect too much bounding around from Kylie herself.

Apart from a bit of skipping, she leaves all the energetic routines to her dancers and to her younger rivals - knowing full well that one of her bum shakes is worth 17 cartwheels from S Club.

The two-hour set flies by, and you'll be clapping and cheering for the I Can't Get You Out of My Head encore before you know what hit you.

In fact the only real complaint of the night was that the glitzy programmes cost �20 - you're far better off grabbing a free souvenir bottle of Kylie water on the way out.

Now where's my ticket for this year's Stefan Dennis revival tour...