 | | Kylie |
Looking at her, grinning from ear to ear, decked out in a splendour of feathers and sparkles, it’s hard to believe that a few months back, there was a real fear we wouldn’t see her perform ever again. And let’s not forget, even this show was six days late in arriving, thanks to a bout of flu. Two costume changes in, though, and such things seem like distant memories. Indeed, had it not been for the occasional break to grab a gulp of liquid or the prolonged interval, you’d have been forgiven for thinking this was the same pocket-sized superstar that thrilled us with her Showgirl tour a couple of years back. But this was Showgirl: Homecoming, or rather, Showgirl: Remixed. Yes, there were still plenty of barely covered dancers walking a thin line between entertainment and porn and a crescent moon still carried Kylie high above the audience, but things had slightly skewed. Songs had been dropped, others – notably the Scissor Sisters collaborations I Believe In You and newie White Diamond – had found their way into the set. Yet more than her choice of tunes, what had changed in Kylie was her approach. Always a friendly performer, her recent troubles seem to have made her even more determined to connect with her audience. So, while there were still many set-piece moments, the foremost being a strong Confide In Me that came complete with her dancers seemingly taking control of her movements, the real shining wonders came when what little guard there was came down. A rave-style workout of Shocked and What Do I Have To Do saw her break into the kind of dance she probably did as a teenager to herself in the mirror, while Kids saw sister Dannii take Robbie’s lines for a rollicking and intensely fun duet. Closing with the ever impressive Love At First Sight, she seemed unable to leave the stage, thanking her dancers, band, floor-crew and sister several times before finally allowing a final bow. It’s hardly surprising. After the year she’s just had, anyone would be happy to be back on track. She may be a long way from Australia or even from her adopted London home, but make no mistakes; the sheer volume of cheers, well wishing signs and a touching moment delivered by one five-year-old’s homemade thank you card still made this feel like Kylie was truly coming home. | 
