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As soon as my silver platform boots set foot in the ex-Millennium Dome I knew I had entered the world of Lady Gaga. There were people of all ages milling around, dressed in styles emulating the star of the night’s show. I lost count of the amount of people with lightning bolts painted onto their faces, or heels that looked both beautiful and ridiculously painful. I even spotted a couple of men in leotards and then quickly attempted to forget this image! Lady Gaga’s fan base is as wide as her heels are high, a testament to her talent.

 

Support came from Semi Precious Weapons, an American band fronted by a rather creepy cross-dresser who felt the need to swear every other word, and Alphabeat, the Danish band responsible for pop hits Fascination and Boyfriend. While the first act just left me feeling slightly confused, Alphabeat got me in the mood for a good old boogie. Unfortunately, by the time our lady eventually graced the stage (over 30 minutes late according to someone grumbling behind me) this mood had rather subsided as our only form of entertainment was trying to get a Mexican Wave going around the arena, and Michael Jackson hits being played too quietly to hear properly. However, excitement quickly mounted again when the lights were dimmed, screens were lowered and the introductory film was played to the screaming arena.

 

The show opened with 'Dance in the Dark', Gaga hidden behind screens so that only her silhouette was visible. The curtains were dropped after, revealing a set of scaffolding and a car which was in fact a piano. The set was replaced several times during the show, from a forest complete with a giant fish (yes, fish) to simply a piano which was then set on fire as it was played. And, true to form, the outfits were more than spectacular. The ‘Living Dress’ was the most intricate but she also wore a hat that looked like a small table with dreadlocks and a leotard with sparking boobs. Unsurprisingly, these costumes were not worn for the numbers with lots of dancing! Despite their apparent irrelevance to the show, these crazy outfits are part of the Gaga package (no hermaphrodite jokes please!) and by no means detracted from her ability to sing live.

 

This ability was highlighted mostly by the slower songs, such as 'Brown Eyes' and, my favourite of the night, 'Speechless'. These were performed just Gaga and piano – a match made in heaven. Other highlights included the closing song 'Bad Romance', 'Poker Face', 'Teeth' and 'Boys Boys Boys'. All eight new songs that were released on The Fame Monster featured in the show, as well as the majority of songs from The Fame and some other tracks such as B-sides and other unreleased songs. At the start of the show Gaga’s voice was sometimes lost under the music of the musicians that joined her on stage but this was not an issue as the show progressed.

 

The concept of the show was Lady Gaga and her friends trying to make it to the Monster Ball, encountering several problems along the way (giant fish from earlier!) Unfortunately, this whole idea seemed pretty weak to me and only really worked in one memorable instance – having to telephone Beyoncé for help, thus introducing 'Telephone'. The plot seemed to be there for the sake of it, not actually to help hold the show together. It did, however, enable Gaga to do some preaching to her masses that included several “thank you”’s and many “I love my fans”’s and her ever important message of bringing all her ‘little monsters’ together and the importance of individuality. I had already been converted to the Gaga manifesto and apparently so had others, based on the calls of “GET ON WITH IT!”

 

Despite the insignificant plot, the show was a success. It simultaneously made the audience feel at one with their idol, but also reminded them that she is indeed Queen, or Lady, of the fantasy world built around her. I thoroughly recommend getting tickets for her next British dates, on sale Friday 12^th March.