Tour Review by British Superfan Alison Rowley

A dozen flashbulbs glittered in the darkness of London's O2 Arena, piercing the anticipation that hung heavily in the air. An electrifying hum built to a crescendo as 20,000 voices filled the vast space with a unanimous, unrelenting chant: "Britney! Britney! Britney!"

The daring acrobatic feats courtesy of New York's Big Apple Circus combined with Ciara's riveting performance had the sold-out June 6 show abuzz. The screams were deafening by the time the curtain rose and the introductory Perez Hilton clip began to play. As the final shot faded, a feverish frenzy erupted. The instantly recognizable opening bars of "Circus" could be heard and the entire crowd were soon on their feet, transfixed as Britney Spears descended from the rafters. Her head adorned with an elaborate headdress, Britney commanded attention as the authoritarian ringmaster, with aerialists spiralling about and plumes of smoke punctuating the song’s whip-crack beats. Soon all expectations melted away as a newly remixed version of the languid "Piece of Me" rang out and Britney emerged inside a gilded cage. Tabloids swirled on the screen as Spears gyrated and taunted the circling dancers (acting as paparazzi, hungry for that million-dollar photo.)

Throughout the night, amidst the swarming spectacle, edgy remixes and freshly tweaked costumes provided an element of surprise for those new to the Circus. Ruffled hot pants were substituted with a sleek, shiny pair during "Radar," an embellished one-piece along with a newly decorated cage came out for "I’m A Slave 4 U," and a bejeweled, black-paneled body suit had jaws dropping during "Touch of My Hand." Despite these subtle changes, the one constant throughout the night was Britney’s gleaming smile. Anyone who had previously doubted her investment in the tour can eat their words, as it was evident that she relished being center stage — she was on point, in top form and on fire. Any prior drama had been replaced with a self-assured poise, fierce enthusiasm and show-stopping energy.

That energy kept the crowd on their toes, as no sooner had a magician mesmerized with a double act of tricks during "Ooh Ooh Baby" and "Hot As Ice," than Britney was asserting her authority in a military-inspired jacket during "Boys." The delightfully twisted playground chant and oversized pink hammer from "If U Seek Amy" then swiftly gave way to a Bollywood extravaganza, in which a majestic Spears performed to an energetic remix of "Me Against The Music."

The concert took a sexier route following the only ballad of the night, "Everytime" (sung from underneath a new royal blue umbrella), with the sounds of "Freakshow" and "Breathe on Me" spliced in between gritty remixes of "Do Somethin’" and "I’m A Slave 4 U." The loudest sing-along of the night occurred during the final act of the show, when mega-hit "Toxic" (complete with a complex dance break) and a revamped version of "…Baby One More Time" were received with emphatic cheers and applause. The latter marked the 10-year anniversary of Britney’s first tour, as well as remind the audience of just how far the young girl from Kentwood, LA, had come.

As the confetti flew during the handcuff-ridden "Womanizer" encore and "Circus" reprise, Britney humbly thanked everyone for coming and making the night so incredible. The closing number (still blaring as the lights brightened) seemed particularly apt following such a triumphant return to the top. However overwhelming the glare of the real-world spotlight may be, Britney Spears once again proved that she is a born entertainer and is now "calling the shots." Both she and her fans seemed to feel equal amounts of pride and exhilaration when she bid London farewell for the night and shouted a hearty “Peace!” above the ecstatic uproar. As she bounded off stage, it seemed that at last her final utterance was deservedly within her grasp.

Alison Rowley (aka AliCat) is an aspiring magazine journalist and blogger from London. She has an almost scary encyclopedic knowledge of the lyrics to each and every Britney song. Click here to read all about her musings on Blogspot.

Alison's personal photos from the show: