Nick's review  What would be your dream Michael concert? Royal Albert Hall 1999 was just fantastic, take that and throw in a couple of last year's gems and a couple more from the Musicals tour. What do you get? Michael Ball - One Night Only at the Lyric Theatre, Sydney!  What can I say? After a hectic day of shopping and trying to eat at dinner, our huge group met in the foyer of the theatre, bought our programmes, devoured them and were amazed and delighted to see RAH is being released here (the video) on April 11th! Then suddenly it's time to go into the theatre. Mum and I had front row, left of centre stage and we couldn't have asked for anything more.  Callum and the band enter and get a cheer from the extremely excited audience! The first few bars of Love Changes Everything fill the theatre and I thought to myself, will he start with this one? No, the music changes and suddenly from up the back, not yet visible, we here the first line of Let The Rivers Run. a few more lines and there he is on stage. The front few rows rise as one to welcome him and then the show has begun. Michael was a few feet away and there was nothing between us!  Well, that should set the scene!  What followed 'Let the rivers run' was a magical night, pure magic. During the song he would roam the stage and as we were sitting to the left he often came and stood near us, even closer than before. Of course, he recognised me straight away and I got a wink!! :-) Occasionally throughout the night I got a few more smiles as well! I think it's official, him and I are best buddys!  Following Let The Rivers Run was When The Going Gets Tough. I LOVE that song and the only hint I've ever had that Michael sang it was from the video of rehearsals for the RAH. Boy is he good at it! It really got us going and it was only the second song. Everybody's Talking was a song Michael had wanted to sing ever since he finalised coming to Australia, we are after all the land of the sun.  "Goin' where the sun keep shinin'". unfortunately, no sun this weekend, it was wet and muggy all weekend, but when we were sitting in the lyric hearing him sing about it, we didn't need the real thing! Following with some musicals songs, Show Me and With One Look, Michael introduced people to his newly released Cd, saying he was grateful to everyone who had bought it and those who hadn't could "see me after". That got some laughs and I was so glad to see his British sense of humour shining through and having the exact same effect! Love on the rocks was next and with it Michael talked about the Movies, hopefully a sign that it's next to be released as he really pushed it.. The same spiel about how memories and music are linked led into The Way We Were / Rose and he still left out the final "Rose" - I love that touch!  Something inside so strong was fantastic, the walking up the steps in the middle of the stage had great effect and yet I don't remember them using the echo like on the cd. Next he sang No Matter What. This fantastic. No Matter What is such a fantastic song and when he introduced it the audience knew exactly what he was setting us up for (although I think a few expected Vaults of Heaven). The ending got a little muddled and Michael made a joke about not having had enough practice. it was fine for us though, let me assure you. Next came one of the funniest moments, Michael began to introduce Prepare Ye / Gethsemane as he does on RAH and as he said "they both come from the story of. Christ" the audience let out an almighty cheer! To which he replied "Got a few fans of Jesus then??" It was extremely amusing. Gethsemane was, as all other reviews have said, absolutely sensational. This is the greatest song, it was sung by the greatest voice, and I have to say it was the greatest rendition I have seen him do! He put so much power (as I'm sure he always does) into it but to see it live made me completely understand the wonderful draw that song has on people. I mean, I've always loved watching him sing it on video and listen to it but LIVE, it is another story, the audience was blown away and to this he received Standing Ovation number two. He left the stage without saying a word and we were all left dumbfounded.  We milled around where the Orchestra pit should be for the interval and all swapped opinion, of course they were all nothing but complimentary! A few photos and suddenly the lights were dimming!  The opening bars to Don't Cry For Me Argentina and we though. are win in for a surprise? No, it was Oh What A Circus, I have to admit this won me over. I have never been a fan of that song before seeing it on Saturday, it was great and he did the siting bit right in front of me and had some definite "G'day Nick, mate" eye contact!  The Musicals medley followed. It was a shame to cut Love Changes Everything but at least we got a few lines twice! Last Night of the World and All I Ask Of you were favourites with the crowd and got little "whoos" when he started them (come to think of it, every song did!). Losing My Mind was just sensational - it's a favourite of mine. Empty Chairs followed. It was the song that made me and mum fall in love with Michael's voice at the TAC and he only reinforced that on Saturday. The lip still quivered and I cant believe how powerful it is live, and all that sitting down! Good job! And worthy of Standing Ovation number 3! I dreamed a dream was very touching, I think he has just the best rendition of it, and then of course, the end to Love Changes Everything, to which came Standing Ovation number 4.  He then introduced some of the songs he'd written himself and sang Someone Else's Dream and Just When somewhat like the TTIP video (same intros and stuff). Wales Forever followed and it was fun! I remember dreaming "Iamamamo, Iamamamo." that night back in the hotel room!  All the Time in the world and then Millennium which prompted the rush to the stage. Of course, our rush was that of a few feet so there was no challenge, we got a great view and mum was so pleased that he spent a lot of the time standing above her! At our arrival he commented "You're Early" which got a few laughs! He then mentioned how great the band had been to do all he asked even at such a short rehearsal period and he said whatever he brought up they said "sure why not" SO he said, we decided to try this. And he opened with a story about and Australian-Mexican gentleman who was walking through the desert. and met a girl. this girl was a very mysterious girl. and she pulled him in to his web of lies.  Then he sang Livin La Vida Loca. It was amazing. I have to admit I was sceptical about this one when I heard that he did it last year, I mean, look at the way Ricky does it. no, don't! Move over Ricky. Michael did it so  well, there is nothing he can't do!  Fat Bottom Girls began after a comment about the management not wanting us to dance and I thought we were going to get the rock'n'roll medley. Instead he started One Step Out of Time to which he got his punches in the air – I even gave mum a crash course of when to do them. Unfortunately, time was flying and it seemed we raced through I'll Be There For You (I missed every clap!) and The Blues Brothers medley until the dance with Callum. Suddenly, thankfully, things slowed down again and Michael thanked us all and then.. LEFT!  People were so eager for more. I think Michael now began to realise how popular he was, everyone who hadn't been standing, now was and so Michael surprised us with Help Yourself - I can assure you Margaret was quite pleased with this one! He left again and the audience started a chant for more - gee we got rowdy! The orchestra pit we were standing on (cos it had been covered over for us to stand on) felt like it was about to collapse, it was hilarious. Then he returned and thanked us again for our support of him. Then the finale, and what a way to go!  You'll Never Walk Alone is one of my favourite songs of all time and Michael did it so breathtakingly, it brought a lump to my throat. Some of the audience joined hands as he sang, I preferred to stand back a few feet and take it in, I was blown away.  As was the rest of the audience who gave him his final standing ovation (I think this was number seven).  By the time he left I think he himself didn't know what to say anymore. He looked so "cream crackered" but not only that, he looked so moved by our response. If anything could talk him into coming back it was that. He didn't return after a run of 'hand touching' and we all milled around the front of the stage until the usher asked us to leave because they had to close up the theatre.  My final thoughts? Four words:  MICHAEL PLEASE COME BACK  The under-estimated signing, the sell out concert, the seven standing ovations, the overall response. how could he not. he was loved by Australia and has many new fans (it was a sold out 2000 seat theatre!!)  There's nothing else to say, I have met him, shaken his hand, mum's kissed him, we both had front row seats to his concert. it was phenomenal and it will take us both a LONG time to get down out of the clouds!  A special and very, very warm thank you to Maureen and Margaret for their organisation, Margaret for the t-shirts, Maureen for booking the hotel, both of you for the welcome packs. To everyone else, it was so great that we were finally able to meet! Michael has one very special thing going for him, the different fans he pulls together. You all made it the most special weekend for me and mum and we would both like to thank you, and of course Michael, for the greatest weekend we've had in ages!  Cheers!  Nick