SPARKLING in the simple silver dress that took her to second place in the Britain's Got Talent final just three weeks ago, Susan Boyle clocked up three standing ovations for a rapturous nine-minute homecoming performance at the Edinburgh Playhouse last night.
In her first local appearance since leaving West Lothian for stardom in London, the 48-year-old singer perfectly performed two of the stage tunes that helped to make her the biggest internet phenomenon on the planet.
While she was on stage only lo
ng enough to perform her songs and take a bow, her stunning vocal talent more than made up for her low-key appearance.
Afterwards, her spokeswoman declared the performance had been a resounding return to form, but warned Boyle's fans that she would need "sporadic" rest days in order to cope with the demands of touring.
Her publicist Nicola Philips said: "We've not toured with her before so don't know how many performances she can cope with. We are waiting for her to tell us when she needs a rest."
Britain's Got Talent judge Simon Cowell has already revealed how he gave Boyle the chance to quit the show before the final if she felt the pressure was getting too much.
Cowell, who has masterminded a £5 million, two-album deal for the West Lothian singer, said he was acutely aware of how "very, very difficult" her life was becoming in the days leading up to her admission to the Priory clinic.
Boyle was last night at number three on the Playhouse's post-interval bill, just after a performance by last year's winner George Sampson, and her arrival on stage took the excited audience by surprise.
Surrounded on all sides by the deafening roar of screams and applause from the crowd, an apprehensive Boyle walked out to meet the microphone in the centre of the stage as the giant screen behind her projected highlights of her time on the ITV show that made her a household name.
To shouts of 'Susan' and spontaneous rounds of clapping from the audience, she launched into Memory from the stage-show Cats as the on-screen image changed into a shower of rose petals tumbling towards the stage.
Singing with warmth and clarity, any doubts about Boyle's health and ability to perform after her recent spell in the Priory were quickly overcome as she easily drowned out the calls of the enthusiastic crowd with pitch perfect high notes in an almost flawless vocal performance.
The audience standing once again to offer applause as she effortlessly handled Andrew Lloyd Webber's score.
Pausing between songs, Boyle motioned awkwardly to the audience with both arms, trying to acknowledge their accolades. Offering the audience a hint of the cheeky smile that has captured the world, the former church volunteer began to visibly relax on stage.
Stepping back to the microphone she then delivered her most confident performance of the night.
Singing the Les Miserables hit, I Dreamed A Dream, made famous on You Tube after her first audition in Glasgow, Boyle gave a rendition so moving it that would put idol Elaine Paige to shame.
Accepting a final standing ovation, Boyle disappeared from the stage quickly as compere Stephen Mulhern arrived to introduce the next act, a 'dream team' combination of several of the younger Britain's Got Talent finalists.
