They heard all the rumors. They woke up to erroneous claims by gossip Web sites and local media that the not-so-secret show - billed as the M+M's - was off. Even when Britney's tour bus arrived at the venue, there was still the chance that she might pull the plug at the last minute, as she did at an L.A. club last week. Warnings from venue staff that the show might only last a few minutes didn't help bolster confidence, either.

Would she sing live or lip-synch, debut new material or stick with the old? None of that was of much concern. All that mattered to the diehards was their chance to see the enigmatic superstar in the flesh. Not much to ask, especially for those who paid upward of $200 for scalped tickets online.

At around 10 p.m. - three hours after doors opened - their hopes were realized. Lip-synching to a backing track of "... Baby One More Time," Spears took the stage in a long brown wig, silver beaded bra, pleated white miniskirt and white boots. Her body newly toned and her smile beaming, she looked every bit like a woman who had emerged from her quarter-life crisis stronger than yesterday.

Flanked by four blond dancers clad in lingerie-like getups, Britney and her girls adopted a performance style that conjured the Pussycat Dolls, slinking their way through the 13-minute set with a naughty, free-spirited attitude. It was as though Britney had invited 900 friends to her dirty little dance party, and too bad for you if you couldn't roll with the fun.


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