Chris& Co take us to Paradise; Reviews.

Byline: EMMA MCKINNEY

COLDPLAY: RICOH ARENA, COVENTRY AT the turn of the millennium, Coldplay stumbled apologetically into the limelight, four skinny, sensitive chaps whose songs walked a tightrope between mercurial and mawkish.

How times have changed. It is hard to believe the same band has grown into the superstars who stunned the Ricoh Arena with a show of muscular magnificence.

The moment Coldplay set foot on stage the fireworks - quite literally - begin.

As they hurtle through Hurts Like Heaven the sky above the Ricoh lights up with flashes of red. There is something festive about this stunning show.

Perhaps it's the geyser of gaily colour confetti that erupts during In My Place or the radio-controlled armbands that flash a rainbow of colours as Paradise brings the concert to a crescendo, lighting up the arena like the world's biggest Christmas tree.

Then there's the giant, graffiti-marked beach balls that bounce across the surface of the crowd. For now Coldplay rule the music world, a ubiquitous behemoth of a band capable of commanding the loyalty of quiffed indie kids while straddling the charts.

ARREN MANGER I DREAMED A DREAM: BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME DESPITE her voice failing mid-way through one of just two songs she performed at the end of a musical telling her life story, singing sensation Susan Boyle still won a standing ovation by adoring fans.

However, the real star of the show for me was the unwaveringly gifted Elaine C Smith.

She portrays Susan Boyle in the musical and takes on the Scottish Britain's Got Talent runner-up's persona with such attention to detail she could easily have been mistaken for the real thing.

The well thought out production was testament to its writers.

Elaine's powerful voice, coupled with brilliant comic timing, helps provide a funny, heart-warming and enjoyable production.

Les Miserables it is certainly not, but I Dreamed A Dream is far from a nightmare.

EMMA MCKINNEY

CAPTION(S):

RULING THE WORLD: Coldplay confirm their status as indie legends.