The Theatre Royal in New Plymouth lit up tonight with the electrifying opening of the Right Royal Cabaret Festival, led by none other than Michael Griffiths in In Vogue: Songs by Madonna.

For those of us who came of age with lace gloves, teased hair and a hairbrush microphone in hand, this Is more than a performance — it Is a deeply personal journey through the soundtrack of our youth.

As a teenager, I idolised Madonna. I mimicked her look, her sass, her fearlessness — all without fully grasping the meaning behind those bold lyrics. But tonight, sitting in the velvet warmth of the Theatre Royal, those songs come alive in a whole new way. Griffiths doesn’t just sing the songs—we know them all: Like a Virgin, Express Yourself, Vogue, Papa Don’t Preach — he inhabits them, drawing out every emotional nuance and layering each track with storytelling, context and humour.

Dressed in a tailored white shirt, pants and stylish moustache at a grand piano, Griffiths isn’t what one may expect to see in a show about Madonna but despite the obvious differences, Griffiths holds the audience in the palm of his hand. There are no gimmicks, no dancers, no dazzling costume changes — just Griffiths, Madonna’s music, and a masterclass in cabaret theatre.

With each number, he peels back the glittering persona of the Queen of Pop and reveals the vulnerability, ambition and heartbreak behind the icon.

From Madonna’s early hunger for fame, through failed romances, motherhood, spirituality and her own maternal loss, Griffiths seamlessly weaves biographical insights between powerful musical interpretations. His wit is sharp, his presence magnetic and his voice — pure velvet with just the right edge — brings a new richness to these well-loved anthems.

For me, it is a walk down memory lane, but one lit with grown-up hindsight. The lyrics I once sang with teenage abandon, now hit with grown-woman resonance. And judging by the applause tonight, I’m not alone in feeling that magic.

If you missed this opening night, you missed a treat. In Vogue is not just a tribute — it was a triumph. An utterly fabulous way to open the Right Royal Cabaret Festival. Bravo, Michael Griffiths and festival organisers. Wow—just wow.

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