A chef who plays tambourine. Stage puppets galore. Mandatory band uniforms of blue-dotted shirts and blue pants. Culture-smart rappin' and jazzin' to Ottawa Valley place names. The Barenaked Ladies must be back in town. Five years have passed since the Toronto-based Ladies have graced the capital with their fun-loving presence. In that time, lead singer Steven Page, singer-guitarist Ed Robertson, keyboard player Kevin Hearn, bassist Jim Creeggan and drummer Tyler Stewart have found acceptance in the United States with their '98 breakthrough CD, Stunt, and its hot-selling, fast-tongued hit single One Week. There were hardships as the ultra-thin Hearn endured leukemia and cancer scares which almost threatened his life. That's what made last night's Corel Centre a welcome homecoming of sorts for the Ladies. To know the band is out touring their asses off in support of their latest platinum-seller, Maroon, and gaining deserved recognition in this country again -- they're up for five Juno Awards in ceremonies to be held March 4 in Hamilton -- tells only half of the story. The Barenaked Ladies reminded the 8,500 strong last night that there's fun to be had in music again. Whether it's Page belting out the likes of The Old Apartment, Life, in a Nutshell and Too Little Too Late, Robertson strumming and strutting to hit single Pinch Me, Hearn marching to the beat of Britney Spears' Oops! ... I Did it Again or Stewart rip-roaring through his drum solo -- Phil Collins' In the Air Tonight-style -- or hip-hoppin to a smorgasboard of other assorted '80s haute cuisine, the Ladies showed they've matured into five gentleman players who've lost none of the kid instincts that brought them Canadian accolades 10 years ago. Earlier in the day, the Ladies treated contest winners and onlookers to a lunchtime show filled with their typically witty pop-culture, not to mention stellar playing and spot-on harmonies. When opener Chantal Kreviazuk last played the capital nearly a year ago, the concert was just her, a piano and a fiery evening of her best work. With a four-piece band, and Kreviazuk as frontwoman, the fire gets slightly extinguished. Without argument, the 27-year-old sparkle-faced Winnipegger -- a two-time Juno winner in her own right -- can be vocally powerful on Far Away, soothing for Blue and, in the case of Surrounded, do both with ease -- and with sincere passion. But poppier fare such as Coherent and God Made Me lose a little something when Kreviazuk bounces to and fro from her1 piano, while her backup players sound a little too well-rehearsed. By the time she was warming to the crowd with Before You, the all-too-brief set was complete and she had vanished. Kreviazuk had hinted at possibly another solo tour this year. If so, let's hope those magical March 2000 nights can be rekindled once more.