Can you believe it's been five years since Britney Spears took her show on the road? It seems like only yesterday that she buzzed her head and began the most public meltdown of the Mickey Mouse Club generation: the umbrella assaults on the paparazzi (who had it coming, by the way), the stints in rehab, the custody battles with K-Fed, the late-night raids on LA's gas stations while speaking jibberish in a faux British accent.

But that was the old Spears. The 27-year-old pop star bounced back last year with the album "Circus," which spawned the ubiquitous hit "Womanizer" and reminded her fans that, when Britney behaves, she's still a dazzling entertainer.

These days the only crazy circus act involving Spears is the one we see on her new tour, which arrives in Boston Monday night at the TD Banknorth Garden. With the circus in mind, here's our take on how her personal life might have played into her latest three-ring spectacle.

&mdash James Reed, Globe Staff