Katy Perry has simply mastered the quality of timelessness, not only through her extensive catalog of hits, but with her ongoing commitment to individuality and creativity. Putting Perry’s imagination on full display, the pop star’s Play residency at Resorts World offers five acts filled with joyful campiness, TikTok-able characters and a setlist that any Katy Cat would approve of.
While you’re going to get to party to all your favorite Perry tunes, this show is far from your typical concert; it’s more like a production show. Through animated shorts and detailed sets, go on an adventure with Perry, who is a doll come to life. You’ll follow her through whimsical worlds, beginning in Henry the Horror’s bedroom, where giant furniture dwarfs the 5-foot-7 singer as she belts out “E.T.”, “Chained to the Rhythm,” “Dark Horse” and “Not the End of the World.”
Getting flushed into act two, Perry enters the bathroom, complete with a giant orange toilet, tub and, of course, the dancing poo that made TikTok go crazy. Bringing you four of the most iconic Katy Perry bangers, “California Gurls”, “Hot n Cold,” “Last Friday Night” and a revamped “Waking Up in Vegas,” the fanciful set comes to life with choreographed dancing and over-the-top pyrotechnics.
In the third set, you’ll want to eat Perry up. Clad in red and polka dots surrounded by colossal fungi, the songstress serves up psychedelic chic while singing the hit “Bon Appétit.” She delivers “Daisies” while floating among illuminated flowers before descending to deliver one of her earliest successes, “I Kissed a Girl.”
When Perry set out to create a Vegas residency, she did it right. Combining her flamboyant, cartoonish style with a career-spanning medley of melodies, she created a dream show for longtime fans and newcomers alike.
One of the funniest characters appears in act four. As Perry and her backup dancers display various garments made of unorthodox materials, Ratso, a giant vaping alcoholic trash rat (voiced by Harvey Fierstein), banters with the pop star. The obnoxiously enjoyable character comes to life in an oversized trash can that serves as the backdrop for “Lost,” “Part of Me,” “Wide Awake,” as well as “Swish Swish,” which brings opportunity for a little audience participation.
During the show, the star pauses to talk about her family ties to the city and emphasizes the importance that Las Vegas has had in her life. Paying homage to the city’s past performers, Perry enters the Perry Playland, complete with showgirls and a giant lit staircase where she performs “Teenage Dream,” “Smile” and “Roar.” Perry’s own incredible showmanship combined with vintage Vegas style creates a grand performance that could only fit on a Las Vegas stage.
Complete with an encore that will ignite your light, Play is a show you won’t soon forget. And being in the audience is some of the most fun you’ll have on the Strip.
Resorts World Las Vegas, 8 p.m. Oct. 14-15 & 19, starting $59 plus tax and fee. axs.com
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