Is a stack of toilet paper the new Left Shark? On Wednesday night (December 29th), Katy Perry debuted her new Las Vegas residency, PLAY, with some help from some over-the-top set pieces.
Among the props for the show, the pop star performed alongside a massive mask, a giant toilet and a mountain of toilet paper, in apparent nods to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
“As with everything I do, PLAY is massively colorful for the kids, with a deep wink for the adults,” Perry said in a statement ahead of opening night. “The show is a funny, playful trip, and was designed specifically for this theatre in Vegas. Honestly, I couldn’t ever travel this show from arena to arena. These sets are larger than life – literally – and the perfect excuse to wake up in Vegas.”
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Katy Perry, photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for Katy Perry
After opening with Teenage Dream-era hit “E.T.,” the singer rolled out the 16-foot-tall toilet to power through “California Gurls,” “Hot N Cold,” “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.),” and “Waking Up in Vegas” while flanked by a number of blue-skinned back-up dancers wearing inflatable water wings and pool floats around their waists.
Later in the show, she donned a soda can-inspired dress reminiscent of her iconic look from the 2010 “California Gurls” video to perform on a set of oversized trash, and even stopped mid-set to, uhh, lactate beer and chug a pint next to a huge, thrown-out face mask. Because why not as we close out the second year of a global pandemic?
Katy Perry, photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for Katy Perry
PLAY is set to run for a total of 31 more dates from now through March 22 at Resorts World Las Vegas; tickets can be purchased here.
Meanwhile, Perry released a space-y new collab with Alesso, “When I’m Gone,” to coincide with the residency’s kickoff.
Check out more footage of the opening night below.
Katy Perry, photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for Katy Perry
Katy Perry, photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for Katy Perry
Katy Perry, photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for Katy Perry
Setlist:
E.T.
Chained to the Rhythm
Dark Horse
Not the End of the World
Flushed
California Gurls
Hot n Cold (Medley)
Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) (Medley)
Waking Up in Vegas (First time since 2012)
Eat Me
Bon appétit
Daisies
I Kissed a Girl
Trashun
Lost (First time performed since 2010, Medley)
Part of Me (Medley)
Wide Awake (Medley)
Never Really Over
Swish Swish
When I’m Gone (Live debut, Medley)
Walking on Air (Medley)
Perry Playland
Teenage Dream
Smile
Roar
Encore:
The Greatest Love of All (Whitney Houston cover)
Firework