‘Katy Perry: Play’ residency at Resorts World takes audiences on a sight and sound adventure

By John Taylor (contact)

Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022 | 2 a.m.

The five-act production that is the backdrop for “Katy Perry: Play” — the Grammy Award-winning singer’s residency at Resorts World Las Vegas — begins with an animated scene involving a young boy, a vending machine and a doll at the fictional Perry Playland (It’s the happiest place, don’t you see).

Maybe it should have been Camp Katy.

Perry, who has been known for some campy trappings in her live concerts — who could forget the dancing sharks in 2016 when she headlined the halftime show at Super Bowl 49 in Tempe, Ariz.? — literally left those sharks in the dust for her Vegas show. And we’re talking about the real version of the show, not the animated part.

Here’s just a sampling of the outrageous (and outrageously large) props and characters making their appearance the 90-minute musical tale loosely predicated on “Toy Story” that follows the adventures of Katy Doll as she makes her way from Perry Playland to the boy Henry’s house, where she is mostly manhandled and finally rescued from the trash by an adoring little girl:

• A giant plug that chases the singer around the stage

• Dancing walkie-talkies

• Rubber ducks with Vegas-style feathered headdresses

• A frog in a bikini

• A high-fiving, dancing plunger

• Dancing mushrooms

• A discarded but talking face mask

• And, of course, a talking visitor from the bottom of a giant-sized toilet, “Mr. Poo.”

If you’ve got it in your head that this show is bad, think again. Over the top? Absolutely. Too many hues of orange and pink? Perhaps. Bad? Not a chance.

Perry, the 37-year-old who had her first hit with 2008’s “I Kissed A Girl” and has produced a catalog of chart-climbing songs since then, was more than entertaining as the center attraction. From her wise-cracking dialogue to dancing to singing, Perry put on a show worthy of a Strip headliner.

Perry’s hit songs, of course, were what brought the nearly sold-out crowd to Friday’s show. And she packed many of them into the fast-moving evening.

Many of them were just snippets of her hits — “Chained to the Rhythm,” “California Gurls” “Last Friday Night” and “Teenage Dream” among them. Others were full-blown Vegas production numbers, including “Waking Up in Vegas” (you have to see this show tune version) and the finale, “Firework.”

“Katy Perry: Play” goes beyond a feel-good night for the Katy Kats and the small girls who seem to flock to Perry’s concerts. It’s a feast for the eyes and ears.

"Katy Perry: Play continues at 8 p.m. today, Friday and Saturday at Resorts World Las Vegas with additional dates resuming March 2. Click here for ticket information.