Perry’s strange sense of humor was apparent throughout the show, with a video containing a montage about a butcher and her losing her kitty. Candy canes and peppermints decorated the stage as Perry changed colorful costumes more times than Cher in her show. During “Hot N Cold” she even changed five times using a magician’s trick and, of course, donned the blue wig for the number.
Mrs. Russell Brand played with the first man who would take his shirt off as a temporary date for the night before worrying that her husband might show and kicked him offstage. She performed a slow version of “I Kissed a Girl” that broke into a rock anthem. She then incorporated silly mimes for her song “Ur So Gay” that seemed like a missed opportunity, judging from the crowd.
There were many young girls there at a show that might not always be age-appropriate with drug references, drinking “Last Friday Night” and cupcake underwear but, like her lyrics say, she is “not your fucking mother.”
There was only one noticeable goof when she fake-played the recorder flute and it didn’t match the track. She said she was embarrassed and would have to keep practicing.
While “Waking Up in Vegas” she joked with Brittany the Slot Machine and an Elvis impersonator. This has been Perry’s year and she had the hit singles to prove it, from “E.T.” to “Firework.”
The energy hardly let up after two hours. She rode a cotton-candy cloud to meet the fans in the back of the auditorium and even brought a huge group, including YouTube sensation Keenan Cahill, on stage to dance during a cover of Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.”
Perry also performed other covers of songs by Rihanna and Jay-Z, and whipped her hair to Willow Smith. It was an odd and unusual choice but was in theme with the sugary style of the evening.
Perry talked Chicago pizza and how her following has grown since she was last in town. She gave props to her backup dancers and suggested some of the male ones are looking for husbands. There were potential suitors sprinkled in the crowd who raised their hands. The limber dancers got solo spotlights with a medley of “I Want Candy” and “Tootsie Roll.”
Some viewers might have gotten a toothache from the sweet theme of the night but for many, Perry’s “Teenage Dream” was just right. Photos by Jerry Nunn