KATY PERRY is a lot like a female Peter Pan; hell-bent on never growing up.
The twenty-nine-year-old returned to the Manchester Phones 4U arena for her Prismatic Tour; a hyperactive two hour fantasy ride of elaborate dress up, crayola bright wigs, circus acts and a kaleidescopic array of theatrical scenes.
At the risk of exercising all childhood TV analogies (Alice in Wonderland, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, etc), it was ferociously feminine to Disney Princess proportions.
Leading with her hit Roar, Katy Perry thundered on stage with neon dreadlocks and a tribe of illuminated gladiators. There was rarely pause as she soared through six dress changes, tap-dancing cats, an Egyptian horse, flame-throwing levitating guitarists and, much like the flying mischievous boy who refused to grow old, would also see Perry take to the skies on a trapeze.
Kerry Perry, Prismatic Tour
At the risk of exercising all childhood TV analogies (Alice in Wonderland, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, etc), it was ferociously feminine to Disney Princess proportions.
Fashion bloggers and Manchester media were invited to experience the evening in a ‘forever young’ Katy Perry fashion. Cakes and treats were provided by Manchester bakers, Home Sweet Home and Bakeorama, to induce a sugar high as Katy Perry took to her stage.
Katy Perry party
Much agreed by all girls attended, it was the hyper-pink twelfth birthday party we wished we'd had - all complete with a bubble machine and Perry’s face stuck to a chocolate cake.
In the box suite of the arena, we were allowed a chance to enjoy the wonder of Katy Perry’s world with manicures and makeovers. Indeed, a bubblegum world found at the end of a double rainbow, where unicorns are fed on skittles and Barbie cruises over the candyfloss hills in a pink Cadillac.
A 'Cakey Perry' party
Her army of costumed backing dancers continued to wow with animated choreography to her pop-fuelled chart hits from her new single, Dark Horse to the one that made her, I Kissed A Girl.
The big budget performance, although cartoonish, was extravagant and polished. Granted, the music is mostly pre-teen pop from the artist who brought the lyrics 'Do you ever feel like a plastic bag?' but the execution of the show was dazzling.
Working the crowd, Perry is giddy with the childlike enthusiasm of a Japanese manga character. She doesn't walk across stage but skips and she speaks with all the cuteness of someone living out her 'teenage dream'. "Are you ready to party with me on a school night?" she yells. It's endearing, if a little sickly sweet.
Highlights came from E.T, Teenage Dream and the closing number, Fireworks which showcased the most show-stopping of her many costumes in a technicolour flowing gown (top image).
Considering the crowd was populated with girls around eleven years old, it was nice to see a musician providing for her young audience with triple the gusto of Butlins kids performer. While Miley Cyrus recently 'murdered' her Disney character Hannah Montana, Katy Perry remains the girly-girl glitter covered pop superhero.
Cute. Fun. And worth the sugar comedown.
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Makeovers by Frankie Noone
Nails by City Spa Escapes
Cakes by Home Sweet Home
