Lady Gaga opens UK leg of Mayhem Ball tour in London

Lady Gaga opened the U.K. leg of her Mayhem Ball tour Monday night at the O2 Arena in London, delivering a sold-out, theatrically charged two-and-a-half-hour show that blended large-scale spectacle with stripped-back moments and a setlist spanning her career. The performance, which began about an hour later than scheduled after entry and soundcheck delays, featured elaborate costumes, towering stage props and a mix of new material from Mayhem and long-established hits.

The show played out as a four-act pop opera in which Gaga alternated between flamboyant production numbers and intimate piano-led passages. Staging included a towering scarlet crinoline, a massive skull prop, a sandpit sequence, and a gondola that floated down the arena catwalk for a rendition of Shallow. Dancers, skeletons and costumed characters populated elaborate tableaux while Gaga moved through rapid costume changes and high-energy choreography. She also stripped back the production at key points, performing piano versions of Million Reasons, Die With a Smile, Speechless and a pared-down Edge of Glory that drew sustained audience silence.

Gaga engaged directly with the crowd throughout the night, offering a...