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Reviews |
Blue Man Group
| 1) | Review added by Bob (2006-11-22) |
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The oddities begin as soon as you step inside the auditorium. An electronic message board prompts you to utter birthday greetings to people you don't know. Staff members walk the aisles handing out crepe paper, encouraging you to wrap it about your head and extremities. Those sitting in the front rows have the option of donning clear plastic ponchos to protect themselves from the occasional paint splatter.
"Blue Man Group" combines the best of theater, art, music and science and wraps it into a package full of humor and energy.
The trio opens the show by drumming paint onto a canvas. They can make art out of anything - a mouthful of melted marshmallows, half a gumball, an audience member. These unconventional acts put "Blue Man Group" in its own special niche.
And the show is much like the blank canvas taken out in the first act. The Blue Men leave their imprint on every segment, from their curious mannerisms to their playful mimicking. It's like watching a child explore the world for the first time, full of wonder and amazement, taking nothing for granted, leaving no stone unturned.
But patrons themselves shouldn't worry about getting dirty -- just about playing along with the group, which is effortless, as energy runs high in the front rows. In fact, all areas in the theater have their own special appeal; the middle section offers a great overview of the stage, and patrons in the back sections are the first to experience a truly unexpected ending. The performers venture into the audience at several points during the show, so don't worry if you're up in the balcony seats -- you'll still get an up-close and personal interaction.
Even more unusual than the Blue Men's actions are their creations. Apparatuses in the show include backpack tubulums, airpoles and a three-story high drum wall. Add this to the use of Cap'n Crunch cereal as an instrument and you've got a peculiar but brilliant show.
The highlight of the show is the music. By using pipes, "Blue Man Group" can control pitch and harmony. The use of both sticks and paddles creates more options. The result: endless rhythmic variations. And with a rockin' band at their side, the Blue Men are more than a show - they're a phenomenon.
Created by Matt Goldman, Phil Stanton and Chris Wink in New York in 1987, "Blue Man Group" has taken on a life of its own, and now resides in Boston and Chicago, as well as New York and Las Vegas, continuously playing to sold-out audiences at all four venues.
The enigmatic show is also groundbreaking; looking to honor it, the Drama Desk committee (a group of journalists and theater critics whose Outer Critic Circle awards are the Golden Globes of the theater world) created a new "Unique Theatrical Production" category for "Blue Man Group", which was followed by "De La Guarda" and &q
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