"You're Laaaate.... You're Laaaate..... You're Laaaate...." the sing-song chorus beamed out as late theatre-goer's are greeted with a spotlight and their tardy images on a projection screen on stage. My goodness! Glad my friend told me not to be late to the Blue Man Group prior to this evening- this evidently is how they always treat the post-showtime-arrivals.
No one could accuse the Blue Man Group of not having a sense of humor and wit. From how they deal with late entries, to the use of teleprompters in non-traditional ways, these Blue Men are pretty entertaining. They are probably too sarcastic for children under 15 to understand, but are pure fun for adults.
The basic premise of the Blue Man Group is three guys that dress in completely black suits and paint their bald heads and bare hands bright blue. They pretend that they are from another planet and they might as well be- not speaking at all and acting as if the most ordinary things like Cap'n Crunch and Twinkies are the most unusual things that they have seen. It is fun to see them discover our Newfound World.
The Blue Man Group's visual effects will dazzle your mind. Thier synchronized drumming, dancing and spraying phosphorescent paint in a black-lit environment is very visually pleasing. Their finale (no spoilers here) is unlike anything I have witnessed and involves a great deal of audience participation. You won't be snoozing in this show- even if you have too much to drink at the Charles Street Playhouse's on-site bar.
Perhaps the most understated part of the Blue Man Group's show is the great physical talent of the actors involved. Not only do they synchronize everything to music and so that visual effects are maximized, they also have a certain degree of underrated talents. What underrated talents you ask? How about catching 27 marshmallows in your mouth as they are thrown across the stage one by one- not ever dropping one or taking time to chew and swallow. Not only is that what I consider an underrated talent under normal circumstances, the presentation of these talents makes for an excellent show.
Tickets to the Blue Man Group can be obtained at the Charles Street Theatre box office or 1/2 price the day of the show at a Bostix kiosk around Boston. Advanced seating reservation is recommended- they sell out quite a bit.
I highly recommend going to the Blue Man Group if given the opportunity. For those that don't mind a little splatter- sit in the orchestra section designated "the poncho section" where patrons are given a raincoat to minimize clothing damage. Audience interactivity is fun and you will leave the theatre feeling like you did more than just watch a show- you participated in your own entertainment!