 
The Blue Man Group
By Chuck Rounds
| A new “Big
Blue” has come into town--a
multi-media, sensory experience
that dashes apart the boundaries
of virtually every production
show that we have in Las Vegas--and
it is wonderful. The Blue Man
Group now performs at the Luxor
Theatre inside the Luxor Hotel
and Casino. In so many ways,
this production defies the traditional
concept of a “show”,
that it almost defies description,
but that would make for a very
short review, so I’ll attempt
to frame certain aspects of
the production. |
 |
Even before the
production begins, the audience
is in for a treat. First of all,
there is the beautiful Luxor Theatre.
This theatre is wonderful. It is
a real theatre. It has comfortable
seats, and it is a good size. It
is not so huge that there are nose-bleed
seats and not too small to be cramped.
Each of the seats in the auditorium
is truly a good seat.
Secondly, as I entered
the theatre, I watched as many of
the audience members donned crepe
paper headbands, arm bands, hair
decorations, etc. And once seated,
I was given crepe paper to do the
same. In many ways, a unique and
wonderful thing happened. As each
member of the audience entered the
theater, they were an individual.
With something as simple as crepe
paper, we were all somehow bound
into a group...a tribe, if you wish.
We all became a part of the Blue
Man tribe. As the preshow time ticked
down, random cheers rose from the
crowd--coached by crew members,
but it was a great feeling to be
able to witness this and then be
able to participate.
To
reinforce this tribal feeling, the
audience was encouraged to participate
in group readings and chants to
welcome different people in the
audience just before the beginning
of the show. When the show actually
began, it felt as if we were bound
into one group.
The show opens with
a back lit percussion number--nothing
moves the basic instinct of the
soul as percussion. The rhythms
and beats gets ones heart and soul
stirring. This is a major portion
of much of the performance’s
thrust and power. Time and time
again, we are moved by this rhythm
and sound.
As far as the show
itself...
What is the show about? Well, there
is a trio of blue men who do things.
Often times these things are extraordinary.
Other times they just do things
that are ordinary, but they have
the capacity to make the ordinary
extraordinary. I don’t know
that I will ever be able to chew
cereal or eat a Twinkie in the same
way.
The Blue men are
a well synchronized group. Their
reactions are uniquely in unison,
and yet, each member maintains their
individualism. The Blue men have
the unique ability to appear as
if they are strangers from another
planet, experiencing things for
the very first time, as well as,
masterful and thoughtful aliens
sharing knowledge and experience
with us.
The audience is
a very important part of the performance.
We are continually acknowledged
throughout the show, and often times,
a significant part of it.
| The Blue Man
Group is an amazing production.
It is a wonderful mix of art,
music, thought, sight, touch,
words, and sounds. It is a complete
sensory experience that, in
the final evaluation, is something
that must be experienced rather
than watched. It is not a traditional
performance, but it is a wonderful
production that I hope everyone
has a chance to see and participate
in. |
 |
|
