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Regional Reviews: Phoenix Blue Man Group
Also see Gil's reviews of The Cat in the Hat, Top Gun: Live, Abridged and Completely Underfunded, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
In a series of vignettes they teach us a few things about science, play several musical percussion pieces on paint-filled drum heads and pvc pipes, and consume mass quantities of junk food all while doing silly things like fitting as many marshmallows as they can into their mouths and then spitting the marshmallow sculpture out and calling it a piece of art. There is no true beginning, middle or end to the show, but that doesn't really matter. And while they end up creating a huge mess on stage they also show us that sometimes you don't need a plot or to be completely serious to end up having an entertaining time that is also, in a strange way, educational and thought provoking, too. The Blue Men use their childlike innocence and humor in finding the joy in simple things like how chewing on Cap 'n Crunch cereal can become musical. The vignettes also make us ponder some simple thought provoking questions, such as: What constitutes art?; How much technology is too much?; and Isn't communicating face to face more stimulating than digitally? What started in the New York Off Off Broadway "performance art" scene in the late 1980s, Blue Man Group, which was created by Matt Goldman, Phil Stanton and Chris Wink, opened Off Broadway in 1991. In the past 23 years the group has gone on to perform in countless productions around the world, including long running and still ongoing productions in Vegas and Orlando. They have been featured in some famously creative TV commercials all while still continuing to run Off Broadway. They also showed that, if you have the right combination of spectacle, mystery and intrigue, you don't need a plot or even characters that speak to enthrall and entertain an audience. Over the twenty years ago of the show's existence, new skits have been added and some old ones updated to be more technologically in sync with the times. Also, the three original Blue Men have stepped away from performing, now concentrating on the business side of the group, and the tour features a rotating group of eight men who play the blue faced trio. Blue Man Group, while partly strange and surreal, also features plenty of humor sprinkled throughout the show. Even though the Blue Men don't speak, they are cheered on by the audience and also come out into the theatre a few times, walking over the hand rests and backs of the chairs and wandering around looking for willing participants to take part in their silliness on stage. That silliness includes such skits as the Blue Men wearing suits that ooze Twinkie cream that they gobble up with knife and fork; humorous cell phone brain building exercises that go by so fast you can't possibly follow them; and witty wordplay displayed on the numerous moving and large overhead screens, including an onslaught of the seemingly hundreds of words there are for "butt". While this may come across as frat type humor it somehow seems poignant, childlike and even somewhat sophisticated. Skillfully directed by Marcus Miller and the original Blue Man creators, the tour uses a combination of audience participation, humor and silly tricks all backed by a pounding percussion heavy soundtrack. The small five piece band, wearing blacklight illuminated costumes that resemble DayGlo skeletons, are proficient and their skilled playing adds another element for our senses to experience. The technical aspects of the show are well done, including some highly theatrical use of shadows and color in Joel Mortiz's lighting and production design. The large video screens, with video designs by Caryl Glaab and the Blue Man Group, provide instructions throughout the show and are also used in a theatrical way as giant cell phone simulations and as screens that the Men walk in and out of in a well-choreographed sequence. It is a highly technical show and Miller is to be commended in how he is able to pull it all together seamlessly. The show's finale begins with a series of informational instructional videos of rock concert etiquette, including how to do the fist pump, and ends in a party atmosphere with the audience all on their feet and giant beach balls being pushed around the crowd, is one of the most surreal experiences you will ever have. With the glowing giant balls moving all around you while changing colors as they gently glide through the air, it also, in a very strange yet heartfelt way, provides a sense of inclusiveness to the evening, a communal experience of sorts that makes all of us members of the tribe of Blue Men and turns the evening into one of discovery for audience members of any age. Blue Man Group is strange and mysterious but somehow also completely charming and alluring. It is a gleeful shared experience between three Blue Men and the audience. Blue Man Group runs through March 2nd at ASU Gammage located at 1200 S. Forest Avenue in Tempe. Tickets can be purchased at www.asugammage.com or by calling 480 965-3434. Additional tour dates can be found at www.blueman.com. Created, Written and Directed by Matt Goldman, Phil Stanton and Chris Wink
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