Urban Safari: The Blue Man Group
Back in Boston!!!!
The last time we saw Blue Man Group (BMG), it was the late ’90s. The show blew us away with their use of percussion, inventive ways of creating sound, and how the the audience interacted with—and sometimes became part of—the performance.
Fast forward a few decades later…and RDM had the priviledge to experience the newly reimagined 2023 version of BMG, debuting at the Charles Playhouse in Boston.
As Managing Director Jack Kenn says, “Blue Man Group is thrilled to announce this revolutionary new show content to Boston audiences. We cannot wait to transport audiences with new music and new visuals, through our partnership with renowned creative agency Pretty Damn Sweet...”
It’s gonna get wonderfully messy…
Blue Man Group was formed in 1989 by Matt Goldman, Phil Stanton, and Chris Wink. Their signature style was a blend of kinetic musical performances and comedy, all done using various kinds of non-verbal communication—as in: not. a. single. word.
The new version of BMG is true to that heritage, but updated with special effects not available 30 years ago.
That was them. This was us. Or was it the other way ’round…
Audience participation has always been a big, big, BIG part of BMG, and the updated version did not disappoint. It incorporates:
- portable cameras,
- large projection displays,
- flat screens,
- live musicians,
- an organ made out of PVC plumbing tubes, and
- the entire audience, which was brought into the action just as much as those chosen to be a part of the on-stage action.
Doesn’t matter where you sit, BMG is going to see you…
…to possibly arrange a marriage between you and another random audience member.
You might think that not everyone would be willing to participate in BMG hi-jinx/shenanigans, but every audience member selected was a natural: they were funny (and having a great time), took cues well from the performers, and were great sports about the whole thing.
Being made to wear a fisherman’s rain slicker and have buckets – BUCKETS – of paint thrown at you turns out to be more enjoyable than one might imagine…
We won’t tell you about the finale, because it wouldn’t mean much even if we did: you really really really have to be in the middle of it to understand. It’s all good fun, and the audience ranged in age from about 7 to about 77. Seriously.
Suffice to say, it was RAUCOUS, but in a crazy good, literally every-member-of-the-audience-was-involved, way. Including us.
Not exactly a rave, although everyone – literally EVERYONE – participated. Okay maybe it was a kind of a rave, BMG-style.
So what’s about? It’s about…being alive, being human, interacting with the world, interacting with humans, kindness, friendship, spectacle, joy, technology, unexpectedness, and streamers, a whole lot of streamers. Some people will go and say, “It was cray-cray! I loved every minute of it!” and others will go and say, “It was a profound exploration of humanity and the space we inhabit” and you know what, both would be right!
RDM had a blast at BMG!!!! Our images only capture a sliver of the energy, action, and creativity this updated show offers. The Blue Man Group has to be experienced first hand…nothing else will or can do it justice!
Kind of like that cruise ship photo everyone gets – except we were on the cruise ship BMG!
For tickets to and information about Blue Man Group Boston, check out www.blueman.com. Doors open an hour before each performance. Children under the age of 5 are not permitted in the theatre.
Go go go go go go go – that’s all we can say.
Final Thoughts
One word…magical 🙂
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