Blue Men Take Over the Ordway Theatre-- A Review
The ponchos draped over our second row seats should have been our first indication that we were in for more than just a musical performance. Blue Man Group takes the stage, but not until a set of expectations has been read aloud by the audience in unison. Rules include no snap chatting, selfies, sexting, skyping, video recording or use of technology of any kind. It would also be wise of you to arrive on time, if not only to avoid public humiliation.
Following the rules, the lights dimmed and a voice announced that it was time for the “audience volunteer” to sing the National Anthem. Immediately, the spotlight hits my face, which I brush off, assuming they were looking for their volunteer in my row. But the light remained, blaring into my eyes when I realized that I was their unknowing victim. I looked around as all 2,000 audience members stared at me expectantly. At that moment, I forgot everything I had ever learned in American history and sporting event I had attended—I could not, for the life of me, recall the first words of the National Anthem! 10 seconds pass, and then 20… everyone sitting around me is now urging me to stand and start the song. I was a deer in headlights, and couldn’t help but notice the amusement on my friend’s faces as they watched me in my horror. After what seemed like minutes, I got my bearings to stand up, and just as I turned to face my audience, the spotlight went dark. The words on the teleprompter read “JUST KIDDING…” and the audience snickered as I took my seat again.
Thus was the first ten minutes of my Blue Man Group experience, and by the beginning of the first act, I didn’t even mind that I was missing game seven of the Wild vs. Avalanche playoff hockey series. If you plan on attending the show, which I fully recommend you do at least once in your life, be prepared to be hit with a flying fruit cake, splattered with paint, or have a wet marshmallow statue tossed in your expensive Burberry handbag. Don’t expect to sit in your seat twiddling your thumbs because the interactive show will have you dancing, hitting giant blow up balls in the air through the crowd and leave you with about 100 different synonyms for the word “booty.”
The three-man spectacle is complete with witty comedy, mind-blowing musical performances and breathtaking visual effects to create a unique theatrical experience unlike anything else you’ve seen before. It’s hard to say what you’d call the individuals, whether they are musicians, comedians, mimes or just freaks, but perhaps the best description is found in the playbill, calling the trifecta seamless collaborators who understand that the sum of a group is more than its parts.
Each week, Blue Man Group attracts 60,000 people and brings in roughly $3.54 Million dollars from sold out shows in six cities around the world (Fortune Magazine.) The two hour act is appropriate for people of all ages and tickets go for an average of $59 apiece. More information on performance times in the Twin Cities can be found on the Ordway Musical Theatre web page at: http://www.ordway.org. You can also find additional information on Blue Man Group or tour dates on their direct website: http://www.blueman.com.
