Blue is the Hue
by Steve West on July 23, 2022
We (Brenda, Lauren and me) just returned from the Kennedy Center where we saw the Blue Man Group. This was Lauren's birthday gift - her birthday was in May and that's when we ordered tickets, but the show wasn't until today. It was worth every cent, and I envy Scott who lives semi-close to their permanent theater in Orlando. This was the third show I've seen (first in Orlando, second in Norfolk, VA, and now in DC). Both Lauren and Olivia attended the first two shows, as well, but Olivia sat out the DC show.
The Waze app steered us on a questionable, meandering course to NW DC and the theater. We paid for parking in advance, so that was a breeze. The building itself is a sprawling complex so I was unsure exactly where the Eisenhower Theater was compared to where we parked in the multi-story underground garage, but we quickly found our way. Being early for the show, we took in some of the sights The Kennedy Center has to offer; the giant clay-like bust of JFK, a walk along the roof terrace affording fantastic views of the Potomac River with many people boating, the Watergate Hotel, The Washington Monument in the distance, etc. We made it back to the theater with fifteen minutes until showtime and stood in a small queue. This afforded Lauren the opportunity to point out a nearby gift shop (there's quite a few). I told her we'd stop in after the show, it being her birthday gift, after all.
We were sure to be on time in our seats because the Blue Man Group has a skit as part of every show to notice when anyone is late and is being guided to their seats by a flashlight-wielding usher and shining a spotlight on them in an otherwise dark theater. They play a recording of "You're late, you're late. You should have been here twenty minutes ago," while they humbly take their seats. It must be quite embarrassing for them but hilarious for everyone else. And it did happen later in the show.
The show opened with the requisite drumming on barrels with colored water in a depression on top of each barrel that splashed as they drummed. The first three rows are designated as a "splash zone" and those patrons are provided clear plastic rain-type gear. There were three drummers each having a different color to splash. When finished, they switched to throwing ping-pong sized balls from about 15 to 20 feet that another would catch in his mouth. He would then spray the paint from his mouth onto a small canvas in an interesting pattern. at one point they spun the canvas and he spit out a different colored paint that made a pretty cool spiral.
Audience participation included one small boy selected from the audience and brought onstage, The Blue Men looked at him expectantly after placing and adjusting a microphone for him. He, of course, said nothing without knowing what they wanted. The Blue Men feigned frustration and rooted around in their stage props and produced three rubber chickens. They squeezed theirs into the microphone, encouraging the boy to do, as well. They performed an invented song with the boy mimicking them until the final crescendo of squeaking and shaking for visual effect. They devised a large slingshot and filled a water balloon with red paint. A young girl was selected from the audience and while standing near her seat about 50 feet from the stage, was handed a bullseye target to hold over her body. She was then kindly provided a clear plastic face shield. As the slingshot was pulled back to maximum tension, all of the lights went out and the aforementioned recording began to play, "You're late..." A couple from the audience had actually been chosen to perform this late entrance as I saw them selected from their seats not far from me about ten minutes earlier. So, no slingshot after all, of course. Two strangers to each other, a young man and woman, helped perform a romance skit, almost all of which was pantomime. Somehow the young man had gotten handcuffed to one of the Blue Men and during a group, twister-like dance lesson, the handcuffs switched, securing the young man to the young woman. A mock marriage ceremony took place with the groom wearing the veil and the bride threw her bouquet into the audience where it was enthusiastically caught by a woman in the second row. A mock miffed Blue Man took his prop away from her.
Other acts included a hilarious tape of three Blue Men experiencing a virtual roller coaster ride. There was drumming on PVC pipes accompanied by a real drummer (damn, he was good!) and bass player who also played drums on occasion. Everything was really loud, and the lights flashed frequently but it was all enjoyable for those of us not prone to epileptic seizures. Lots of confetti and streamers were rained on the audience and an encore of more drumming and splashing from the water barrels. I'll go again next chance I have.
One Reply to Blue is the Hue
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Steve West scours the Web searching for interest or absurdity and then shakes his head ruefully when he finds it. Read more »
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Scott Hardie | July 26, 2022
I have to confess: Despite living close to their residency in Orlando, I have never actually been to see their show. Kelly and I have talked about going several times now, but something else comes up or we can't find tickets or whatever else happens. I have enjoyed Cirque du Soleil's resident show nearby, but I need to try harder to see the Blue Man Group. It sounds like a terrific show, and I'm glad you had such a good time. :-)