The first time I had the pleasure of watching the Blue Man Group was back in 2003 when it was still relatively new to Berlin. This highly evolved form of pantomime is one of the highest forms of body language that you will ever encounter – and never forget. The three blue men never say a word throughout the 90-minute performance, and all the expressions are done through their eyes and body language, but what a performance it is – comedy, social commentary, light and sound show and music all rolled into one. So to see the show 15 years later and compare it to the first impression was a unique experience.
The closest thing I can compare my visit to the Blue Man Group Berlin the other night was watching a classic Broadway show with a difference cast. The script has evolved over the years and the performance has become much more interactive with the audience. It is difficult to describe what the Blue Man Group is all about in words because it is an experience unto itself, regardless of whether you watch them in New York, Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, Orlando or Berlin. The comedy is attuned to the times, the technology of the current generation, and yet there is something timeless about them. Charlie Chaplin himself would have been rolling on the floor laughing, of that I am sure.
Having had the advantage of hindsight, I purchased tickets for seats to the side of the stage and not centre, where you are very likely to be a victim of some form of substance. However, the audience in first ten rows is all given complimentary ponchos, and if you are arrogant enough to ignore them, trust me when I say that you will sorely regret it.
There is no break, so I strongly recommend taking a bio-break as the Blue Man crew referred to it prior to the show, because for the next hour-and-a-half you will be glued to your seat with utter fascination. My kudos to the artists, script writers, coaches, trainers, stage crew, and musicians who form part of the team. It is a well-oiled machine that has evolved over the years and adjusted to current social trends. The Blue Man Group has managed to elevate the already challenging pantomime genre to a new art form that can reach out across generations, poke wholesome fun at and with the audience.
Photography is strictly prohibited during the show, which I welcomed. But it also means that for this blog I can only offer the official trailer to give you a taste of what the Blue Man Group is all about. Pretty much like the first time I watched the show in 2003, I stood up at the end of the performance reluctantly but entirely satisfied with the brief interlude with a stage performance that defies time and conquers space.
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