BWW Reviews: BLUE MAN GROUP Bangs All-Out Party in Golden Gate; High-Energy [Dis]Connection a Winner

Entering San Francisco's Golden Gate Theatre, an air of excitement is already palpable and it's still 20 minutes until the start of the show. No set is visible, yet the key to the evening is projected on the scrim:

"When meeting people from a foreign culture, offer a few gifts that reflect your interests as a gesture of friendship. Better yet, give things you've created yourself. Also, explore their interests and their culture. Ultimately, the best way to forge a lasting friendship is to create something together. Whether it's a meal, an art project or a spontaneous dance party, when you create something with others, you build a connection that lasts a lifetime." - International Diplomacy Guidebook

While some may ignore these words and still enjoy the evening, keeping this passage in mind throughout brings cohesion and deeper meaning to the antics of these cobalt-hued cue-ball-headed clowns/musicians/scientists/ artists/diplomats/aliens. It works on enough levels that anyone is bound to have an exceptionally good time during this 1 hour, 45 minute intermissionless party. And an exceptionally good time you will have during this high-energy, dynamic, curious and insightful first Blue Man Group North American Tour.

Even before the Blue Men appear, the playful nature of the evening kicks off with scrolling L.E.D. screens giving us the Do's & Don'ts of the evening, encouraging audience participation, poking fun at some of the audience, all while bringing us to a one-group mindset.

The challenge of reviewing this show is there are so many delicious and outrageous moments that to reveal them will take away from your experience. So, culling through with care, much must be left out to allow you the same experience we witnessed opening night.

With a spark of highly-imaginative creativity and the use of some kick-ass lighting, sound and scientific principles, this trio of visitors from another culture dissects our technology to discover what makes us tick. What's most remarkable is not a word is uttered by them: the unspoken dialogue they create, combined with some old-school clowning methods (not your Barnum & Bailey kind - something more sophisticated and understated) is language enough. We get their messages loudly and clearly through the specificity of their intent.

Better yet, give things you've created yourself. But before they look at our gadgetry, a drumming session sets them into motion, which gives them the first part of the diplomacy guidebook: they offer gifts reflecting their interests that they've made themselves. See, that drumming session isn't just drumming: it becomes an art lesson. As they bang out the rhythms they desire, paint pigmented in near-fluorescent hues splatters high off of the drums skin, caught on a canvas that is then offered to audience members.
The act of this creation taps into something of a very playful, child-like nature, akin to jumping in puddles, replete with the requisite rounds of giggles and laughter from the audience pealing through the theatre with each splash of paint or lively mishap that occurs. Some are priceless, demonstrating a mastery of clowning vis-à-vis exceptional drumming, timing and mischief.

Also, explore their interests and their culture. Our need for digital playthings gets an insightful skewering. Acknowledging most of these devices are for staying connected, three "GiPads" or "GiNormous iPads" float down and soon an avalanche of facts inundate our blue visitors with so much -too much?-trivial information, some of which comes right out exposing our disconnect with each other. The GiPads, with their various apps, prove to be a handy foil, providing a multimedia background for which to play out their journey for understanding a foreign culture: ours.
A cautionary note: do not arrive late to the theatre. You will become a highly visible part of the show, complete with bells, whistles and wide-screen projection on the GiPads of you trying to sneak in. Quite entertaining for the audience, though!

What the GiPads don't cover, the musicianship does. Nothing short of astounding, the instruments played are as unconventional as The Players; you'll never look at PVC piping the same way again. Fresh, powerful, high-octane rock ‘n roll with a decidedly Blue Man Group groove. 

Ultimately, the best way to forge a lasting friendship is to create something together. This is where the evening begins to take off, with the Blue Men foraging through the audience to find participants to create something together with them. The first several rows of the audience are required to wear ponchos. If you are attending, and you have seats in the first 5 to 7 rows, please do not wear your finest Italian knit, a new silk top, or open-toed shoes. Not a good idea, for you may very well end up onstage or, at the very least, slimed by much goo.

Whether it's a meal, an art project or a spontaneous dance party, when you create something with others, you build a connection that lasts a lifetime. You'll never look the same way again at Sta-Puff marshmallows, Jello, Cap'n Crunch Cereal or Twinkies after witnessing what our Cerulean alien visitors come up with. Body art takes on new meaning, as though a full-contact sport. And finally, the Blue Men demonstrate just how energizing a spontaneous dance party can be. Be prepared for something akin to a rave party or Burning Man extravaganza, minus the naked people, Ecstasy or post-party burn out. You will experience elation and unbridled enthusiastic wonder from the mixture of humor, music, lighting and high i.q. antics. Plus you'll learn quite a few new names for booty. As in the anatomical part of your body. As in "shake your booty."

This show, billed as the first Blue Man Group North American Tour, is ostensibly a remix of what the Blue Men have done for some time at their sit-down locations around the U.S., but with some new presentational devices and technology. The dance party, for example, uses far less paper goods as the sit-down versions in NYC, Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas or Orlando.

You'll want to put this on your "must-see" list. There is nothing like it to be found and these sharp, witty, insightful clowns give us an unfettered glimpse into the world we inhabit daily, all while celebrating life.

Blue Man Group's First North American Tour plays the Golden Gate Theatre (1 Taylor Street, near Market) through June 19. Visit www.shnsf.com for specific performance and ticketing info. To find other tour destinations or to learn more about the Blue Man Group, please visit www.blueman.com.

Photo: Ken Howard

 

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