Blue Man Group - "Waste of everything?"

[bare_nakedlady]

Posted: 8/21/06 at 2:27pm

On MSN.com right now they have a "Do's and Don't's of Las Vegas" story that compiles tips from lots of people into a helpful article. One of the funniest however, was this one about BLUE MAN GROUP.


"Do not not not go to the Blue Man Group, it is the most expensive and stupidest show I have ever seen. The climactic finish involves them throwing toilet paper all over the whole audience, and then raising their arms as if something special has happened. Absolute waste of everything."


Having never seen BLUE MAN GROUP I was wondering if this is an acurate account of the show:if even in NYC it's a 'waste of everything'. I would like to see it sometime. What is everyone's thoughts on it?

I know I could search, but I wanted to share the article.

[Gpvegas]

Posted: 8/21/06 at 2:33pm

While I have not seen the show since it moved from the Luxor to the Venetain. When I saw it at the Luxor, I thoroughly enjoyed it. However, having seen the show in NYC, Chicago and Vegas. I found the permenant shows in each city to be exactly the same.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 8/21/06 at 2:55pm

Most likely, they are extremely conservative with little to no sense of humor or imagination. Blue Man Group is a funny and innovative show that has had international success including becoming iconic images themselves. Whoever wrote that "review" is in a rather tiny minority. I do wonder, however, how the Venetian justifies an orchestra seat for $121. That is insane! Berlin is $107 and London is $94. Everywhere else is considerable lower ranging from $58-$74. The guy was probably expecting some sort of typical Vegas spectacular. If he paid full price for and orchestra seat, then I can only sympathize if he truly had no idea it could be seen elsewhere for much less.

[Calvin]

Posted: 8/21/06 at 3:07pm

Having never seen the Blue Man Group, my only contribution is this: Keep in mind that the average Las Vegas tourist comes from a far, far different mindset than the average theatregoer.

I remember reading one message board in which one woman was so disgusted about Mamma Mia because it had a single instance of taking the Lord's name in vain. The whole "who's the daddy" premise didn't bother her. Just that.

[vmlinnie]

Posted: 8/21/06 at 3:10pm

Hope she never goes to see Billy Elliot or Avenue Q then!

[kec]

Posted: 8/21/06 at 4:35pm

I saw the Blue Man Group perform at West End Live, a two-day event promoting theatre and other performing arts in London's West End. It was a short performance that I guess was the bare bones of their full performance, but I enjoyed myself thoroughly. If I had more time in London that weekend, I might have considered going to see their show.

Sorry about the size of the photo.

[Hank]

Posted: 8/21/06 at 5:27pm

As for "Waste of eveything", that's the whole point of the show. They are wasting everything from paper to Hostess Twinkies, in a sarcastic way, and we should think about it.
And as for money, I think $50 to $60 bucks is worth seeing this show, any more is a waste.

[DWalk]

Posted: 8/21/06 at 6:09pm

I was in Vegas in May and saw Avenue Q and Blue Man Group. While I enjoyed Q, I have to agree with your original reviewer. My comment to my friend as we left was that I wished I had gotten really, really drunk before seeing the show. Either that would have helped me enjoy it or, at least, helped me pass out.

The majority of the audience really seemed to enjoy the show. It was a Saturday late show and there seemed to be a lot, and I mean lot, of kids coming from their proms. I'm guessing they were already drunk which helped them enjoy it.

I've seen several other shows in Vegas (We Will Rock You, Mystere, Ka, Mamma Mia) and I consider Blue Man Group to be the worst I have seen.

[gavrochegirl]

Posted: 8/21/06 at 6:31pm

Alright, it seems like I'm the only one who actually really enjoyed their show! It's so much fun to watch, and it's also very funny. But that's my opinion. It seems like everyone else thinks different than me.

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 8/21/06 at 7:41pm

Whatever they are supposed to be, is completely lost on me. I don't get or enjoy them. Not sure what makes them an "act". The blue make-up, I guess.

[brainpolice23]

Posted: 8/22/06 at 11:44am

I saw it in New York for free...High 5 tix. I thought it was an incredible production, and is definitely worth seeing. However, I can't see it working in a huge casino theatre, as I feel it was meant for the small Astor Place theatre.

[ILoveMyDictionary]

Posted: 8/22/06 at 12:39pm

I saw it in the city, and I think it is definatly worth seeing. It's a unique experiance.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 8/22/06 at 1:51pm

JohnBoy2 - Have you seen their show? It's more than blue makeup. It is excellent percussion musicianship (which is their first priority when casting the the show), wonderful original music, physical comedy, and inspired use of everyday objects (years before STOMP came into existence). It's a unique blend of concert, comedy and performance art. I think most people who don't enjoy it were probably expecting it to be something entirely different and couldn't open their minds to accept what was actually presented to them, which is loads and loads of imagination, creativity and talent.

[littlewow]

Posted: 8/22/06 at 2:08pm

Blue Man Group is a show about experiencing the mundane things in daily life in a new way, rather than taking it for granted. And if you notice, there are through lines in each piece of the show. It's supposed to be a visceral experience, and one where you let go and rock out or immerse yourself in the paper. The Blue Man is the common man and the paper is designed to blanket the audience and connect them with a thread...like DNA. It's one of the most large scale, successful pieces of performance art, geared towards using all your senses. Additionally, it's one of the only shows that really works for people who don't speak English.