COOKIN’ at New Vic (and general question about spectacle entertainment shows)

Anyone see this at the New Vic, or in any of its previous runs? I guess it also played Off-Broadway in 2004-2005 - anyone see it then? I enjoyed it, but that’s partly because I tend to enjoy this sort of show.

Reminded me of Blue Man Group, and other spectacle entertainments like that.

Posted more detailed thoughts here

Is it just me, or was there a boom in popularity with shows like this in the late 80s through the 90s? This show, Blue Man Group, Stomp, Slava’s Snowshow, etc. all feel like they share similar DNA, and all premiered in that time period. Yet they all come from different countries. Did Cirque Du Soleil kick it off? Seems like they started in the 80s but also gained more popularity in the 90s.

Or am I just imagining it, and these types of shows have always been around?

I think the Off-Broadway run you are referencing is ALSO at the New Victory. They first hosted Cookin' back in 2003.

These types of shows will always be around, and I expect in this post-pandemic era we will see more of them. They are flashy, full of talent and spectacle, and can be enjoyed by all ages. They also don't have any complicated plot to follow (and little dialogue), so you can "get it" and have fun whether English is your first or fourth language. It's a really "safe bet" no matter what demographic of ticket buyer you are looking at. And this run proves it: just look at New Victory's houses and it appears to be selling incredibly well (which is much more difficult for family theater to accomplish in these post-pandemic days than it is for "regular" theater).

I'm actually shocked that a similar style show isn't running on Broadway right now as the holiday season approaches (especially in looking at the VERY soft numbers for so many new shows which are tougher sells like Kimberly Akimbo, Cost of Living, Some Like it Hot, etc.).