Entertainment Performance Review: Blue Man - Essay Example

Entertainment Performance Review: Blue Man Introduction I have heard a lot about the show and I have always wanted to attend one of the events, mainly because no one is really able to explain in detail what goes on. Finally I got the chance to attend the Blue Man Group show on 15 March 2015 at the Boston Charles Playhouse. The event was to start at 5pm. Each ticket was sold at $110 and getting the tickets and going through the seating process was very easy. This event features three blue men who perform various acts with background music and lights as they spray paint like stuff. With no facial expressions or sounds from them, the blue men can be creepy at times. They have been performing since 1997 and even though the state seems so blue at first, the event has a lot of familiar references that can ground even the most distressed audience in the crowd. The event was a mixture of art, skits and advertisements. Some of the terminologies used include; dazzling, irresistible, fantastic, quasi, bizarre, iconic, miming, exploration. These are the reasons I went to show. I have heard so much about the fantastic performance but never got a chance to. I am thankful to my class requirements to write a review as I finally got the thrill that I have heard so much about. I had no idea of what exactly to expect when I got in but I can say it was a pretty unique experience. The event was not just a dazzling manifestation of music, but there were also hyper exaggerated commercials for iPhone where three huge phones that the blue men started texting each other. This was quite creative as it showed that even marketing can take place in the most unrealistic performances. I think it was effective as blue man group itself is like an extended commercial. It was quite satisfying to watch such an endearing and quasi bizarre conceptual spectacle of a commercial or advertisement. Some of the sponsors of the event included; the Boston Foundation, bank of America who gave financial support, artworks, mass cultural organizations, and national Endowment for the arts were there as promoters of the event. Media partners present were The Boston Globe, Magic 106.7, Metro and Boston.com who were very ready and apt to give a the event the coverage it deserved. Venue/Facility Assessment As I got in the Boston Charles Play house where the event was scheduled to take place, there was an overwhelming air of excitement in the room; it was almost infectious and got me ready for the performance. The theatre was well arranged despite being small in size it gave a live feeling. The room had giant LCD screens to project and make sure everyone had a close feel to the performers. They also have a lounge where people are allowed to have drinks before the show starts. Having been renovated recently, Charles Playhouse offered a great ambience to the show. It is however not very convenient for the audience as one might be worried of getting some paint on their clothes due to the close proximity to the stage. It is great as everyone gets a vivid picture of the whole performance, unless they are sitting at the balcony. Its small size limits the capacity of people who can get in yet with their humorous performance, Blue Man attracts so many audiences. I saw some people who were turned down as there was no space to watch the show; others who were at the balcony had to stand so as to get a better view. All in all, this entire venue was perfect for the performance because of its cultural value. Charles play house has been there since the 1870s and it was such a great place to hold an event that mimics pop culture in a way. Entertainment, being an art, is best performed in a cultural venue. This way people get to appreciate art and culture and other cultural promotions can take advantage of the same. Charles Playhouse got renovated last year and it celebrated their 175th year of being in operation. By this event taking place in the theatre, it was a good way of promoting the new look and marketing the place for future events. Entertainment Event Assessment As the show started, with me sitting at the fifth row, I had no idea what was going to happen. I was worried that my clothing would not be spared from the flying paint but that did not kill my anxiety. I was angry that the show started 15 minutes late. And even so the actual performance did not start as at that time only some weird jokes were displayed on the screens. This was going to be quite a frustrating event; I couldn’t believe I had paid that much for a ticket to get duped. After the jokes and games, the lights went off and the sound of the blue men drumming exploded. This almost reeled me out of my seat. There were spotlights all over and the spotlight revealed a fog covered stage. The performers looked like shadows at first but the fog cleared and the intensity of their performance and iconic blue paint made them intimidating. Even though it was intense, the show was humorous, ranging from mocking pop culture, to own kind of miming. The performers were good in encouraging audience to participate. They would seek out certain people to go on stage and join them. It was fun, as I realized I could become one of the participants. I had actually caught two marsh mallows and I was getting tense when one of the blue men came closer to my row. I locked eyes with him but he moved on to a person who volunteered. That was quite relieving, and disappointing I think but mostly the former. The whole performance even though they were trying to celebrate human spirit looked so alien; from their color to the plastic tubes that created a visual universe for the audience to get lost in. Despite the performers not being so “earthly”, there was some humanity in the show. The only problem is that the performers did not speak or show facial expressions thus at times they were freaking. The interaction between the three blue men was perfect and well timed. The band and percussionists were fantastic. The area was well secured by uniformed men who looked more of bouncer entertainers. They performed their job quite well; I remember one excited fan who tried to record the performance but the security could not allow. They were not mean to the fan but explained the terms. As the show came to an end, giant beach balls like orbs were tossed to the audience. This was a good a great way to give the audience a climax. The music died down and those who had caught the balls were asked by a voice to return them. The show lasted approximately 90 minutes and all the 475 audiences were impressed by the performance. I say this because, even after several minutes had passed the crowd was still cheering on for an encore. The group had to come back on stage and perform a final song that acted as cap to a great performance. Conclusion Despite their long time history, the blue men know how to stimulate their audience with childlike curiosity and ready them for exploration in their minds. The show was fantastic; I would say that blue men were way out of my expectations. I did not expect to have so much fun and laughter. I thought the night would be filled with loud drumming, but the noise was monitored. They literally “blue” my mind. The men are hilarious and their interaction with audience is great. 80% of the performance is humor and you are laughing, while the other 20% is shocking performance. With such a mix of emotions, your ticket money is spent to the last coin. I loved the show and my favorite moment was the climax gigantic balls in the air above the audience. I almost got knocked over by two of them but it was awesome. The performance is simply mind blowing and irresistible, now I know why some people have attended almost ten of them. I will be going back soon too, and I highly recommend everyone to watch at least once. Works Cited Blue Man. Blue Man Group. Boston Charles Playhouse, Boston. 15 March 2015. Live. Read More