[NEohioPAL] Berko review: BLUE MAN GROUP @ PALACE THEATRE

[Roy Berko]

BLUE MEN GROUP delights and teaches at the Palace

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--
Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News Times--Olmsted-Fairview 
Times

--coolcleveland.com-

Is it possible to spend 90 minutes at the theatre, not hear a single word 
spoken, and be totally and absolutely delighted?  When you go to see the touring 
production of BLUE MEN GROUP, and there is no doubt that you should go, at the 
end of the experience you'll be standing on your feet, applauding and shouting 
for joy. 

BLUE MAN GROUP combines music, comedy and multimedia theatrics to produce a 
unique form of entertainment.  This isn't a play.  It isn't vaudeville.  It 
isn't Cirque du Soleil.  It is unique!

To make it even more exciting, not only is the audience entertained, but they 
also learn.  Did you know the eyes see a color and the brain translates it into 
others?  Do you know what 2 _ dimensional space is all about? Do you know “the 
rock concert moves?” On the other hand, do you know how funny Captain Crunch 
cereal can be?  Do you know the hysteria that texting can create in a 
conversation between virtual texters? 

Yes, through electronic gimmicks, flying colored paint, filling their mouths 
with marshmallows, eating Twinkies, audience participation, drumming (yes, it 
does get loud and the bass moves the theatre's floor under your feet), three 
on-stage performers (Matt Goldman, Phil Stanton, Chris Wink), a band and seven 
Blue Men hidden in the dark on-stage, teach and delight.

The youngest of the three “Kid Reviewers,” Ian, my 10-year old grandson, was 
totally delighted all evening.  Sitting on the edge of his seat, jumping up to 
hit huge balloons and catch strings of fiber that wafted out over the audience, 
the boy was one big smile.  He couldn't think of a  single thing he didn't 
like.  Yes, kids will love the goings on, as will adults and all those in 
between.

Be aware that this is a 90-minute show with no intermission.  In spite of the 
warnings by the ushers, the pre-show speech, and visual clues on stage, as the 
show went on the aisles were bustling with people exiting and entering.  Several 
times the performers gave anguished looks at the patrons.  In one instance, a 
stage spotlighting was pointed at several women.  What a bad message these 
people gave the cast about the manners of Clevelanders.

CAPSULE JUDGEMENT:   BLUE MAN GROUP is a total delight.  Go, go, go and have a 
unique theatrical experience!

Tickets for the show, which runs through October 17, can be ordered by calling 
216-241-6000 or going to www.playhousesquare.org 
Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2001 through 
2010, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at 
http://royberko.info
His reviews can also be found on www.coolcleveland.com and NeOHIOpal (to 
subscribe visit http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/neohiopal.)