IT WAS a gloomy and wet night in
Joburg. However, inside The Teatro
theatre at Montecasino a different
scene was playing out. Bursts of
colour and a pounding resonance
of drumming filled the theatre.
All eyes were on the stage where
spotlights illuminated three blue
characters – the Blue Man Group.
Covered in latex-like blue paint that
dramatised their eyes, they were
the stars of the night.
These Grammy nominated performers
own several residencies in
the US and, in a span of 26 years,
have collaborated with a range
of artists, including Tiesto, Dave
Matthews, Jill Scott and the Killers.
They have been seen by more
than 35 million people in 15 countries
over the years, an impressive
achievement for a production that
refused to box itself in any theatre
genre.
Founded by three friends out
of college, Matt Goldman, Phil
Stanton and Chris Wink, the Blue
Man Group is now a entertainment
phenomenon which appeals to a
range of age groups and cultural
backgrounds.
Brought to South Africa by Big
Concerts International – A Live
Nation Company, their show is
running in Joburg until March 5
before moving to Cape Town from
March 21.
Their catchphrase “Dare to Live
in Full Colour” perfectly describes
what the audience can expect…an
energy filled performance made up
of comedy, theatre, a rock concert
and dance party, all rolled into one.
For 90 minutes, the Blue Man
Group took us on a colourful journey
of virtual reality, revealing
the absurdity of a world we live in
which is obsessed with technology,
smartphones and social media but,
at the same time, it highlighted
the hidden beauty of our digital
age.
Accompanied by a live band,
the Blue Man Group uses custom
instruments such as pipes and stateof-the-art
technology and a comedic
edge that had me grinning like a
child.
Time seems to pass too fast while
watching the three performers get
up to all kinds of mischief, using
marshmallows, tinkies, paint and
sound as props in numerous unique
and creative ways.
Members of the audience seated
in the first five rows are given plastic
blue ponchos to wear to protect
them from the paint and substances
that fly off the stage.
I enjoyed how interactive the
show is as several members of the
audience, which included musician
Danny K, got to join in the fun on
stage. The Blue Man
Group use no spoken language,
leaving music and their facial
expressions to be their form of
communication.
I loved how they
adapted their set to include one of
South Africa’s favourite songs Nkalakatha
by the late South African
kwaito singer Mandoza.
Meridian, the Blue Man and Blue
Man Captain says: “We try to play
something unique for each audience
because everywhere we go we are
trying to forge a real and genuine
connection with that audience and
to explore the cultures that we are
visiting;
“We put in a little something in
there so that the audience knows
that we are there and that we know
where we are.”
There is no script involved in
putting together the production, but
the music and the acts are passed on
from one generation of a blue man
to the next, ensuring that no two
performances are the same.
Does the blue paint mean that
they aliens? “We try to avoid to being
referred to or labelled as aliens. This
might sound a little strange but we
describe ourselves as the ‘other’,
but we are very much human. I
think the
blue man is like every man, as a
blue man we kind of present some
of the best parts about ourselves
as humans.
“Our desire to connect with each
other, our desire to celebrate life
together. Our desire to be joyful
together and to have experiences
together. Once you strip away the blue
paint and the neutral costumes, we
sort of represent all this superficial
details of being a human being. It’s
easier to see the deeper things that
connect all of us, that is what it’s all
about,” says Meridian.
The lifespan of a blue man
varies from person to person, said
Meridian.
“Some stay for a year, have a
great time and move on to other
projects. I have been doing this for
about 11 years… it’s just a really
wonderful experience. Watching
the connection with the audience
grow and taking the audience on
a journey.
“For me it’s just a magical
experience, watching an audience
member at the beginning of the
show all sceptical and not knowing
what to expect and watching that
same person’s energy transform by
the end of the show, enjoying the
dance party. It’s a remarkable transformation
for the audience and for
us too because we go through it with
them, and that is a great experience
every, single time.”
Tour Information
JOBURG:
Venue: Teatro at
Montecasino
Dates: Playing until March 5
Off-peak shows: Tuesday
evening, Wednesday evening,
Thursday evening and Sunday
evening
Peak shows: Friday Evening,
Saturday Matinee, Saturday
Evening andSunday Matinee
Ticket prices: Off-peak: R370
– R595 and Peak: R455 – R680
Tour Information
CAPE TOWN:
Venue: Grand Arena,
GrandWest
Dates: March 21-26.
Off-peak shows: Tuesday
evening, Wednesday evening,
Thursday evening and Sunday
evening
Peak shows: Friday evening,
Saturday matinee, Saturday
evening and Sunday matinee
Ticket prices: Off-peak:
R340 – R570 and Peak: R425 –
R655. Bookings: From Big Concert
at: www.bigconcerts.co.za
and Computicket: www. online.
computicket.com. Connect with
the Blue Man Group at www.
blueman.com or Twitter at @
bluemangroup.