The Blue Man Group is back in their Orlando groove, delivering their trademark antics in a brand new theater and weaving in some fresh routines that will make today’s headlines.
For the uninitiated, the show features three intelligent, silent, and slightly neurotic blue men who communicate through music and movement. For some reason, it feels too big to be called a pantomime, but you can still get a laugh out of the small movements that signal, “Hey, I got Cap’n Crunch on my lips.”
The show combines non-traditional percussion, marshmallows, paint splatters, piping, black lights, and streaming streamers. There’s also the Squeegee Involved, a three-piece instrument known as the Drumbone.
The troupe performed at Universal Orlando’s theater for 14 years, but closed in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic spread. They have announced they will return to the city in 2024 and can now be seen in a new structure at the base of the Orlando Eye at Icon Park on International Drive. That can leave gaps in our collective memory, and during the VIP screening there was a lot of both “I forgot that part” and “That’s new, right?” Chat.
Please make some noise
The BMG Trio has a variety of drumming options, many of which are made from PVC pipes, creating a twang/thud/didgeridoo hybrid. The major bass drum is accompanied by a major bass drum stick.
When the main characters do something comedic, like throwing marshmallows into each other’s mouths from afar, a three-piece band provides music that complements the visuals, like live sound effects.
Now, let’s get back to the marshmallows on the plane. Earlier this year, Blue Man captain Boleyn Sheed told the Orlando Sentinel there was no secret technique. “It’s all practice,” Sedo said. “It takes hours and hours. … When people come to training, one of the first things we teach them is how to throw and catch.”
lighten the mood
The production design includes dramatic lighting effects, from intense brightness (oh, those spotlights) to sudden pitch darkness. As your eyes adjust, you’ll notice that the performers are either gone or in a completely different part of the 2-level set. The group warns before starting that the strobes can be heavy at times.
The entire room is black from floor to ceiling to the seats, and the colors really stand out (paint, screens, shaved heads, etc.).
screen time
One of the messages of this show is about being disconnected from society. That’s expressed rather sharply in one digital film featuring a slouchy society lit primarily by mobile devices. (Careful, life lesson: Mom always told me to look both ways before crossing the street.)
I wondered if it resonated with younger audiences or if they felt like they were lamenting the Blue Old Man group. Still, there must be some people who feel like they’ve been seen.
But the show uses a lot of screens for effects, running up the walls of the theater, moving as giant panels on stage, and providing narration from a digital blob – a kind of Siri, a kind of Tron, a kind of omniscient being. (Didn’t your eyes change right before showtime? Orlando Eye’s Orlando Eye?)
in action
Oh, there’s a lot of audience participation in this show, both as a group and as individuals. The Blue Men walk the aisles and select those who will take the stage. It’s harmless for introverts, but it’s hard to remember when a performer makes eye contact with you.
I’m not sure if there’s a good strategy to get around this. The performers literally crawl over the audience to catch the “volunteers.” I sat motionless and tried to put on a soulless expression. It seems that waving your arms for attention or pointing your finger at your mortified companions doesn’t impress men, and maybe reverse psychology can help keep you out of the blue spotlight.
ending note
There’s a bombastic finale, but it’s not a bombastic launch like previous places. … The 600-seat theater is now more intimate than its previous location. … The show is approximately 75 minutes long. There are no breaks, but there are some sort of dance breaks in the middle. … The theater and its small lobby are tucked away on a small plot of land on the Universal Boulevard side of Icon Park. The outside of the building is more white than blue, suggesting that it may be the service building below. … Tickets start at $59 (we’re looking at the back two rows here) and go up to $107. Tickets for the show are on sale until the end of 2026. The theater has holidays, but on other days there are three showtimes. … For tickets and more information, visit blueman.com.
dbevil@orlandosentinel.com
