Why is it that something called Blue Man Group is such a phenomenon, in New York, Boston, Vegas, Stuttgart, Amsterdam and now the Norwegian Epic?
One of the group’s three founders puts it like this:
“To capture the audience, you have to do something no one in the audience can do,” says Matt Goldman, in a promotional video. “Back in the day, you had to be juggling, swallowing swords, spinning plates, or eating fire. We couldn’t do those things but we could catch things in our mouths.”
If you’ve seen Blue Man Group, somewhere, you know what he means. If you haven’t, let’s just say there’s more to a Blue Man than catching things in his mouth.
On the Epic, there are four Blue Men. You only get three at a time, because the fourth is backstage, or perhaps in the audience, to critique the show for his partners…or be on standby if needed. They catch things in their mouths, they beat on drums, they pick a couple of helpers out of the crowd, they never say a word, “talking” with their eyes…and they meet anybody who wants to meet them when the show is over.
At that moment, they are known only to themselves.
“They have an inter-generational clientele and a broad spectrum of all ages,” says NCL Vice-President Andy Stuart. “There’s no star. The group is the star.”
The weight of a well-known package is generally considered to be better entertainment for cruise ships than a well-known solo act. The group is both anonymously famous, and famously anonymous.
“It is easy to misunderstand Blue Man,” says a second co-founder, Chris Wink. “He is a little intimidating. Is he friendly? How does it work? He looks a little different, a little silly, but he’s having a great time.”
In the Epic Theater, it’s clear almost 700 spectators have a great time — eight times a week — laughing at facial humor, listening to loud drums, shaking hands with men who are blue…except for those big eyes.