The magnificent Norwegian Epic returns to its birthplace — Europe — this summer with some new entertainment on a ship known for entertainment. What’s especially interesting, to us at least, is what’s not new.
Blue Man Group. Second City Comedy was cut, but the blue guys survived.The changes by NCL are designed to “Europeanize” the ship’s entertainment, which makes sense. Enter Lost Locos Ole, a Latin music comedy. Enter Maestranza Spanish Ballet. Enter The Extraordinary Voyage, a Spanish comedy marionette show. Enter Stephen Sorrentino, who impersonates 180 people, some of them presumably European. Enter a Beatles Tribute.
It’s interesting that Blue Man Group is not a victim of reshuffling the stage chairs. The act is wildly popular in North America. Attempts to make it an international success have been modest at best. There are still performances in Berlin and Tokyo, but it bombed elsewhere internationally.
So what’s up with this?
Either there is a contract that Blue Man goes on the Epic wherever it sails. Or there are going to be enough North Americans on board to balance the schedule. Or they’re giving the rest of the world another chance to see what they’ve been missing.