I’m a big fan of taking the kiddos to shows and performances. I’m sure part of it is the theater geek in me, but I also like exposing them to forms of entertainment that take place “in real life” outside of the magical box in our family room … particularly since both my kids have shown interest in the performance arts.
Over the last few years, we’ve done the ballet, Broadway musicals like “The Lion King,” cringe-worthy kiddie shows featuring life-size cartoon characters, and this past weekend we added Blue Man Group to the list.
For those not familiar with Blue Man Group, it’s, well, kind of hard to describe since it doesn’t really fall into any one category. It basically combines music, technology and comedy for a truly unique experience. Oh, yeah, and it features a trio of blue-faced men who don’t utter a single word throughout the entire show.
When I was offered the opportunity to take my family to a Sunday matinee, I jumped at the chance. I remember seeing Blue Man Group more than ten years ago when I was a single gal (in my pre-Dr. G days) and I remember how much I loved it … and I had a sneaking suspicion Buddy would too.
Mimi, on the other hand, I wasn’t so sure; I remember how she freaked out (and not in a good way) over the human-like characters at Disney World last year. So just to prepare them, we watched a lot of Blue Man Group videos on You Tube, because — let’s face it — those blue faces and lack of facial expression could be pretty freaky to a little kid.
We headed into Boston to the Charles Playhouse (where the show has been running continuously since 1995!) in the wind and rain to the 2:00 pm performance.
I wasn’t sure how prepared they’d be for small kids, but they were so welcoming, handing me a one-pager with some tips for helping the kids enjoy the show, offering us ear plugs (since the show gets rather loud), and providing some booster seats for the kiddos to sit on.
Speaking of seats, we sat — thankfully – a few rows behind what I referred to as the “splash zone,” where all the guests were sporting clear ponchos in preparation for some messy fun. The lights dimmed and the show started and Buddy was mesmerized, or maybe he was a little confused.
Either way, once he got used to the low light, the structure of the show, and the silly behavior and antics of the “Blue Men,” he really got into it. I’m talking hysterical laughter and giggle fits. And once they launched into their bit with Cap’n Crunch cereal (which I won’t give away, but let’s just say it involves lots of spitting and silliness), I knew he was sold on the hilarity that is Blue Man Group.
Though that’s not to say the show is suited only for 7-year-old boys (although I will say most of the humor was totally up his alley). Truthfully, my favorite part of the show was watching Buddy’s face light up and hearing his fits of giggles, but trust me when I say I laughed out loud too — particularly at the hidden adult humor that, thankfully, went right over Buddy’s head. And while I don’t want to give anything away, the interactive portions of the show (including the dance party at the end) were a lot of fun.
So what about Mimi?
Honestly, she did fantastic, considering she was tired and cranky and showing clear signs of her impending “threenager-hood” (more to come on that). She alternated between sitting in her seat and on our laps, didn’t try to get up, and actually watched most of the show. Not surprisingly, her favorite parts involved anything with music or dancing, and toward the end, she was bouncing away on my lap, showing off some rockin’ preschool dance moves.
After the show, we got to meet one of the Blue Men in the lobby. Or I should say, I was able to meet him. I think it was a little much to see one of the guys up close, and both Buddy and Mimi refused to have his picture taken with him. But not me!
I’m so glad I had this opportunity, because even though I loved that first Blue Man Group show many years ago, I’m not sure I would have thought to take my kids here. But it is totally kid-friendly, and as far as city activities go, pretty reasonably priced.
If you do go, I’d offer the following pieces of advice:
- The show definitely was loud, and the ear plugs they provided (the disposable kind that molds to your ear canal) didn’t quite work (although my kids are known for their tiny ears). It was another reminder that Ireally need to invest in those noise-cancelling headphones they sell for kids at monster truck shows. But if you’re kids are fine with the ear plugs, then you should be all set.
- They allow food and drink in the theater, which was a huge plus when Mimi declared her dire thirst about halfway into the show. I just pulled a juice box from my bag.
- If your kids are unfamiliar with Blue Man Group, I definitely recommend showing them You Tube videos in advance. I think knowing what to expect played a huge role in the way the kiddos handled the show.
- There is no intermission, so make sure to hit the potty in advance.
Another plus of the show? It was relatively short; I think we were done by 3:45pm or so … the perfect amount of time for squirmy kids with wandering attention spans.
Good news! They’re offering some pretty cool April school vacation specials, including the opportunity for kids to have their faces painted (in true Blue Man style, of course) before select performances. For more information, please visit http://www.blueman.com/boston/school-vacation-week or you can check them out on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest!
Do you take your kids to shows or performances? What’s their favorite?
Disclaimer: I received four complementary tickets to facilitate my review, but all text and opinions are my own.