PEORIA -- You know something's up when the first few rows of the audience must be outfitted in waterproof garb.
The Blue Man Group pounded its way into the Peoria Civic Center on Jan. 7 to what appeared to be a sold-out house, and repeats the performance on Jan. 8.
It's a strange hybrid of modern, high tech art, rock music and theater with a dash of satire. Nothing very profound, but entertaining nevertheless.
It's also a performance art-mime show with techniques going back to ancient Greek and Roman theater, updated with surrealistic, high-tech art and music.
Think cirque du soleil with three performers plus two recruited from the audience.
Lovers of contemporary installation art forms and performance art will find this familiar, despite the techo rock and light show and the sketches using stylized cell phones and live TV.
In fact the surrealistic light show laced with art demonstrates how the world of modern art has penetrated the popular culture. The three main 'characters' actually create a few works of art on stage, using paint thrown in various ways at canvas.
One holds up a sign with a price: $5,000.
The rock music, heavy on percussion, blasted out noise, aided by the crowd which was encouraged to yell. Ear plugs were offered to the audience before the show, and I took some but didn't need them. It wasn't that loud, though the young woman next to me kept yelling as if she were at a basketball game. Ugh.
This show is worth seeing, interesting and different, not especially intellectually challenging, but nothing obscene. It's OK for kids.
-- Elaine Hopkins
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