Columnist Joe Delaney: Talented group hopes to leave Las Vegas feeling ‘blue’

Joe Delaney

Friday, March 17, 2000 | 10:29 a.m.

Joe Delaney's column appears Thursdays and Fridays. Reach him at joe@vegas.com or 259-4066.

The second time around we found a clue to really enjoying "Blue Man Group: Live At Luxor." ... Matt Goldman, Phil Stanton and Chris Wink, the original Blue Men, have come up with a theatrical concept that includes high tech, low tech, abstract art forms, mime, music that is primarily percussion, humor and intense audience interaction.

An example: To best enjoy the art of the top illusionists, one must be willing to accept what they see, to believe that the person shot out of a cannon appears immediately in a box on the opposite side of the stage. ... Trying to find out how the illusion is done makes one miss most of the fun.

Another example: In Japanese haiku poetry, counting to make sure there are 17 syllables in a five-seven-five sequence means one will be too busy counting to understand the real beauty and truth in the poet's statement. ... It is possible to see both the trees and the forest.

Continuing on

"Blue Man Group: Live At Luxor" is an assault on the senses. ... It is experienced best by becoming a willing participant from start to paper-laden finish of the 80-minute presentation, now a proper length.

There is a classic marshmallow segment where one Blue Man pitches them one at a time at the other two, resulting in one Blue Man catching an incredible number in his mouth while the other recipient creates a painting.

Cap'n Crunch cereal boxes are emptied in a scene that could have been devised by the late Ernie Kovacs. ... The segments are unrelated but actually make sequential sense -- but only if you let them.

In conclusion

The Blue Men are excellent percussionists and they are backed by the exceptional Blue Man Band. ... There is also an enormous neon-like landscape that comes to life. ... The Blue Man Group's stated aim is to bring something innovative and totally different to Las Vegas: "classic illegitimate theater." In this, they have succeeded. ... Our initial concern remains.

"Blue Man Group: Live At Luxor" is a love-it-or-hate-it situation. ... There really is no in-between here. ... Son Scott and daughter Megan were with us. ... Scott, a rock music fan, had a great time. ... Megan had a good time as well but wasn't sure why. ... The show will either be a big hit or an equally big miss -- time will have to tell which. ... A sudden thought: Shouldn't they be the Green Man Group for St. Patrick's Day?

Anent Bob Anderson

If you are a fan of the original Sinatra Sands Rat Pack, we recommend superior saloon singer/impressionist Bob Anderson, currently in the Desert Inn's Starlight through April 9. ... Anderson delivers definitive versions of Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr., plus Tony Bennett, Tom Jones and others nightly, Tuesdays through Sundays.

Caustic social commentator and TV ad pitchman Dennis Miller is ranting in the Desert Inn Crystal Room through Sunday. ... Miller's rants are as current as today's 6 o'clock newscast.

Gladys Knight, starring in "Smokey Joe's Cafe" (Caesars Palace Circus Maximus), is a must for those who grew up with Elvis Presley and danced to the songs of Leiber and Stoller in the 1950s and 1960s. ... Wednesday was opening night for the show, which runs through June 11.

Happy days

Today is St. Patrick's Day and the Sons and Daughters of Erin's annual St. Patrick's Day Dinner-Dance and Entertainment will start at 6 p.m. (Sahara). ... The annual parade begins Saturday at 9 a.m., Paradise and Convention Center Drive, proceeds north on Paradise to the Sahara east parking lot to join the all-day block party and Irish music.

J.C. Wooloughan, the Irish Pub at the Regent Las Vegas, will feature authentic Irish food and music from noon on, today through Sunday.

Nevada Dance Theatre's "Peter Pan" continues through Sunday, UNLV's Judy Bayley Theatre. ... There's good jazz at Pogo's every Friday night. ... Don Menza's big band plays Mondays (Riviera Lounge). ... Please support the Sun Summer Camp Fund. ... See you next Thursday.

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