Language & Theater: Blue Men Communicate Without Words

You can find different percentages on how much communication is verbal vs. non verbal.  Consider the 55/38/7 rule of personal communication:  55% of communication as body language, 38% tone of voice, and 7% actual words spoken.  Consider the 60/40 rule:  60% communication as facial and 40% vocal.  Either way, we know that we tell stories through movement, not just words.  We watch facial expressions, body posture, gestures, eye movement, and touch.  That explains why artists can create an entire show without spoken words and have a great hit.

We took our kids to the Blue Man show at the Briar Street Theater in Chicago.  They didn't know the show's history, so they didn't know it was an award winning show which began in New York City in 1987.  They feared mom was just taking them to another show.  They loved the show!  Who couldn't love a show that integrates Cap'n Crunch, marshmallows, and Jell-O with humor and expression.

The Blue Men show has three blue men as the stars.  They have talent as percussionists and mimes.  They use non-traditional instruments like plastic pipes to create music.  They comment on contemporary life, science, and technology without using a word.

Clearly the audience had repeat customers.  They knew how to interact with the show before it even began.  Enthusiastic theater attendees wore ponchos in the front rows, anticipating splattered liquids like paint.  Audience members can get pulled out of their seats to participate in a painting skit or dinner serving Twinkies.  After the show, the Blue Men appear in the front entrance for photos.

The blue men represent outsiders to the rest of the world with surprised reactions to modern world items.  Yet the Blue Men have become part of the world beyond New York, performing in 15 countries.  They performed twice at the Latin Grammy awards.  If you want to see a show, look for performances in Berlin, Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, New York City, and Orlando.