Blue Man Group has audience eating out of its hands

“Blue Man Group,” Kingsbury Hall, Dec. 6, 2011. Additional performances ­through Dec. 11 (801-581-7100 or www.KingTix.com)

Before the first drums of the Blue Man Group performance began, I was plotting out a list on my iPhone, attempting to lasso in all the holiday to-dos that were getting away from me. When the show ended and the curtain closed, I had the strangest urge to toss my list (and maybe even my phone), take the next morning off and do something uncharacteristic — like go snowshoeing.

Something had occurred during those two hours that summoned my inner child and reminded me not to take myself quite so seriously. Was it the rhythmic drum numbers? Or perhaps the giant dance party that seemed to embody a tech-charged Tokyo club? Was it the comedy routines, the messy masterpieces or the social commentary?

Maybe, but I’m thinking it had more to do with the subtle personalities of those blue-plastered men with their wide, blank eyes. That is the signature of Blue Man, and the most inventive element of all. There was something so likeable about their innocence. They channeled the inquisitiveness and hilarity of a child in a way that made me want to embrace their sense of wonder, randomness and even ridiculousness.

The whole show is quirky. Even the opening ticker-tape announcements make you laugh. And you know you’re in for an unusual evening when there are cautions in the lobby for those whose nervous systems might be affected by the intense flashes and the ushers are handing out ponchos to the people in the front.

Yes, it's a spectacle, thanks to a proscenium-sized LED curtain and high-resolution screen that lends to the tech-charged sensory experience with lights, lasers, massive floating balls, inventive drumming instruments (like the famous “drumbone”), music and paint flying everywhere.

Audience participation is vital to the show, which isn’t a problem as many people seemed to be falling all over each other for the opportunity to be invited on stage. I clued in to the fact that Blue Man Group certainly has a following here in Salt Lake City (as it does globally) when many audience members seemed to know the protocol from the start: such as yelling out to the Blue Men (that makes for good improv) or going along with just about anything if you’re selected to go on stage (like stuffing up on Twinkies, climbing into a helmet-topped jumpsuit or having them project a live video feed of the inside of your mouth onto the jumbo screen).

For the more bashful among us, standing up and at least moving to the rhythm is pretty much a requirement during a comical instructional video segment on how to behave at a rock concert. The eye-popping finale will also get you to your feet.

If you’re envisioning a sit-back-and-relax night at the theater, this might not be your thing. But if you’re open to something experiential, new and out-of-the-box, you’ll devour Blue Man Group.