2007年VOA标准英语-Bald, Bold and Blue

By Larry London
Washington
18 June 2007
 

Bald, in black clothing, covered in blue paint -- these are the three most eye-catching features and characteristics of the Blue Man Group, a creative theatrical¹ organization that features a trio of mute drum performers called the Blue Men.  On tour with their latest show, "How To Be A Megastar," Zach, Wes, and Jeremy talked to VOA's Larry London about what the Blue Man Group is all about.

The Blue Man Group logo

Blue grease paint and latex head covers bring new life to a vaudevillian² concept of performing with actions and not words.  Such is the case with the Blue Man Group, an idea conceived in the late-1980s in New York City by three friends.  Today the Blue Man Group has expanded in many different directions.

"I think one of the most intriguing³ things about the Blue Man character,” says Wes, “is that he kind of comes out without any sort of context whatsoever⁴.  He goes through the process of figuring that out during the show, and that becomes the show. That process of figuring out what kind of show do they want to see here, and he stands and delivers there. There's a kind of a hero-clown dichotomy to the character where he doesn't know what he's going to do, but then his buddies⁵ are there to help him figure out the next move."

With live stage shows in New York, Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, London, Berlin and Amsterdam, the Blue Man Group is always current with their show themes. 

Artistic⁶ Director Michael "Puck" Quinn says the show's creative process is a real team effort. "I wish it was as easy as walking in one day, saying, 'Hey! There's this idea for this thing where they throw stuff and catch it in their mouths.' It doesn't really work that way.  Somebody will walk in, and there's a group of people that come up with the material.  Somebody will come in with a kernel⁷ of an idea and then we just do it."

"How to be a Megastar" takes the audience through a fun-filled workshop on how to create the perfect rock concert experience. Backed by an eight-piece band, Blue Man Jeremy says the silent trio relies on colorful artistic props⁸ and the audience's imagination to tell the story.

"Because the Blue Man doesn't speak, the audience is always laying their own story on it.  I think a lot of the deeper themes – like being connected with people, and technology, and what that means in our world – is a global thing that people get and want to get an experience of," says Jeremy.

Appearing in a popular American TV commercial has brought more fame to the trio. Blue Man Zach explains. "I'd never imagine that it would be this well-received and this popular. I think we're just blessed with all the success.  I mean, who would think that three guys getting bald and blue, not speaking and walking around doing stuff would, you know, touch so many people.  But it does, and it's been a great ride.  I hope that we can keep taking it to more places and more people, and have more people experience it.  I think it's a great time.  Everybody leaves having a great time.”

1 theatrical   

adj.剧场的，演戏的；做戏似的，做作的

参考例句：

• The final scene was dismayingly lacking in theatrical effect.最后一场缺乏戏剧效果，叫人失望。
• She always makes some theatrical gesture.她老在做些夸张的手势。

2 vaudevillian   

n.轻歌舞剧编剧者，杂耍演员

参考例句：

• Mary is a vaudevillian. 玛丽是一个杂耍演员。 来自互联网
• In view, a humble vaudevillian veteran cast vicariously as both victim and villain vicissitudes of fate. 一位谦虚的杂耍老手代苦难命运的受害者和加害者演出这个面孔。 来自互联网

3 intriguing   

adj.有趣的；迷人的v.搞阴谋诡计(intrigue的现在分词)；激起…的好奇心

参考例句：

• These discoveries raise intriguing questions. 这些发现带来了非常有趣的问题。
• It all sounds very intriguing. 这些听起来都很有趣。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 whatsoever   

adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么

参考例句：

• There's no reason whatsoever to turn down this suggestion.没有任何理由拒绝这个建议。
• All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,do ye even so to them.你想别人对你怎样，你就怎样对人。

5 buddies   

n.密友( buddy的名词复数 )；同伴；弟兄；（用于称呼男子，常带怒气）家伙v.（如密友、战友、伙伴、弟兄般）交往( buddy的第三人称单数 )；做朋友；亲近（…）；伴护艾滋病人

参考例句：

• We became great buddies. 我们成了非常好的朋友。 来自辞典例句
• The two of them have become great buddies. 他们俩成了要好的朋友。 来自辞典例句

6 artistic   

adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的

参考例句：

• The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
• These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。

7 kernel   

n.(果实的)核，仁；(问题)的中心，核心

参考例句：

• The kernel of his problem is lack of money.他的问题的核心是缺钱。
• The nutshell includes the kernel.果壳裹住果仁。

8 props   

小道具； 支柱( prop的名词复数 )； 支持者； 道具； （橄榄球中的）支柱前锋

参考例句：

• Rescuers used props to stop the roof of the tunnel collapsing. 救援人员用支柱防止隧道顶塌陷。
• The government props up the prices of farm products to support farmers' incomes. 政府保持农产品价格不变以保障农民们的收入。