CHICAGO – Audience participation is a staple of the Blue Man Group. But apparently, one audience member attending the Chicago show believes cast members took their surreal antics too far by forcing a video camera down his throat during a performance in October 2006.
James Srodon of California filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the group.
In the lawsuit filed in Cook County Circuit Court, Srodon says the Blue Man actors used the "esophagus cam" to project an image of Srodon's mouth and throat onto a large screen for the audience's amusement.
The lawsuit alleges the Blue Man actors circled him, held his neck and arms and "forced his head back" to insert the camera. It claims he was restrained from removing the camera from his mouth.
"At the time the 'esophagus cam' was inserted into plaintiff's mouth, it was covered in food, liquid and grime from the Briar Street Theatre floor, including the thick blue paint used to cover the actors' faces," the lawsuit said.
Named as defendants in the suit are Blue Man Productions Inc., theater owner Fox Theatricals and related companies. Blue Man and Fox officials could not be reached for comment.
Srodon is seeking damages of more than $50,000 for battery, negligence and negligent infliction of emotional distress. He contends the camera injured his mouth, throat and dental work.
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