Taking two year old to a Sondheim musical

[theotherfossilsister]

It's based on fairy tales, which he has so e understanding of and liking for. It's also fringe, but folks are paying £16 for tickets. Was thinking of going and then one of us can take him out of he decides to climb on stage or shout at the wolf or whatever. It could be magical? Or not?

Ok, we do have the option to give him to Mil when we see it. Which we might do. I just thought it sounded magical for kids which is why I was choosing that over A Little Night Music

There are a lot of deaths in the musical. The tag line 'children will listen' is one of the dead explaining why children have to be warned of the consequences of their actions.
It's quite a dark storyline. Sondheim wrote it explaining what he thought should happen in fairytales. In the Cinderella story line the ugly sisters cut off their toes and heels to force their feet into the shoe. There are other macabre moments as well.
Not one of the happiest endings either!

Totally irrelevant. A 2yr old and a 7yr old are a million miles apart in terms of sitting still, being quiet and watching a play.

So? 7 is not the same as 2!

Don’t be that person who takes a toddler somewhere inappropriate and ruins it for other people.

Massive difference between 7 and 2 dontcha think 😅

Ok, leaning towards not taking him. Thank you all. I thought fairytales + singing would be magical but maybe not at this age

If it was fairytales and singing, it might be magical. But the tales are twisted and there's dialogue too.

I wouldn't. There's a full length Broadway version on YouTube. I fell asleep.

Do you have a link to this please? Might watch at home

Ok, so my understanding was it was all the fairy tales woven together with singing and dancing.

I also bloody loved Assassins a few years back but wouldn't take 2 year old to that

A two year old will also in all likelihood have no memory of seeing a play like a seven year old would.

True.

I love musical theatre and would love to introduce him to it but maybe two is a bit young

@BatshitIsTheOnlyExplanation maybe I will go to evening one and get babysitter then. I love Assassins and Merrily we Roll Along.

2? Just bats. I'd be totally annoyed if you were anywhere near me tbh.

OK, so you've seen Assassins (brilliant at Chicester last year!), so you know some Sondheim and should get that this is Serious theatre - with a capital S (albeit funny in parts), and the rest of the audience will not thank you for taking a two-year-old (Sondheim audiences can be VERY particular)!

As for the poster who said £16 pound a ticket, worth the risk - not for the rest of the audience it isn't!

I would not take a 5yo let alone a 2yo to see "Into the Woods".

Dd2 was in a youth production of it at 12yo and she found bits of it quite disturbing.
I'd wait until he's 8 or so for that at least.

Go to a panto at Christmas or find something aimed at 2yos. I wouldn't be surprised if you were refused entry with a 2yo,

OP try things like The Snowman at Christmas or some of the shows based on Julia Donaldson. They are great for that age.

You don't need to force 'magical' things with your kids. You have plenty of time.

Yes & well before he got anywhere near being able to climb on the stage!!

Selfish af. Will just ruin it for other people for no reason.

As a bit of a guide, we took our DC to see child specific performances (at places like Unicorn Theatre, panto, Julia Donaldson adaptions etc) from about 2, then 'things they knew' (I.e The Lion King and Frozen west end productions) from about the age of 4 (matinees, seats at the edge of a row so we could creep out if they did get disruptive) and now at 11 and 8 they will happily sit through a full length musical or play that they've not been exposed to beforehand - something that I think will engage them, clearly, not Ibsen. But it's a process - I definitely wouldn't have tried something like Sondheim when they were little, it's no fun for you or them!

I wouldn’t take an under 10 to Into The Woods - it’s much darker than the film version, @theotherfossilsister ! I would be very surprised if the theatre would allow you to take such a young child in.

Not remotely “magical” for a toddler and your child would inevitably disrupt enjoyment for others.

A Company Of Wolves is based on a fairy tale and you wouldn’t take a child to see that.

You know a lot of fairy tales are really dark don't you?
I'm glad you're leaning towards not taking them, it's such a bad idea.

Assassins was amazing.....

Fairytales linked by songs = panto. Much more suitable for a 2yo.

Into the Woods is scary. Think the original Grimms tales. I wouldn't take anyone younger than 10.

I wouldn't take a 2 yo to a musical not meant for children. I would be seriously pissed off with a toddler being a toddler in such a situation.