Theatre angst

[rachel1]

A relative has bought my son and I some tickets to go (with them) to see Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the Palladium in London. Trouble is my four year old son is adamant that he's not going. He has seen the film and thinks that it's going to be too scary. I don't know what to do. The thing is he's not very good when it comes to new experiences like this but, when pushed, has so far always lvoed them. We had a really similar situation a couple of months ago when we were going to see Bodger and Badger at the Hackney Empire. For days before-hand he got really het up whenever I mentioned it, in fact in the end I didnt until the day we were going. Managed to coax him into going (think the icecream did it - and promise that we'd leave if he didn't like it). He insisted we sat on the back row and by the end was dancing down the aisles and absolutely loved it. (I was the one who hated it but the way!). I'm tempted to do the same with this, but don't want to put him off going to the theatre forever if it really is scarey. Has anyone seen it? and if so is it scarey? This is the boy who wears skeleton pyjamas to bed and who's favourite tv show is scooby doo by the way!

Haven't seen the show so can't give you the low down, but I have to coax my sons to do and see things all the time. Chances are they'll end up really enjoying the dreaded thing. If they are negative the first time I mention the proposed plan, I do listen to what they have to say, but often find the root objection can be based on something fatuous like missing a favourite TV progamme. If not, it's usually conservative tastes - not liking to step outside the known.

If this is the case, I would do what you did for Badger and Bodger, ie just stop mentioning it, then at the last minute act as if it's a forgone conclusion and promise a treat and the chance of leaving early if the play is not to his liking.

PS sometimes, admittedly, my sons are bored when we are at the dreaded place, and very, very occasionally we have had to leave - so it's a good idea to have a feasible 'plan B' up your sleve, like a trip to a pizza parlour - so as not to waste the outing.

Hope this helps.

Haven't seen the show but I agree with Tigermoth, go for it, but if he really hates it, take him out. My nephew is 6 and hates loud noises and bangs and can get quite 'worked up' in advance of going to shows but always enjoys them, even if he sits with his hands over his ears for some of the time!

We had to drag ds aged 3 kicking and screaming into the Gruffalo, even though he loves the book, but once there, like Tigermoth's pair, he enjoyed himself a lot. I would agree with her advice - go for it, especially if you have previous personal experience of his settling down once inside a theatre.
I haven't seen the show (and am hoping it is still on when ds reaches 5!) but the Childcatcher in the film is pretty scary and I have a hunch that in a live show, on a BIG set, he might actually be less frightening than Robert Helpmann was. Ugh.
I always think a parent's motto in these situations might be, Hurrah! At least we didn't pay for the bl**dy tickets! But I am sure you will all have a lovely time.

Marina, we went to the Gruffalo too...dd looked very serious all the way through (concentrating on how they fleshed-out the plot to last an hour!) and completely freaked (with all her 2 yr old contemporaries) when the man dressed as the gruffalo came round the back of us into the audience! can't wait for her to be old enough for pantos etc

I've been taking my boys to the theatre since they were 2 ish, I started with Noddy, Postman Pat etc...I left the panto until this year(they are now 4),as I did not want to walk out half way through, with the tickets being so expensive, these days. They realy loved it, got into all the shouting.
I agree with not mentioning it,perhaps on the day, just say that your going for a surprise.
He'll proberbly love it, and if he doesn't, well don't get stressed just leave.

We saw the Gruffalo too - fantastic!

DD has also seen the usual kids' ones and saw quite a few productions when we were in Melbourne, where she had her first intro to ballet. The ballet school based there put on some shows in the mornings, once a month I think and the cos was only 11 dollars per ticket - about 4 quid IIRC - and perfs lasted an hour or so. Wonderful.

Whilst there I also took her to see Annie. The tickets for that were quite expensive. We took a chance and bought on the day and I'll never forget getting into our seats - about 6th row back in the stalls and two women in their 50s sitting next to me and tutting at the sight of DD. At the interval they turned and commented that 'she does know how to behave' or something similar. Pah! She sat on my lap quite a bit but she loved it. She was 4yo then.

We went to see the panto Peter Pan when dd was almost 2 as her first theatre trip (I thought at least the audience does make a noise at a panto!) She was enthralled and sat glued to watching the stage. We have since been to many child-orientated shows and went to the more formal ballet for the first time last Christmas when she was 4. The only problem we have is that when we get home we have to re-enact the shows including the ballet (with Daddy as well - no I don't let him wear my tights!!...)

The Gruffalo was a big hit with us (although we got stuck in the lift for 40 mins beforehand and had to be rescued by the Fire Brigade). My son (3 at the time) absolutely adored Chitty although he did find the Child Catcher scary. I didn't see any signs of upset children at the performance we were at. The sets and so on are entrancing. Given how pricey the tickets are, I would definitely recommend taking up the opportunity.

Our all time fave is The Snowman at the Peacock Theatre which we have been to three years running. I just love watching DS stand stock still throughout the performance, barely breathing!. I was taken to lots of theatre and ballet as a child and it brings back very happy memories.

Bells, not the lift in the theatre itself? So YOU broke it then - it was marked out of order when we went! How awful - although I bet ds thought you'd arranged it as an extra treat.

Yup Marina, it was us. Pretty awful at the time (especially when the man on the emergency intercom asked whether Soho was in London after laboriously having taken down all our personal details) but we are still playing "Fireman Sam rescuing us from the lift" almost a month later.