My children love the music and have been begging to see this show. One is 12 and the other is 7. Both are relatively short. Assuming they can handle the standing itself without getting fidgety, are super short guests going to be able to see anything? (My son is only 46" tall.)
Each person on the line can only get 2 tickets, the 7-year-old is 3'8" (???), the show has heavy language and the 7-year-old won't even remember it (And the show's rated 12+ but who cares anymore). This is a terrible idea unless you get your partner to stand in line with you, can carry the 7-year-old the whole show, and don't care that the 7-year-old most likely won't remember. Take your partner and 12 year old instead, leave the toddler home. It's a great show, so definitely see it- but taking a toddler-sized 7-year-old is ridiculous.
I'm pretty sure they know what their seven year old can and cannot handle and remember, and I'm sure they're familiar enough with the show to know its themes, etc. It's recommended 12+, but I have seen younger kids in the theatre who were engaged. All children are different, and I'm sure the OP knows their own well enough to make a judgment call.
In answer to the question, no, the seven year old probably wouldn't be able to see from SRO. You can request a cushion (or even two) to stand on (which might be helpful for the 12 year old), but I don't think it will make much difference for the younger one. If you want to take your kids, try front mezz. It's probably the best view for someone extremely short just based on the angle and elevation. Otherwise, orchestra seats on the aisle might be okay, since they'd be able to look out that way instead of over heads.
They do have things for you to stand on if you’re short but I would still not bring a 7 year old they won’t understand what’s going on and will likely get tired from standing for 2 1/2 hours
I'm 4'11" and the patron sitting in front of me when I did SRO for DEH wore her hair up (and I couldn't see over it at all). I asked an usher for a box and he brought me one with no issues because it was clear that I needed it, and I then had a perfect sight line to the stage.
A caution, though: SRO on a carpeted floor vs. on a wooden box are very different experiences. I was wearing comfortable sneakers, so a lot of walking, and am in good physical shape, and my feet, knees, and lower back were in a lot of pain by the end of the show despite the 15 minute Intermission.
Leaving out any judgments about the appropriateness of this show for your kids, I would consider doing trials at home by having them stand on something hard (ideally a wooden box!) for the duration of a TV show or movie to see if they can physically handle it before even considering SRO for DEH or any other show for them.
LuminousBeing said: “I would consider doing trials at home by having them stand on something hard (ideally a wooden box!) for the duration of a TV show or movie to see if they can physically handle it."
Oh boy, try explaining that one when the child protective services officers show up at your front door.
Thanks for all the feedback on the idea of taking the younger kid to the theater. I guess there are two issues, and the first is: will he be able to see anything? The answer seems to be "no", unless he's on a box, and even then it sounds marginal. Unfortunately, I really don't want to shell out for "real" seats for him... I find it just too expensive to do anything other than rush or lottery.
The second seems to be whether the material is appropriate for him. On this, I have no idea. All I know is that he and his sister constantly listen to the music on Spotify and have been asking to see the show. Personally, I'm not a theater person at all so I just try to get tickets for the kids to have the "experience" of the theater.
He's been to 5 shows in his life - School of Rock, Play That Goes Wrong, Sponge Bob, Lion King, and Come From Away. I'm told he was well behaved and engaged in all of them except Lion King, where he apparently got a bit bored and squirmy. I don't know the first thing about DEH and whether a kid would find it engaging or not. I couldn't care less about issues like "content appropriateness".
It's rehearsal and totally fine. You don't TIE the kids to the box, you explain to them that this is something that they will have to do to see DEH and you will all find out together if everyone's bodies can handle it. The adults should participate too. If the kids report that they can't stand, no problem, off the box they go and the caregiver(s) have valuable information that their kid(s) are not able to stand comfortably for DEH. Much better to find out in the home with no stakes than at the show after the money has been spent and everyone's at the theater.
As for the content of the show and whether it’s appropriate, it includes the following:
-Cursing -Sexual references (to be fair those may fly over his head) -A plot line that may be confusing/innaporiate to someone that young (it’s about anexity + suicide and such.)
You know your kids best but those are some things to consider.
joined:9/9/18
joined:
9/9/18
Posted: 9/9/18 at 10:42pm