Post Gazette: Not that there was much doubt, but be assured: If you take your child to see "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas," running through Sunday at the Benedum, that child is going to like it.
Along with the beloved characters children already know from the classic Dr. Seuss book of the Christmas-hating Green One and other adaptations, this Broadway touring production offers eye-popping costumes and sets, a flying dog, "real" snow, lots of sing-alongs, and a gun that shoots confetti at the audience.
Did I mention the production also runs a child-friendly 80 intermission-free minutes? It can't miss.
6 comments:
From the article, "Grinch" at the Benedum sounds like a great rendition of a timeless story. The format of having one 80 minute continuous performance will do well for the kids in the audience who won't have an intermission to distract them from the world of Whoville. I would like to see more images of the costumes used in this musical since I didn't get a chance to see it in person.
I agree with the fact that an 80 minute show is perfect for both antsy kids and parents alike. just long enough to get the point across but short enough to leave everyone without the exhaustion that sometimes comes with longer shows geared towards children. I love that the costumes were all design in the minimal color palette of the book. From the picture shown in the article they look great!! Also, two thumbs up at turning the role of the Grinches dog, Max, in to a human casting. I have always felt that Max had so much personality and I am glad it will be portrayed through human expression.
I am so excited that the Grinch is here! This is one of my favorite holiday movies. Besides just being fun, I think it is fitting and important that this be at the Benedum. Eighty minutes is an optimal length of time for children to sit through - not long enough to require an intermission and just a bit shorter than the sometimes dragging 90 minute one acts. Also, as a child, I would find a show such as this very entertaining to watch. And it certainly is good that parents have somewhere entertaining and special to take their children during the holiday season. I know that some of my own traditions were built around activities such as this, so this will likely be an event that the kids will remember with fondness as they grow older.
I just love shows like this because they can expose children to theatre and show them a good time while still sharing an important message with the adults in the room. Some people our age in the arts seem like they are above working on a show so silly as this one, but if you look at this kind of show close enough you can see that it can carry a really powerful message along with all of its spectacle and fun. I appreciate the fact that Costume Designer Robert Morgan stuck to the colors and aesthetic of the original book version of this story. It's great that this production seems to be staying true to Theodor Seuss Geisel's (Dr. Seuss') original intent. It seems like the artistic team was given the chance to be even more creative than with a normal children;s show design because of their decision to bring the 2-D look of the book to life.
The "Grinch" is a nice alternative to "A Christmas Carol" and the "Nutcracker" for many young audiences. Holiday shows can get old and I hope to see more options in the future. I also think the kid friendly 80 minutes comment is funny. Kids are not always good at sitting for that ling and need to get up and run around to expend a bit of energy so I could see this as both a positive and a negative.
This is such an awesome idea! Not every kid is willing to sit through a two-act ballet of The Nutcracker, but 80 minutes of The Grinch? Of course they'll like it! I think the show will touch the hearts of not just little kids, but also teenagers and young adults who grew up with Dr. Suess's work. If only there were more production stills! I'm sure the design aesthetic for the show will be just as fun and imaginative as Suess's book illustrations.
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