Drowsey Chaperone Good for kids?

[Stagerage2003]

Posted: 6/18/06 at 1:17am

I was wondering if a kid would get the concepts in Drowsey Chaperone...I was thinking about taking my 8 year old niece.
Updated On: 6/18/06 at 01:17 AM

[mathewbrock]

Posted: 6/18/06 at 2:06am

An 8-year-old would definitely NOT walk away from DROWSY understanding all that happened. Luckily, though, all the adult jokes would, most likely, bounce off her head. There are some sexual undertones and gay references, but I think your neice would overlook these and enjoy the singing and dancing and be totally fulfilled. Also, it's a short show (running time is right at 2 hours), so it just MIGHT hold the attention span of a youngster. Of course, if they are behaving badly, it's always best to remove the child from the theatre before the other audience members become too annoyed.... I suppose that's the risk of taking a child to a musical...

[singingshowgirl]

Posted: 6/18/06 at 8:57am

yeah i have to agree...

however, considering that there are shows on broadway for kids, why not take her to Beauty and the Beast or The Lion King?

[Katurian2]

Posted: 6/18/06 at 9:04am

Unless your kid is a theatre historian/porn affectionado, I wouldn't think they would understand most of the jokes. That sort of knowledge comes naturally later in life.

[luvtheatre11]

Posted: 6/18/06 at 9:45am

My kids loved it but they are a bit older, at 12 and 15..but they have seen almost everything on Broadway, including Sweeney Todd, Spamalot, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, etc... i think an 8 year old would certainly enjoy it, even if she doesn't get all the jokes. It's enjoyable and pretty family friendly.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 6/18/06 at 9:54am

Right. I'd say anyone 12 and over should be fine.

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 6/18/06 at 10:10am

My brother sawit and loved it, and he's 9. We're from New York though and have seen pretty much everything, so that might nake a difference.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 6/18/06 at 10:31am

I just saw Drowsy again yesterday, and afterwards my mother and I had this exact conversation. Aside from the Disney shows, Drowsy is probably the best show on Broadway to take your kids to. There is no foul language, and no explicit actions that takes place on the stage. Yes there are some "gay" references, but nothing your kids will pick up on at age 8. Also, the story within a story is pretty EASY to follow, like a 5 year old could understand what's going on. And the cast makes it clear that the songs are supposed to be funny. Even if you don't understand all the lyrics, you laugh at the expressions of the cast members. I say go for it. You kids will enjoy this thoroughly.
Updated On: 6/18/06 at 10:31 AM

[luvtheatre11]

Posted: 6/18/06 at 10:35am

I totally agree..It's really fine for most ages..

Posted: 6/18/06 at 11:34am

Not only fine for kids but I think the kids will absolutely love it. If it were a movie it would easily get a PG rating. It's such a good-natured, old-fashioned musical farce.

However, I'd suggest preparing your niece for the anachronistic style of the show by renting some old Gershwin or Cole Porter musicals such as Girl Crazy or Anything Goes. And don't forget to explain to her how records are played!

[KQuill]

Posted: 6/18/06 at 12:03pm

I saw The Phantom of the Opera when I was 4 years old. I didn't really understand the plot but I was AMAZED by it - it changed my life. I have seen it 23 times now.

So you never know...

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 6/18/06 at 12:09pm

Like others said, an eight year old may not "get" all of the references, but I definitely think she'd really enjoy herself anyway. It's definitely appropriate for someone that age.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 6/18/06 at 12:11pm

Yes there are some "gay" references, but nothing your kids will pick up on at age 8.

Keep the children clear of the gay, gay references, anything related to gay. Heaven forbid we expose the children to anything gay!

Keep the kids at home and turn on the TV. I'm sure they'll get their fill of far more acceptable straight sex oriented jokes on any "family" sitcom.

Updated On: 6/18/06 at 12:11 PM

[bjh2114]

Posted: 6/18/06 at 1:19pm

Shutup Foster, you know what I meant. But if you didn't get it, allow me to explain. I meant that if the parents were worried about exposing children to such topics at such a young age (I know my mother tried to steer me clear of the issue until I was a little older just so I wouldn't be confused by it compared to everything I was hearing about boyfriend/girlfriend stuff in school at that age), that the references in Drowsy were subtle and they need not worry. Frankly, I don't think at age 8, kids are going to get any sex jokes, be they straight, gay, or alien for that matter. Also, note that I was referring to MatthewBrock's post, which is why I put the word gay in quotation marks.
Updated On: 6/18/06 at 01:19 PM

[Princeton78]

Posted: 6/18/06 at 2:55pm

"I meant that if the parents were worried about exposing children to such topics at such a young age (I know my mother tried to steer me clear of the issue until I was a little older just so I wouldn't be confused by it compared to everything I was hearing about boyfriend/girlfriend stuff in school at that age), that the references in Drowsy were subtle and they need not worry."


Such topics? Like drugs, rape, murder and homosexuality? Yeah, I always lump them together too. And what was your mother trying to avoid? Her child possibly being (gasp) gay?

[mathewbrock]

Posted: 6/18/06 at 4:00pm

Now, now, children. Calm down. It's not our place to judge when, where, and how other people's parents discuss sexuality with their youngsters. I was only trying to inform StageRage2003 of the content of the show. There are sexual references (including references both straight and gay), but they are worded in such a way that an 8-year-old won't even register them. I was just providing information, not instigating a gay rights movement. If I'd have known everyone would get up in arms about it, I wouldn't have said it.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 6/18/06 at 4:39pm

"Such topics? Like drugs, rape, murder and homosexuality? Yeah, I always lump them together too. And what was your mother trying to avoid? Her child possibly being (gasp) gay?"

Princeton, you just sound dumb. But I suppose you are a fan of the phrase "ignorance is bliss!" First, where did I ever mention or evern imply drugs, rape, and murder? That was you. Also, my mom was, like I stated CLEARLY, concerned that I would get confused, she wasn't trying to avoid anything.

Thank you, brock, for putting into words what I was trying to say.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 6/18/06 at 6:16pm

Actually, ignorant was the term that was slipping into my mind reading your post dear.
You left the field wide open with the phrase "such topics."
I think we need further clarification.

You said the following...
"Yes there are some "gay" references, but nothing your kids will pick up on at age 8."
To anyone reading this, it sounds as if something related to 'gay' is something that we wouldn't want kids picking up on, which is the root of why there are still prejudices against homosexuality today.

Oh, and by the way, please try to make all your words agree. Proper grammar makes you sound less 'dumb.'

Updated On: 6/18/06 at 06:16 PM

[LifeoftheParty227]

Posted: 6/18/06 at 6:22pm

Woah everyone, step back, breath, and divide. Thank you Brock for being a good, hot peer mediator. As for Drowsy, definitely a spectacle show and the music itself will entertain anyone of any age.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 6/18/06 at 6:24pm

Oh well, I apologize Princeton. I wasn't intending to make my statement seem like that. I was just trying to answer the question. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?
-BJH
P.S. Where was my grammar incorrect? Usually I am spot on with my word usage.

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 6/18/06 at 6:54pm

I'd say it's good when Beauty, Tarzan, Lion King, etc. are sold out. It's a fantastic show, and it's just totally lighthearted, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for all kids. It really depends on their maturity and maybe past experience in the Broadway theater. :)

[TomMonster]

Posted: 6/18/06 at 7:02pm

I've seen the show a few times (love it!!), and recently took some friends from Bangkok to see it. Even with limited language skills, and Broadway knowledge, they had a great time!

You might consider purchasing the cast album to play first...its fun and available now.

Enjoy!

[Tirso de Molina]

Posted: 6/18/06 at 8:22pm

It's actually astonishing how much kids can miss and still enjoy a show. My 10-year old goddaughter loves WILL AND GRACE, despite the fact that she doesn't catch the sexual double-entendres as they fly by (and thank goodness for that). And she gets only a fraction of the references and allusions in THE SIMPSONS but still enjoys it massively. I'd think a kid could miss some of the fly-by jokes in CHAPERONE and still enjoy herself a great deal.