Finding Neverland for kids?

[jenhum]

Posted: 3/19/15 at 3:28pm

I was thinking about taking my daughter to see Finding Neverland this summer (she will be 7 by then), but didn't know if she'd enjoy it at her age. She's been to many plays and really enjoys musicals, so I'm not worried about her behavior or sitting through it, just that she'd understand the plot.

For reference, she lives and breathes Peter Pan. The first time she saw the musical, she said it was better than going to Disney World. I know this is very different, but seeing the story of how/why Barrie wrote Peter Pan seems like something that she would really enjoy. So I guess basically I'm asking if the show is geared to a more adult audience, or is it something that a kid could also understand/enjoy?

[Just_John]

Posted: 3/19/15 at 6:43pm

It sounds like you should definitely take her. It is definitely intended for the whole family.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/19/15 at 6:49pm

It does deal with the loss of parents.....how would she handle that??

[porthos]

Posted: 3/19/15 at 7:41pm

Well, almost every Disney movie contains a loss of parents, but seeing it onstage would be quite different than just seeing Disney brush their deaths aside to continue to follow the main plot.

[Elfuhbuh]

Posted: 3/19/15 at 8:31pm

"...but seeing it onstage would be quite different than just seeing Disney brush their deaths aside to continue to follow the main plot."


I think you're forgetting the traumatizing moment where Simba tries to nudge his dead dad's body.

[jenhum]

Posted: 3/19/15 at 8:48pm

I don't think the death of a parent on stage would bother her. It's far more likely to upset me (that Lion King scene...oh.my.goodess.) than her- she will think it's sad but is more likely to focus on the happier parts of the play.

Thank you for the input! Glad to know it's family oriented.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 3/19/15 at 9:39pm

I'd say the 8 and older they've recommended is about right. I had some kids opposite the aisle from me and while both were into it, there were some points where the seemed to be drifting a bit. (The love story between a dying widow and an unhappily married man might be a bit over their heads is compelling, but maybe a bit over their heads more than it is disturbing?)

[Up In One]

Posted: 3/19/15 at 9:52pm

Much of it is definitely geared towards kids / too bad it's not completely geared to kids. The adult stuff is very unsuccessful and creates gaps that will bore the kids. But all will be forgiven by the magic effect towards the end of the show. As far as the orientation towards death it was a big part of the second act not a 30 second scene as in the Disney movies. Might be hard to brush off.

[rcwr]

Posted: 3/20/15 at 12:43am

I have a close 6 year old friend who saw it in Cambridge. She was riveted the whole time, loved it, and didn't realize that the death was a death until an adult told her afterwards!

I have a printed-out publicity photo of FN (from Cambridge) on my fridge, and just last week she noticed it and said very excitedly, "I saw that play!!!" In other words it made a great impression -- to recognize it from one small pic, this many months later. It's not even a pic that has an iconic Peter Pan stuff in it (for people who know the show, it's the "Play" scene).

I say, totally take your 7 year old.

[jenhum]

Posted: 3/20/15 at 8:50pm

Thanks everyone! I appreciate all of the input.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 3/20/15 at 9:28pm

Yeah, I don't think there'd be any harm in bringing young 'uns to this show.