Fun Home ok for 10 year old?

[TheaterMom2]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 12:59pm

My 10-year-old daughter and I desperately want to see Fun Home before it closes!  My daughter loves the theater, and we've seen clips of the show online as well as listened to the soundtrack.  She's familiar with the subject matter and plot, but I'm not sure that the show would be "appropriate" for her (however one wants to define that).  I'm wondering if anyone who has brought their children to the show could provide me with some feedback...I feel like seeing the show would be such an amazing opportunity for her, but I don't want it to be overwhelming, either.  I should say, she's very mature for her age, she performs and loves theater (Sweeney Todd is her favorite). Thoughts?  Thank you!

Updated On: 8/16/16 at 12:59 PM

[toofunktastic2]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 1:03pm

I've known of people who have taken their relatively young children to Fun Home, and they've enjoyed it and understood it.  It may be something that you'll need to talk to her about, especially with some of the darker aspects of the show, but I feel if she's listened to the album and enjoyed it, she'll probably be all right.

Ultimately it's hard to say whether something is appropriate or not for a child since kids and parents are so different. 

[playbill-love]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 1:04pm

I think it really depends on the kid. I was really mature for my age and loved theater, but I don't think I would have understood or enjoyed Fun Home. Not really because of the subject matter, but it is very much a complex musical about layered and tense relationships between adults. It sounds like you're familiar enough with the story to make a decision based on content/themes. You know your kid and we don't. But I don't think most 10 year olds would get a lot out of the show. 

Updated On: 8/16/16 at 01:04 PM

[HBP]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 1:05pm

I say go for it!! It's an important message for young people. Listen to "Changing My Major" oh the album. There's talk of sex in that song only, I believe. Shouldn't be too much of an issue if you preview it at home. Think about it this way: some cast members have been 10 or younger. :)

[Kad]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 1:06pm

 If her favorite show is Sweeney Todd, then I don't think anything in Fun Home would be objectionable.... she just may not fully understand or appreciate it. It deals so heavily in mature themes like sexual identity, making sense of your relationship with your parents as an adult, emotional repression, implied statutory rape.  It's a heavy show, in a way that Sweeney isn't.

 

[Gink]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 1:12pm

If she's listened to the cast recording and you have a history of talking about things that are covered in the show I think it's fine--and it can open some new talking points.

There is Bruce verbally abusing his wife at times, seducing a young man, a girl's first time in bed with her new girlfriend and suicide to discuss among other things.

 When my kids were young I tended to bring them to shows with more mature themes--and at times they were uncomfortable. My son was mortified to be sitting next to his little sister during Spelling Bee's Unfortunate Erection, and my daughter does not enjoy listening to me sing Changing My Major thought she was fine seeing it on stage.  I like to talk to my kids about things--in fact, discussing the Mother putting up with the father and why she stayed led to some very good relationship talks.

[Steve C.]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 1:56pm

Wow TM2, you said a mouthful; I think one of your options would definitely be asking other parents (or spouse?) in your circle for advice. Joining the board on the same day and presenting this situation is pretty deep. If she's 10 years old and I guess she's jumped right over "Annie" or "Joseph/Dreamcoat" right to "Sweeney Todd" being her favorite?? I think she can handle it already...

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 1:59pm

If SWEENEY TODD is her "favorite" musical, FUN HOME is definitely more than appropriate for her. 

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 2:04pm

If my 10 year old's favorite musical was "Sweeney Todd" then I wouldn't even be concerned as to whether "Fun Home" was appropriate or not.

Is this thread a joke? 

[Steve C.]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 2:26pm

Hey Carlos, (that thought crossed my mind too...)

btw, keep up the great avatar/artwork. Ann Margret's in my head again; saw snippet of horrible/wonderful Flintstone/Vegas/Krakowski/Collins VivaRockVegas last night...Va Va Voom!  

[John Adams]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 2:39pm

TheaterMom2 said: "My 10-year-old daughter and I desperately want to see Fun Home before it closes! 
    •    we've seen clips of the show online as well as listened to the soundtrack. 
    •    She's familiar with the subject matter and plot
    •    she's very mature for her age

I'm not sure that the show would be "appropriate" for her (however one wants to define that)."

I don't understand why you're asking about this. Are you looking for some form of approval? Are you afraid of some consequence should you and your daughter see the show? Is there a reason why you and your daughter can't define what's "appropriate" for yourselves to see/attend?

When I re-read the above, I'm tempted to offer some type of apology for seeming sarcastic or degrading. That's not the case, however. This just seems like a decision you can make for yourselves.

[TheaterMom2]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 2:55pm

No, definitely wasn't looking for approval from strangers...I was simply looking for feedback from people who may have brought kids to the show or knew of anyone who brought kids to it (because I personally didn't know of any) to see what their experience was, so as to help in making a completely informed decision.   

[Gink]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 3:04pm

While Sweeney Todd has violence and rape--the rape could missed by someone younger, Fun Home hits a little closer to the here and now as far as far as dysfunctional family dynamics goes. While both shows have an older adult authority figure lusting after younger person, it could be argued that the setting and make-up of Sweeney Todd remove it more from reality then a story set in present day. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 4:06pm

Based on the things you've said....I'd say yes.   It's a lovely and sad show...certainly many things for you both to talk about.  

 

I understand why you're asking.   

[South Florida]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 6:49pm

Maybe if more kids saw this show they wouldn't be so brutal to the kids going through what Alison did.  By all means, take her and tell her about what it means.

 

[Stinger2]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 8:49pm

I brought my 11 year old to see it and she enjoyed it.  She is mature for her age and has added ring of keys to her rotation of audition songs.  I had more problems with sitting for an hour and a half then with any of the content

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 10:39pm

 

Instead of asking us, why don't you read the book that the musical is based on, and let us know your decision, 

 

 

[Hest882]

Posted: 8/16/16 at 11:11pm

If she's *seen* Sweeney and both of you are comfortable, then Fun Home will be like Annie in comparison. If it's just that she's listened to the cast album, where it would be quite easy to miss the murder, mayhem, rape and prostitution, then it might be a tad different. There's no nudity of overt anything in Fun Home (the sex is under the covers) but Gink pretty much laid-out the 'questionable' scenes.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 8/17/16 at 12:22am

PalJoey said: " 

Instead of asking us, why don't you read the book that the musical is based on, and let us know your decision, "

I personally think the play is far more age appropriate for a young girl than the book, which is much more graphic and adult in tone. I would easily take a 10 year old to see the musical but I might have to wait on the book, well parts of it anyway.


 

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 8/17/16 at 12:22am

Sorry.. I knew that was going to double post.


 

Updated On: 8/17/16 at 12:22 AM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/17/16 at 3:11am

Kathy is right.  The book IS more graphic then the show.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/17/16 at 3:11am

I didn't know it would double post.

Updated On: 8/17/16 at 03:11 AM

[Elphie'sMom]

Posted: 8/17/16 at 7:33am

South Florida said: "Maybe if more kids saw this show they wouldn't be so brutal to the kids going through what Alison did.  By all means, take her and tell her about what it means.
 

Great point!

For those comparing the two (fun home and Sweeney) I think they are apples and oranges. Sweeney Todd is more out of the realm of reality, IMO. Some kids would likely think it's gruesome, and may not really get the plot line. Fun Home has a lot going on, so just be prepared to explain. Are you comfortable explaining all that (how troubled Bruce is, and defining what 'sex with Joan' actually entails)? My daughter knew what homosexuality was at that age, and I knew many parents who weren't comfortable with that topic then (yes, that's their hang up). The dysfunction in the family (and Bruce's ultimate demise- no spoiler, I'm sure) is pretty heavy too. Explaining suicide is not easy; adults even struggle with understanding it.

We often think our kids understand and process things in a mature way, but sometimes they don't, and we don't realize it until later on. 

OTOH, there are thousands of kids vying for the roles of the children in auditions. A friend of ours just landed the alternate role of small Alison on tour- she is ten. I assume she understands the story! The role of brother is even younger. One more thing: it is a great show!!