Kids and Les Miserables?

How old is said child?
How mature?

I saw Les Mis at 4 or 5 and my parents were against it. Actually, most people we knew were. They said, "How can you take a child that young to Les Mis!" (Back in the day when it reached 3 hours!) But my uncle told them to shut up and he took up. And, well, the rest is history.

But the idea of children in the theatre isn't the best. I think we sat up in the mezz...which is weird because my uncle (who has been going to the theatre since the thirties) ALWAYS sits in the house seats, or so.

But I do know my parents went before me to make sure it was OK.

So are you saying that since the History Boys cast is mostly teenagers, then teenagers shouldn't be able to see the History Boys?

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As BSo said, I think a lot of it largely depends on the maturity of the child.

That said, I think explaining the story in-depth to children beforehand helps a lot. I believe I was around eight the first time I saw it and had no idea what was going on. I enjoyed it, but more for the visuals. My parents continued to play the cast recording, and later, I actually asked what was going on. We sat down with the synopsis and I eventually understood it. I saw it again on Broadway a couple years later and didn't feel it was too mature at all. Sometimes pointing even a more mature child in the right direction can help them to understand the show a lot better -- it's not always the mature themes but rather the plotline that makes it hard for children to understand.

I agree, if you explain the show first and maybe play some of the songs that should be good preparation for them.

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It depends on the kid, as a kid I would have loved to see a Broadway show.

I was thrilled by my first show and it wasn't exactly "exciting" like the current hits.

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I saw it when I was 4 back in 1995. it was my first Broadway show and i immediately fell in love with it...I don't know exactly why because I'm sure I couldn't understand most of it but I think I fell in love with it mostly because it was new to me. Seeing something live as opposed to a movie or television show is real different. The spectacle and the effects, songs and vocals captivated me. And it was then that I fell in love with theatre.
I would think it depends if the child is old enough up to an extent. for example: a child under 7 or 8 who was exposed to the word "whore" or "b*tch" etc could go into the theatre and well, not understand any of the things said or mentioned. So that's probably ok. They could just enjoy the effects and the whole idea of it being "live." I would mostly think they wouldnt care what the story is about, maybe they'll even think it was "cool" or something because there was the barricades going up. I wouldn't think they would listen a whole lot on the lyrics. maybe to the medely and instruments but most likely not the lyrics.
But if the child is like 9 through 11 or something and they might have to be mature up to an extent because during those ages, i think, they're striving for more understanding and during those ages, they have the ability to pick up the words said/sung.
...well, these are just my opinions.

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I love the idea of introducing kids to all sorts of performances, but the best advice I'd ever heard came from a much older arts patron. She said that she would take her children to just about anything, but she was always prepared to leave if/when they got restless and noisy. Therefore, my advice is, take children to arts events, but if they are under the age of 8, don't count on seeing the whole show.

If you know the kids get bored easily...I don't know if they would sit through it. It's a lot of singing, and the action doesn't move that quickly (IMO). You can rent the 10th anniversary concert on video, maybe, and see if they like that.