BWW JR: MADAGASCAR LIVE

Your Favorite Furry Foursome Rocks Radio City!

In preparation for my family's visit to Dreamworks Theatricals' MADAGASCAR LIVE, now showing at Radio City through April 24th, I rented the original film from an actual Blockbuster store. This was because I couldn't find it on-demand or instant streaming from Netflix or Amazon or even for purchase on iTunes. I couldn't even find a copy of MADAGASCAR at my local Blockbuster Express kiosk. I had to put on shoes and walk to an actual Blockbuster store where I nabbed up one of only two available copies of this apparently now classic film. It was all so very 1990's (except I was in my 2011 body....darn it).

Luckily, my efforts payed off because one of the most marvelous aspects of this production is how it stays so true to the film on which it is based. My kids got a kick out of watching a live version of a film that was fresh in their heads, and the recognizable nature of the production helped even my two year old to understand a few of the headier theatrical devices like switching between puppets and live actors within a scene to convey the action from different perspectives. It's something that might confuse a little kid...the idea that the penguin puppet and the actor dressed as a penguin are actually the same character...but by keeping itself closely tied to the movie through clever costume designs and well-placed script highlights, my little guy had no problem following the story.

Not that everything we saw on the stage at Radio City was a perfect reflection of the original MADAGASCAR movie...the animals find themselves in the Times Square Subway station on their escape to Connecticut, rather than at Grand Central Station as conveyed in the film. (My seven year old caught that one, but we decided that they were probably just headed to the Port Authority to take the bus to Danbury.....duh). And the Melman the Giraffe/Gloria the Hippo love interest that is only alluded to with a single line in the MADAGASCAR film is further developed in the live version, including a parent-appreciated crack about Jungle Fever (which my two year old of course picked up on and then proceeded to ask "What's Jungle Fever?" for for ten minutes. Yup. Thank You).

But on the whole, the movie that we came to see on stage is being represented in a way that is recognizable and entertaining to kids and parents alike. My favorite moment was an homage to TOMMY when Alex the Lion gets shot with a tranquilizer dart. Mommy would like some of that too, please.

Another notable accomplishment: Excellent sound design. The folks at Radio City and the MADAGASCAR LIVE tour really seem to have it down (unless I was just sitting in a really sweet spot of the house). I understood every word, even against the roar of a Broadway/Pop instrumental and during full-out dance numbers by singing actors who were wearing masks that covered their mouths. My kids and I were easily able to follow the story and hear the lyrics, which were new to our ears because the original film is not a musical.

But the most incredible phenomenon was something only another parent of a typical, two year old boy could truly appreciate: My crazy, toddler son, the one dubbed "El Destructo" by his loved ones, the child who once stuck tofu in an electrical socket because he just couldn't stop himself....that little boy sat still, amazed and hypnotized, for the entire 90 minute show (including intermission). That alone was more than worth the price of admission. And I'd say the same if I didn't get in with press comps. Promise.

GET TO THE POINT, MOM!

• A high-energy, fun show that treads the line between big-budget theme park and real New York musical theatre.

• The producers say that the show is targeted to ages five through ten, but my two year old had a blast.

• Presented by Dreamworks Theatricals at Radio City from April 15th through the 24th. Not much time left!

• Tickets range from $29 to (gulp) $145 plus fees, and all kids over age 1 must have a ticket. FYI, the cheap seats at Radio City have really good views!

• For more info or to buy tickets, visit the show's web site at www.madlive.com.

• BroadwayWorld.com does not endorse putting tofu in an electrical socket. It's just a dumb thing to do.