I was pretty excited to take my daughter (a 2 and half year old) to her first ever Toronto Fringe kids show. Not knowing what to expect going in, I left the theatre an enthusiastic fan of the talented duo Sonshine & Broccoli, who star in the musical play I Want to Be.
This play is about Bingo (a puppet dog) seeking out his perfect job. The story-line is broad enough to connect to both adults and kids. My daughter was a bit too young to understand the full story, but she enjoyed watching Bingo sing and dance. Older kids will more likely connect to the deeper message of the story-line, which is that we can do or be anything our heart desires.
From the moment the show started, the animated Sonshine & Broccoli grabbed the kid’s attention. It’s not easy to have a production where kids are tuned in and engaged for the duration of a show, but the creative song and dance numbers kept the kids smiling, and they were having the time of their lives.
Nothing makes a parent more proud than seeing their child totally light up and be happy. The musical portion of the play was my daughter’s favorite part. She just got up on her feet, swayed her hips from side-to-side and enjoyed each moment.
One thing to note, and it is minor, is that if you are traveling with a stroller you may have to circle the building just to get to the box office and on to the theatre level. Allow yourself some extra time before the show begins – just in case!
One of the highlights of the show were the high-fives given from Sonshine and Broccoli to the kids. In addition, there was also an amazing opportunity for the little ones to meet the cast after the show. The tattoo giveaways were a cute add on!
These nice touches made the whole experience very memorable. So much so that I think I will take my daughter to watch this for a second time!
Details
- I Want to Be plays at the George Ignatieff Theatre. (15 Devonshire Pl)
- Tickets for FringeKids shows are $5 for kids (age 12 and younger); adults pay $12 at the door or in advance.
- Tickets can be purchased online, by telephone (416-966-1062), from the Fringe Club at Honest Ed’s Alley, and — if any remain — from the venue’s box office starting one hour before curtain.
- The George Ignatieff Theatre is wheelchair-accessible, and has wide aisles for easy mid-show exits.
- Don’t miss the FringeKids club located on the lawn adjacent to the venue! Free activities for children (3-12) and caregivers run every day of the festival: see website for details.
- Be aware that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and that latecomers are never admitted.
Performances
- Wednesday June 29th, 01:00 pm
- Saturday July 2nd, 12:45 pm
- Sunday July 3rd, 04:15 pm
- Monday July 4th, 11:30 am
- Tuesday July 5th, 10:00 am
- Friday July 8th, 02:45 pm
- Sunday July 10th, 10:00 am
Photo of Lisa Sonshine and Brock Burford by Alexandra Perry, Aurora Photography