Two girls aged 8 and 10.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen the show. I don’t remember how gruesome it is. Scary? Actually, I might worry more about it being too boring than too scary- I mean I dug it, but I saw it as an adult. I don’t know how well Brecht communicates with the kiddies. There are a lot of laughs though, right? Or was I laughing at things that weren’t supposed to be funny?
Oh, it should be noted that these little girls LOVE Alan Cumming and Cyndi Lauper.
Er… A story about corruption, prostitution, and murder? I even sorta remember that the ‘happy’ ending is -intentionally- ‘tacked on’, with the ending song pointintg that out. I’m not sure kids would be the best audience- not saying there aren’t kids that could handle it, but it’s hardly a ‘feel-good’ musical.
I saw it in seventh grade with school (6th, 7th, and 8th graders). I loved it. But then I had always loved (and still love) musicals - I also found out, once I was older, that a good 75% of it had gone straight over my head. While I was reasonably well read (for a seventh grader), I was also fairly sheltered. So, I just had no real clue and no connection to a lot of the subject matter. Many of my classmates may as well have been watching Noh (without supratitles) for what they got out of it, and, more importantly, they didn’t like it either. And we were a few years older than your oldest.
I don’t think it will scar them for life, but this may be an example of a play that’s better for adults (or at least middle & older teenagers) than kids.
Wow! Gonna have to use my one bump privilege on this one.
A Thread that combines Berolt Brecht with children, Allan Cumming, and Cyndi Lauper and it only gets two responses!
C’mon, there’s no better recipe for a SDMB Thread than Berolt Brecht, Children, Allan Cumming, and Cyndi Lauper!
I may be dissuaded by the first two responses, but I may go ahead and take them anyway. It’s so rare that there’s anything of great literary value on Broadway, I want the trip to have some educational merit.
If I do decide on Threepenny, I promise to also take them to Blue Man or Stomp or something less Brechtian.
Anyone else with an opinion? Take kids to see Threepenny???
It really does depend on (a) the production, and (b) the kids. I’d have had no problem with it when I was that age, but I was always a little bit odd 
- amarinth is probably right, that the likelihood of them being bored is biggest concern.
I suppose your girls have seen shows that glorify criminals before. (Pirates, Robin Hood, etc.) But are they old enough to understand what a whorehouse is? Or why the jailer’s daughter’s belly is swollen, and what that has to do with MacHeath, and why she’s fighting with Polly Peachum?
I would probably take them if it were me. I don’t think they will be traumatized by the storyline. I would take my son if he was a little older. He loves theater, but I’m not sure he would appreciate this particular show at the age he is now (7). If you think your girls will enjoy it, I say take them.
Have they been to the theater much? If not, you might take them to a more kid friendly show beforehand so they get the idea of how it works.
That was pretty much my problem. For example, I walked out loving the Tango Ballad (it’s pretty. And can look stunning with great choreography). But I hadn’t understood it; I simply didn’t have the context for pimping, whoring, domestic violence, and abortion.
Though, as I said, I was sheltered. (I did get most of the socio-economic satire, at least to the level of complexity that you could expect from a kid.)
Cool. This is the kindof thing I need, 'cause it’s been several years since I’ve seen it. I just remember the basic storyline, not the details.
They both have a full understanding of pregnancy except for the conception part- though they are fully aware that a father is involved in some way. So, yeah, they’ll be fine with the jailer’s daughter’s belly, and what that has to do with MacHeath, and why she’s fighting with Polly Peachum.
Whorehouses? We’ll they certainly know the “woman of ill-fame” achetype. I think they basically would think of it as a woman who gets money from men in less than noble ways. Anything else would just go over their heads, unless it’s explicitly spelled out. I wouldn’t hesitate to take them to see Les Miserables. They’ve seen The Purple Rose of Cairo, and I’m sure they’ve seen lots of other movies with whores, even if they only have a vague idea what that entails.
Right now I’m leaning more toward “yes”. They’ve definitely seen lots of theatre and love it. I think it’s time to move them on to try something a little more demanding.
And I just can’t see them being bored by Allan Cumming, Cindi Lauper, and Ana Gastheyer.
One of the very best performances of the Threepenny Opera I’ve ever seen was in a park setting on a shoestring budget. It may have been a Public Dreams production, but I don’t remember for sure. Anyway, it didn’t pull any punches and almost everyone in the audience had children with them. (Heck, I was there with my girlfriend and her six-year-old daughter.)
Everyone had a grand time.
An actual Broadway production with Cyndi Lauper as Pirate Jenny? If you don’t take them, you’re a bad, bad parent. 
*You gentlemen can wipe off those smiles off your face
Because every building in town will be a flat one
This whole feckin’ place will burn down to the ground
Only this cheap hotel standing safe and sound
And you’ll ask, “Why do they spare that one?”
Yes!
That’s what you’ll ask:
“Why do they spare that one?”*
:dubious: Wait a second. Your girls are 8 & 10 and don’t know about conception?
Live dangerously, don’cha?
There’s nothing better than going with your gut on a decision then checking back on the board to find that you made the decision that Larry Mudd was pulling for!
For the record, I am not their parent- you shouldn’t wish parenthood on anyone, you might as well say “Hey, bienville, hope you get a tapeworm!”
No, this is just the sequel to the original World’s Greatest Uncle trip.
foolsguinea, since I’m not a parent I’m not exactly sure when you should tell children about erect penises going into vaginas and pumping out spooge. I think I was told at about age 11, so maybe the older one will get the whole story soon. I think the 8 year old ius going to wait- although she thinks boogers are funny, so I’m sure she’ll be thrilled to hear about spooge.
What the…?
Aw, they ain’t that bad, as far as parasitic organisms go. I think they’re more in the hookworm class.
(But yeah, I’m glad I’ve got nieces to spoil and corrupt without all the attendant worries, too.)