VEE ENTERTAINMENT CORP. Baby Bear and Big Bird perform "Everyone Makes Music" with a chorus of tweety birds in "Sesame Street Live."

Sesame Street Live
leaves kids singing

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Review by Nancy Arcayna
narcayna@starbulletin.com

A finger that you snap, a toe that you tap and a rubber duckie that you squeeze -- just a few of the ways the friendly Muppets were able to make music without the use of traditional instruments.

Ernie and Bert, oh, and we can't forget good ol' rubber duckie, greeted an enthusiastic crowd at the opening performance of Sesame Street Live's "Everyone Makes Music" performance Thursday night. The other cheerful and cuddly friends from the Sesame Street gang soon joined in to sing "Who Are the Monsters in Your Neighborhood?"

The program proved once again to be a spectacular theatrical experience for the young at heart, with the Blaisdell Concert Hall providing a much more intimate setting than the show's usual arena setting.

In this year's story, Jenny, the new music teacher on Sesame Street, is saddened that a delivery truck has failed to bring her instruments. The gang pulls together to create their own unique musical tools, thus showing children what can be achieved through imagination, teamwork and cooperation.

Number recognition, letters, shapes and colors were all introduced during the show, just as they are in the popular, long-running PBS TV series for preschool-age children. Older children were encouraged to use their imagination and learned that "everyone can make music" by using simple gadgets like spoons, pots, wind chimes, trash-can lids and cookie jars. A clapping of hands, a slapping of legs and a stomping of feet had the audience participating. Counting along with the Count was another highlight.

"Everyone Makes Music" Sesame Street Live performance repeats at 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, at Blaisdell Concert Hall. Tickets are $11 and $15. Call 591-0150, or charge by phone at 526-4400.

Colorful sets also kept the kids and adults attentive. Broadway-style lights outlined the display, and my 6-year-old son was entranced by a street lamp that continually changed color.

The classic "C Is for Cookie" sung by Cookie Monster had the audience singing along. And Grover and Rosita's version of "We're Fuzzy and Blue" raised familiarity with the keiki.

The adults were especially entertained when the monsters danced to the Bee Gees song "You Should Be Dancing," and "The Hustle." Bert came decked out in his white tux, doing an imitation of John Travolta in "Saturday Night Fever."

Colored feathered friends also danced to the rock 'n' roll beat of "Rockin' Robin."

The lighting was magical at times, but at others made it difficult to view the video screen in the middle of the backdrop. The screen, used to show numbers, shapes and letters as they were featured, encouraged the crowd to sing their ABCs.

A few video excerpts from the television show were also shown -- a nice addition for children who crave repetition.

Parents will be glad to know that concert hall management made an exception to usual house rules by allowing parents to bring their own hot dogs, Spam musubi, popcorn and drinks into the theater. That way, restless children could be given a snack to keep them quiet.

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