Cookie Monster
hangs 10 for keiki
One: Close your eyes. Two: Think you're there. Three: Imagine you could be anywhere.
An eager audience was greeted by Samantha the mail carrier at Sesame Street Live's "1-2-3 ... Imagine" at Thursday's opening night performance.
After Samantha handed out postcards to the furry residents on Sesame Street, the gang used the 1-2-3 method to teach children in the audience how to use their imagination to go almost anywhere.
Who needs summer vacation when you can have this much fun in your head?
Ernie climbed aboard the S.S. Rubber Duckie after imagining the sea spray, high waves and big ship. Friends joined him, and they became "one big floating family."
Bert experienced a bout of seasickness and decided he would rather be underwater instead. Fluorescent colors and glow-in-the-dark special effects gave the show an extra dimension. The luminous effects were seen in Bert's underwater adventure and in Elmo's travels to the African rain forest.
NANCY ARCAYNA / NARCAYNA@STARBULLETIN.COM
The Sesame Street gang teaches kids that their imagination can take them almost anywhere.
Under the sea, luminous, floating sea creatures abound in this treat for the senses. Dancers in colorful, glowing costumes added allure to both skits. At one point the dancers created the effect of a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly.
Audience participation was also a plus. Keiki drummed along with Elmo through some knee-slapping and foot-stomping action.
A taste of other cultures was also subtly added to the performance, just as it is on the PBS television production.
Rosita dreamed of attending a grand fiesta at her grandmother's house in Mexico. A few Spanish words were shouted out to the audience: casa (home), hola (hello) and fiesta (party). Bert carried a piñata in, and the cuddly critters took turns swinging at it in order to get the treats.
"1-2-3 ... Imagine": Sesame Street Live
Performance repeats at 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. tomorrow, next Saturday and June 22. Tickets are $11, $15 and $19, plus a $1 facility fee. Call 591-2211. To charge tickets by phone, call 526-4400.
Samantha the mail carrier's imagination led her to a tropical island with sandy beaches, tall trees and flowers that grow everywhere.
The furry critters surfed to the popular "Let's Go Surfing," in which Cookie Monster showed off his skills. Hula was also a hit as the little audience members lined the aisles to perform "Yellow Bird" with Big Bird. Elmo and Zoe hit the stage adorned in hula garb shaking wildly to the "Hurry Up Hula."
Camp Wanna Go Home, yet another destination, had the crowd singing along to campfire songs including "She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain" and "If You're Happy and You Know It." I liked Oscar the Grouch's rendition better: "If you're grouchy and you know it, say get lost."
Mr. Noodle even made an appearance with his "imaginary dog." The skits were fast-paced and not so long as to test youngsters' attention spans.
Shave ice, pretzels and a variety of goodies were sold at the event. But one warning to parents who attended the show last year: The concert hall management no longer allows people to bring their own snacks.
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