We're breaking out of our own zoo: Madagascar Live

Several days a week, after homework and snacks and catching up on the day, while frantically finish up work and before I spend no more than 17 minutes throwing together some kind of high-fructose-free dinner for Lil E and me, you will hear the snarky "WHAT.EVS" and shrill laughter and same dialogue I have heard more times than my own name coming from our television. Why? Because, for a half-hour on those days,"iCarly" has invaded our home and taken over my small child's brain. How will you recognize these are THOSE thirty minutes of hell if you are a parent already immune to those telltale sounds of terrible children's networking? By the perma-eyeroll affixed to my face.

But, damn, it makes him happy. And laugh. And learn words like "idiot" and "dating" and "pizza tacos."

What makes us both happy are those shows that we both can agree on. There aren't many. "Phinneus & Ferb" is the clear animated winner. "DIrty Jobs" makes both mama (rrrr) and kiddo (ewwww) happy. Then, there's the one Lil E STILL, five years after he first heard it, believes is really truly sincerely called "America's HOME Funniest Videos." And, of course, there's The Penguins (capitalization so necessary).

I saw every single "Penguins of Madagascar" that lives onDemand at least three times before I saw the movie "Madagascar." That was key. The sarcasm, the references to classic novels and gangsta rap, the 23 perfectly timed minutes of laughter that it took my coffee to kick in on Saturday mornings -- all very necessary for me to be prepped to watch the movie I once STRONGLY suggested would be totally awesome to see with Daddy.

By the time I was ready, Lil E knew all the dialogue. I actually had to beg him to see it, even make it seem like he was participating in some altruistic Movie Education of Mommy project. He bought it. The plea, that is. I had to pony up for the movie. (Note to self: Up allowance so there are enough quarters in the kid's jar to pitch in for exorbitant onDemand kid's movie prices.)

I laughed. The out-loud kind. I even danced to the damn "Move It, Move It" musical mindworm. I loved it.

So when I read that the whole sha-bang was going to be performed on stage, right here in my city, I felt like we had to go. I mean, it's clearly critical for my development of post-Bambi animated cinema appreciation. Plus, I've been reassured there's dancing to that one song (shhhh) in the aisles.

And if he asks, I'll say this show was for him so I'm sure not to pay back any debts when the "iCarly" crew's live show comes to town.

We were kindly given complimentary tickets to this show. But I wouldn't list it here if I didn't think it was a great fit for many of you with kids or weird obsessions with stage shows.  Tonight is opening night! Shows continue through this weekend in Chicago and in other cities.For more information about “MADAGASCAR LIVE,” visit www.madlive.com. Find “MADAGASCAR LIVE” on Facebook by visiting this Facebook page. Tickets, which start at $20, are available on www.ticketmaster.com.

Please be assured, I will always give honest, accurate reviews and will never be paid for a positive opinion. Y'all are way too savvy and valuable for that business.

Comments

[Clare]

Great post, I smiled all the way through it. I have to admit, I like iCarly. Particularly the brother. The brother kills me! "Kim Possible" is still my all-time favorite kid show but alas, it has been gone for too long.