Les Miserables

[Rose-Roget]

Ds is 6-1/2.  His very favorite music to listen to is Les Miserables.  It's coming through our city in a couple of months, and I'm debating taking him.  He saw it advertised and has been asking to go - he knows the music, he knows the storyline, and he loves to see how things are done on stage. I have seen it twice and find it awe-inspiring.  The main thing that we skip over in his music is the part with Fantine being a prostitute, which obviously is in the show.  Is it completely inappropriate to consider taking him to see it anyway?

[MusicianDad]

I don't think it's inappropriate at all. If you think he can handle it and are ready to answer any questions he might have, he would probably benefit from seeing the show.

[LynnS6]

If he loves it, can sit through it for several hours, and you're willing to explain things that might make you a bit uncomfortable (prostitution), I'd take him. If he loves to see things on the stage, it sounds like a good fit for him. Who knows, maybe you'll spark a life long passion!

He may also not really figure out that what it means to be a prostitute depending on the staging. Kids do sometimes just gloss over things that don't make sense to them.

[WantRice]

I saw Les Miserables a few times before the age of 13 and I definitely glossed over a lot of the storyline. Maybe I wasn't a very thoughtful child, but I think there's a good chance your son won't pick up on the more adult themes in the show.  

[SamiPolizzi]

I think you should definitely take him! I was around 8 the first time I saw. 

[Rose-Roget]

Thanks for those replies!  I'm glad it doesn't sound terribly inappropriate to you. 

I kind of think the whole prostitution stuff would just go over his head.  He knows that in the show sometimes the people are tough or have to do things to get money because they don't have any.  He understands that sometimes these things are not legal, like stealing.  I think he would probably just assume Fantine is in the same boat as Jean Valjean, as far as that.  And if he asked, I could just add that the men don't treat her nicely because they don't respect her.  That would probably satisfy him, if he even questioned.

[Viola]

Awww man, Les Mis came out while I was in college, and I never got to see it.  It came to DC, but I think between scheduling & ticket prices, it was just not possible to see.  My friends saw it in NY.  So I'm checking out where it's traveling, and it's not coming to No CA at all.  My best bet would be to go to LA, but that's over 500 miles away.  Sigh.  

If my child was excited about going, I'd take him.  I agree that it's easy for these things to go over his head, especially if he wants them to and makes his own interpretations.

[hakeber]

If he loves the music and hasn't yet asked what the song Lovely Ladies (ladies of the night) is all about, he probably won't get it on stage either.

If you have skipped that one, let him listen to it once and see if he picks up on it.  It might be easier to do it at home than during intermission.

I'd say go for it.

I would love it if I could get my son to sit still that long!

[All4them]

My 4 year old is obsessed with musicals.  I would take her to Les Mis in a heartbeat.   What a great opportunity you have!   I'm jealous.   I believe that much of the story line would be above a young child's knowledge.  If he hasn't been exposed to the idea of prostitution, he wont catch it during the show.

[velochic]

We've been taking dd to fine arts productions for a few years now.  She loves musicals, but enjoys opera, plays, ballet, etc. as well.  I think it has been a wonderfully enriching part of her upbringing (she just turned 9 this week).  She is not the kind of kid to fidget and get bored, so her attention span also fits well to attend such things.  Like in your home, dd also gets a lot of exposure to it at home.  I think that it's never too early to start exposing kids to fine arts if that is going to be part of your lifestyle.  It's very important to us and part of our family culture, but I think even if families are more into pop culture, a good musical or play is always beneficial... at any age.  Definitely go!!  Have fun!  Don't worry about some of the lyrics.  You can easily gloss them over as pp's have said... if he even notices (which he may not with everything else going on). 

ETA:  I wanted to mention that one dd's favorite musicals is Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.  If you've never seen it, it's probably the most misogynistic musical ever written.  Rather than avoid it, it has actually created some really great dialog with dd about relationships.  She enjoys the show and at the same time has led to great discussion.  If you're faced with questions from Les Mis, it may be a good opening for discussion depending on your ds's level of maturity.  Perhaps it may be beneficial to discuss it rather than gloss it over.  Some food for thought.