We went to the Walking with Dinosaurs show when it came to St. Paul, and I thought it was very good. Designed for the younger crowd (according to the droves of elementary- and younger-aged kids in attendance) this show was educational and entertaining.
Only one actor served as the guide through this tour of prehistory. His monologue identified the various dinosaurs that came onto the arena, painting a picture of what it was like in the days when dinosaurs walked the earth, as well as the paleontologist’s perspective.
Here T-Rex enters the stage. Humongous, isn’t she?
I understand that as many as three puppeteers maneuvered the large dinosaurs and they did a spectacular job. These photos don’t do justice, as your eyes are naturally drawn to the base that moves the puppet. But the puppeteers were masters at movement — making the dinosaurs act completely lifelike. And when T-Rex roared - WOW! I totally felt like I was there in prehistoric times.
The multimedia display was very well done. In addition to the two-story-tall puppets driven by three people, some were costumes designed for just a single person (see the raptor photo above.) There was also film projection, a light show, and these awesome plants and flowers that would blow up (bloom) or deflate (die) to illustrate climactic changes.
My husband wasn’t that impressed, and my kids thought it was “cool”. I thought it was awesome, but I was really caught up in the artistry of it all. I guess it all depends on what you’re looking for!
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8:52 pm
Great photos–looks like it was a great show for kids–mine would have loved it.
10:28 pm
I think appreciating all the work behind the scenes comes directly from being a writer–I would have been awestruck too! Incredible photos!
12:49 am
incredible creatures and impressive photos.
I can’t wait till it comes back to Australia maybe in a few years so I can take my little boys.
5:27 am
Looks like a great show.
And Happy Fourth of July.
Mike
http://somethingaboutparenting.typepad.com
10:11 am
That looks so cool! I would have loved to see that. Thanks for sharing the photos and the experience.