I would like to take my daughter for her 16th in Feb but am wondering if the show is suitable for my nine year old daughter too.

Has anyone seen it? Do you think she'd enjoy it or be freaked out? She didn't like the movie much first go and still won't look at Gerard without his mask on ...

I'd be grateful for any input.

PS Mods ... is this OT?? Sorry if it is!

Hmm, difficult. I was lucky enough to see the original with Michael Crawford and loved it. But if your daughter was a bit nervous at the film, she might not be too comfortable at the stage show; it's not so bad if you're not too close to the Phantom when he's unmasked. Personally, I just felt really sorry for him at that moment, but a nine-year-old might not see it that way!

Yup, I've seen it 3 times. Apart from the chandelier falling, I cant think it'd freak her out. Things are different on stage from a movie. When the mask comes off it's not that gruesome, especially if you're a few rows back, Michael Crawford was wonderful because he gave it such menace and pathos, but no other production has had the same effect.

It's not the greatest musical ever (that goes to Les Miz with Oklahoma (Hugh Jackman and Maureen Lipman's version...well Trevor Nunn's really) and West Side Story a very close second, but it's well worth seeing and I bet she loves it I adored the theatre at that age. Nothing's changed there so go on, take her. You might spark a life long love of the glory of a live show.

If the movie freaked her out then why not choose another musical. There are loads in the west end at moment.

Joseph, Sound of Music, Grease, Mama Mia, Hairspray. I would personally recommend Joseph and Hairspray.

Why chance having her freak out and putting her off for life when there are so many others to choose from and maybe once older can really enjoy Phantom

Sound of Music is good too plenty to keep everyone amused and entertained

though I cried

I saw Phantom in the WE quite a few years ago (the Phantom then was Dave Willets and he was very good). It is quite dark, but there's nothing particularly gruesome that I remember! Having said that, I wasn't 9 years old when I saw it!

I agree with other posters that, if you are in doubt, it might be better to take her to something more child friendly like Joseph, Hairspray or SOM.

i saw it for the first time when i was about 10/11 (i am now 25 and have seen it about another 3 times) it is dark, but as long as your daughter is old enough to understand that it is a play and not real she should be ok, on a side note, i saw cats at about aged 8 or 9 and that scared me more when it initally opened than phantom did as the cats were in the aisles and made me jump!

i loved phantom from the first time i saw it, and was one of the shows that got me hooked on going to the theatre

you may wish to get other theatre goers thoughts though, and if so it may be an idea for you to post your question at
http://www.whatsonstage.com/board/index.php or
http://www.dresscircle.co.uk/forum/f...view.asp?fid=1

Hi ladies, many, many thanks for your replies!!

From what you've all said, I think she'll be okay but I'm going to deliberate and drop hints to her about it to gauge her keenness. It's my older daughter's potential birthday treat because it's her favourite musical, but if I leave the younger one out, she'll never speak to me again.

She is a theatre buff already, thankfully, although she reacted to Cats much the same way as Anna did. She hated the lights going dark (mind you she was 6) at first, until I said words to the effect of "Don't even think about starting! I paid loads of money for these tickets!" I'm so cruel. BUT she absolutely loved it once it got going and has seen it twice more since. She was also one of the lucky first people to see Joseph in London - and was almost disappointed not to see Donny as Joseph! Anna, will also take your advice and ask around. Thanks.

I'll have a think. SOM might not be a bad idea. In the meantime, she's dragging me to the High School Musical show next month ...

Much appreciated all xxxx

you could rent/buy the dvd version http://www.amazon.co.uk/Phantom-Oper...9825702&sr=8-1 (its only £5 on amazon) of it and see how she reacts to that, before you book it if you are concerned, i love the show and it is one that really draws you in,


and if you do book it you may want to check this site out as they often have discount tickets for Phantom
http://www.broadwaybox.com/london/

I've seen the stage show a few times. I don't know how a
9 year-old would react but would say beware that the film is different from the show. Although there are many moments in the film which are great, personally I think the show is better.

My son enjoyed the show but he was 14 at the time. He particlulary liked the mirror sequence at the beginning.

The Sound of Music at the Palladium is absolutely wonderful.

If you decide to go - let us all know how you get on.

I saw it when I was 7 and loved it! And I was a bit of a wimp too!

Your 9-year old will enjoy it immensely I would think, especially if she already knows the music! She is the same age as my daughter was when she first saw Phantom.

We took our two to London to see Phantom, Les Mis, Miss Saigon, Starlight Express (twice) and the Royal Tournament at Earls Court, all in one week in 1989. My son was aged 7 and my daughter 9 and they both LOVED all of the shows and have seen them several times since! They already knew all the songs because we had the CDs at home and my son couldn't wait to see "Master of the House" in Les Mis (wee bit of swearing that amused a 7-year old) and he loved the whole show!

It took a bit of planning and cost plenty as we had front row dress circle seats and it was when the Starlight skaters came up into the audience and skated right along in front of us so that added to the fun for our children.

They also saw Joseph with Jason Donovan, Philip Scofield and Aled Jones in (so did I) and my favourite playing Joseph has to be Craig, who I think played the part with more emotion than the rest!

If you go and see Phantom - splash out for the expensive seats. I wish I had, we had gallery seats and it completely ruined the show for me.

I fully agree with you and would never sit anywhere but the front row of the dress circle (one up) or five or six rows back in the stalls to feel the benefit of the whole stage in a theatre show as it's well worth it. Front row stalls for a pop concert though!!!

If she's nervous, don't go to The Woman In Black. It's really scary!

I saw Phantom back in October with a huge party of mixed ages. The majority of kids ranging from 12 to 18 didn't enjoy it. Half the adults loved it and the other half hated it.

We are all regular theatre goers. Not sure how many youngsters would enjoy it.

Feb 16th has come and gone. What did you do? If you saw he show how was it?

Hi folks,

Many thanks for the input! I don't get to DS often anymore so apologies for the late reply. I think, given what you've all said, I will take the nipper who will be almost ten by the time we go - she's begging to go too.

edwoodie - it was for my daughter's 16th birthday in Feb, not on the 16th :>

Sorry demonllama, I misread. But I'm interested to know if you go how you got on.

1st April. Ticket prices nearly caused my head to fall off.

Does anyone live near a Tube Station? I've just about choked on train prices to LDN from here and am going to drive down and park up near a Tube Station!

Any suggestions? Pls pm me if you know of a good place for me to leave the motor for the day - preferably for free!

You might need to say from which direction you are travelling. N,S, E or W?

Actually, I've just seen your location: Staffordshire!!!! Very close to me!!!!!

M1 down to London then...............................?????

M40 :> I've remembered that I have a lone relative still in LDN who refused to join the rest of us in an exodus - so we're going to harass her :>

Not long to go now. Watch out for that chandelier!!