Edmund Shakes His VegetableEdmund is so into music these days that I've been looking for an appropriate children's concert or music event to take him to. Edmund went to the benefit concert at my school a couple of months ago and loved it, but it was in an open air theater with tons of space to move around. Now that the weather is getting nippy, the concerts around the area tend to be indoors. I can't say I blame the musicians one bit, but there's always the chance for chaos when you put a bunch of toddlers in a room. I was delighted when I read about a children's musical act taking place in downtown Durham at The Broad Street Cafe, but didn't know what to expect.
Every 1st and 3rd Sunday from October through March The Broad Street Cafe offers kid's shows. Some of the acts are more appropriate for older elementary and teens, but this past week's act was for the young preschool set. We went to see an interactive performance by Mother Goose herself. And at 163 years old can you believe she was up dancing and shaking with the best of them?
Mother Goose performed with her guest Sir Anthony (a guitar playing pageboy) and was accompanie
d by her dear pet goose, Gwennyblossom. I won't spoil the fun for the children, but I'll let the adults in on a little secret. Mother Goose is actually a woman named Dr. Laura Royster who developed a preschool curriculum entitled "I Feel Better with Music" for children with cancer. The night's show was based on the curriculum. It takes a lot to impress me when it comes to curriculums for young children, but this one certainly did.Mother Goose started out the evening by asking if any children would like to help her strum her guitar. As the children strummed we welcomed them in a "hello" song. As you may well know, Edmund loves his guitar, but he wasn't quite sure about Mother Goose yet. Fortunately, right before she closed the "hello" song Edmund mustered up the courage to strum. Can you believe he got to strum his first full-size guitar?
The Broad Street Cafe is like any cafe and had limited seating. However, Mother Goose came prepared with her very own "fairy blanket." This gave the children a nice, soft (and clean) place to sit, as well as gave the show a more intimate feel. The songs were perfect for preschoolers, short and catchy. Often children's musicians will write long songs that will lose a two year old's interest in the blink of an eye. These songs were a little longer than a blink, but were interactive enough to keep the children engaged. The children helped Mother Goose correctly complete the rhyme "Humpty Dumpty," as after 163 years one can get a bit forgetful. The children also used vegetable shaped shakers while singing and dancing to a song called "Vegetables Dancing on the Table." Edmund had a blast with this one.
Between songs Mother Goose would return to the stage to read bits from her book. During one reading she asked Edmund to care for Gwennyblossom. I wanted to warn her that perhaps another child would be better suited for the job. Edmund quickly fell in love with Gwennyblossom and kissed and hugged her repeatedly. He got a little too excited about Gwennyblossom's beak and needed a few reminders to simply pat her on the head, but all in all he did his job well.
For her final act, Mother Goose passed out Bubble Bears for the parents to blow bubbles. Edmund squealed uncontrollably as the bubbles bounced around him. In case you didn't know, when Edmund gets excited, he really gets excited. He danced and laughed while Mother Goose finished her song. When Mother Goose co
ncluded her "set list," Sir Anthony passed around a tip jar. We gave Edmund a few dollars to contribute because we all had such a great time. Edmund took the money, looked into the bucket, clutched his three dollars in his right hand, and went to grab the money in the bucket with his left. Sir Anthony cracked up at my son's antics. It appears we have a little way to go on the "we don't take money from other people front." But hey, he's only two.The evening was a success. At a little under an hour, Mother Goose lasted the perfect amount of time to hold a two year old's attention. It didn't hurt that we were able to order some delicious wood-fired pizza. It really is a testament to what a great time Edmund was having, that he didn't ask for pizza until 10 minutes before the show finished. For a boy who would eat pizza for every meal, that really is saying something.
The Broad Street Cafe
1116 Broad Street Durham, NC 27705
Kid's Events:
1st and 3rd Sundays of October-March
4:30 unless otherwise noted
*see website for acts
