Madagascar the Musical has landed on local shores! We got all the exclusive deets on how to enjoy this fun musical featuring the beloved characters from the original show, plus top tips and a discount code below!
I don’t know about you, but every time I hear the word “Madagascar” or even the phrase “move it”, that itchy earworm of a song from the 2005 blockbuster hit Madagascar – featuring a star-studded cast, Adam Sandler, F.R.I.E.N.D.S’s David Schwimmer, Chris Rock and Jada Pinkett Smith – immediately starts playing from whichever nook it has seared itself within my brain! I can only recall dregs of the movie, mainly that ring-tailed lemur busting out the best moves, so it was great to jolt my memory by jumping at the chance to catch Madagascar the Musical on 18 January, opening night at the Esplanade Theatre.
Here we are spilling all the exclusive deets and dishing the lowdown on whether this musical makes a good show for kids:
What’s it all about?
Secure your seats for a wild adventure featuring the familiar characters from the OG movie: Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the Hip Hip Hippo, and those crafty penguins! Madagascar the Musical rides on the coattails of the original movie but does it in an engaging, fun and concise manner that will still have you and the kiddos in stitches.
On his tenth birthday in captivity, Marty the Zebra wishes to go and see what it’s like being in the wild; lucky for him, his friends and he will soon get in on the adventure! The friends and the penguin quartet have found their way out of the Central Park Zoo, prowling New York before getting caught by some burly authorities! This “misdemeanour” sees the crew being carted off to a wildlife reserve in Kenya where it has been presumed life would be nicer for these fellas, but, boy, were they wrong! What happens next? You’ll want to find out how they land in King Julien’s crazy world and whether or not this bunch ends up living it up in the wild.
5 reasons to watch Madagascar The Musical:
1. Fresh toe-tapping tunes
Did your little one (or YOU) jive to the beloved songs from the OG movie? Well, in Madagascar the Musical, the beats are fresh, and they are just as catchy to have kiddos tapping their feet and wanting to get in on the action with the dancing safari.
2. Layered lyrics – cues for some adult laughs!
Now, we get it! Sometimes, as adults, you’ve got to make an effort to appreciate the kids’ shows fully, but you’re in for a treat with this one. We did say the tunes are new, but they are layered and include some cheeky social cues that only the millennial and Gen-Z parents will raise eyebrows at and maybe giggle.
We don’t want to give too much away, but we think our eyes dilated a little when Marty the Zebra suddenly mentioned “50 shades of grey” while talking about his black-and-white-ness! Of course, this is lost on the young ones, but isn’t it simply fun that adults can appreciate it in another way? And there are more of these cheeky nuggets within the songs you’ll want to pay attention to.
3. Catch beloved scenes from the movie LIVE!
Remember the scene in the movie where a trooper of an old lady stands up to “bad kitty” Alex for roaring in her face on the subway? Imagine getting to see that live. Could it be even funnier? You’ll have to find out. We’re still holding back the urge to laugh remembering this one! The movie fans will go gaga over many scenes in the play!
So, maybe play a riff of Waldo with your little Madagascar enthusiast, where you both are trying to spot familiar scenes from the movie! Here’s a little snippet of what we caught: the crates the animals are transported in while on the boat, the Madagascar creatures like the Foosa, and more!
4. Meaningful messages
Here’s what we utterly love about theatre shows: they are such a fun way for kiddos to discover what really matters in life and the essence of things. In Madagascar the Musical, we see how four friends band together throughout adversity and how adversity brings out the best in each of them!
First and foremost, how Melman the Giraffe casts off his hypochondriac fears to save his friend is admirable. Plus, the rest of the crew don’t just give up on Alex the Lion when he’s struggling with his wild side. They seek to understand him and stick with him through it all. (Let’s just say we’re so happy he takes to sushi!)
We know kiddos will come away with some important insights on ways to be a good friend, how to help their friends in need and much more!
5. You and the kiddos get to Move it, Move it!
So we don’t want to give this away, but you might have the opportunity to dance to this beloved tune at some point in the show! The whole crew might ask you to get on your feet and show them how you and the kiddos move it. You’re not going to want to miss out on that!
Do take note:
The show has no minimum age limit, but the script includes the word “heck” at times, and there’s also a scene with a police officer wielding a gun. In between scenes, there are these strobe lights being shone across the audience, so it would be great to check in with the kiddos and see how they might be handling that. If you want to avoid being caught in the strobe lights, consider getting seats in Circle 1 or 2 at the Esplanade Theatre when booking.
Pro tips for watching Madagascar the Musical with kids in Singapore
- Catch a bite before the show.
- Be punctual.
- Ask the staff for a booster seat should your child require it.
- Make sure to bring along a jacket – it can get a little cool inside the theatre.
- Ensure your kids are at least three years old to fully appreciate this theatre experience. Although, take note that there is no minimum age limit for the show.
Madagascar the Musical, approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes, Esplanade Theatre, 18 – 28 January 2024. All info and ticket booking here. Tickets cost $48 to $138. PS: Use the promo code KINGJULIEN for a neat 20% discount.
Lead image: ABA Productions
See you at the theatre!