Is 'The Producers' appropriate for a 13 year old?

[Parkhopper]

DS13 loves theater. He has never been to a show on Broadway, but hopes to one day.

We live between Baltimore and Washington, DC so we have access to wonderful theater at times. DS has seen The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Cats, Aida, Phantom of the Opera, Little Shop of Horrors, and Les Miserables.

My Brother gave DS a gift certificate to one of our local Dinner Theaters and the show that DS wants most to see is The Producers. I have not seen this one and am worried about content. We had to have a few talks about sexual situations before and after seeing Little Shop of Horrors and Les Mis (sadism and prostitution), so I am open to discussing things with him, but I have no idea if anything in this play will be objectionable.

Any help and guidance would be appreciated.

Suzi

 

[Parkhopper]

Wow, this fell like a rock to the 2nd page. Can't anyone help me?

Suzi

 

[Cool-Beans]

Bump.

There is a website somewhere for parents who are worried about stuff like this. I forget the name, but someone will know.

 

[helenabear]

Here's a review for the movie

http://www.kids-in-mind.com/p/producers.htm

it was rated PG-13

 

[Oh Kay!]

13 is a difficult age--if he was younger, the humor would fly over his head and he can simply enjoy the slapsticks, but being a pre-teen, I find it difficult to whole-heartedly recommend the show for him.

ETA I had completely forgotten about the movie. The movie is almost exact translation of the play--I am sure the DVD would have the few excised scenes as well.

 

[Parkhopper]

13 is a difficult age--if he was younger, the humor would fly over his head and he can simply enjoy the slapsticks, but being a pre-teen, I find it difficult to whole-heartedly recommend the show for him.

Oh, yes. I had completely forgotten about the movie. The movie is almost exact translation of the play--I am sure the DVD would have the few excised scenes as well.

I guess I will rent the movie and watch it with DH. We will also look for the Broadway soundtrack.

Unfortunately, DS has never been one of the kind of kids where things went right over his head. Even at 5 or 6 years old, he would say "everyone else laughed and I didn't get it." We've had some unbelievable discussions based upon things seen in children's movies that people said would go right over the kid's heads.

Thank you to everyone who responded.

Suzi

 

[swanmom]

Depends on what kind of humor is acceptable in your family. So I'll describe as best I can. Plenty of references to sex (and some very sexy costumes) but nothing graphic or gross. Mostly double entendres and played for laughs ... more saucy than scatological. The treatment of Hitler as a comedic target is very, very over-the-top. So much so that the humor is blatently obvious, but some families still might not like that topic treated as funny. I have to hazard a guess that, if he saw Les Mis, there isn't much in here that will be shocking.

That being said, the show is a riot!!! We laughed from the first line to the finale. My DD (a 14 year-old theater nut!) absolutely loved the show and said it's one of the shows she'd see more than once if she could (not at those prices, said her mom!)

Hope you enjoy it if you decide to go.

 

[Oh Kay!]

Unfortunately, DS has never been one of the kind of kids where things went right over his head. Even at 5 or 6 years old, he would say "everyone else laughed and I didn't get it." We've had some unbelievable discussions based upon things seen in children's movies that people said would go right over the kid's heads.

Then definitely check out the movie. I'm a long time Mel Brooks fan, and the show is great, but I'm not sure I am ready to open that can of worms with my kids yet.

 

[KPeveler]

i say rent the movie with nathan lane and matthew broderick.... it is the actual musical... you can watch it and decide if it will be inappropriate for your DS. i loved it, and while there are many jokes about sex, they are almost all innuendos, nothing graphic