To get to the Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa, you have to drive past at least one graveyard and along the Aviation Parkway which suddenly spits you out into the parking lot of the museum like a spaceship shooting you out on to a planet.
The Saturday matinee show was a particularly special one, as it was clearly designed to be kid-friendly. It seemed like every young trendy bearded dad sporting a black-framed glasses and a hip Asian wife in Ottawa was there with their biracial babies in adorable tutus. Although I was at the show with Meg, we did not bring our babies to the show (mainly because we don`t have any).
There were some cool exhibits set up outside the museum theatre, including an analog disc recorder where you could record your voice on to a record and scratch the recording on a turntable. There was also a photo station where you could put your face on an astroid. Obviously the kids loved it.
The set up inside the theatre was even more magical. Instead of regular seats, there are mats spread out on the ground with space cushions laid out strategically so the audience could lounge while listening. Each audience member got their own headphones to listen to the music, which was pure genius in a baby-filled crowd. I had some surreal moments where I took my headphones off to stop listening to the music for a moment, and marvelled at the sound of empty space and nothing but babies crying.
Every time the background screen changed colours, kids would call out "blue!" "red!" Smart kids.
As usual, Kid Koala had a lot of audience participation, getting kids to come up on stage to play various percussive instruments, including one adorable boy in a bunny costume. It was definitely one of the most unique special shows I've been to, a lovely way to spend my Saturday afternoon.
opener winchester warm.
audience participation
