My family had the amazing opportunity to see the Big Apple Circus at City Hall Plaza yesterday. I hadn't been to the Big Apple Circus since I was a kid and it was even more fun than I remembered! It was so exciting to share the experience with my husband and my 5 year old son, Isaac.The show, called Metamorphosis, ran for about 2 hours with a brief intermission. It was fast-paced and kept the crowd interested the whole time. It included animals, Francisco the Clown, acrobats, and lots of comedy! The live music was also a treat. My husband is a professional musician and not easily impressed, but he thought the band was really good.
I loved it because it felt like a classic circus but with a modern twist. It had the festive circus music and costumes, but at the same time it was all very contemporary. The big top wasn't too big so it felt like a personal experience.
Last night before bed, I asked Isaac what was his favorite part of the show. His response: "The camels, the acrobats, and the clown." Isaac tends to get a little restless but he sat through the entire show without getting bored for even a second. It really captivated him. I think he was the perfect age to enjoy it, but honestly, my husband and I enjoyed it just as much!
A few things to note:
- The Big Apple Circus does NOT use exotic animals in their shows. They only use domesticated animals, like ponies, camels, and dogs. You don't have to worry about animal abuse or wild animals, like elephants or lions, being kept in inappropriate conditions.
- If your kids (or you!) are scared of clowns, never fear. Francisco is not scary at all. He isn't like the clowns of years past with a painted white face. He's fun and entertaining! In fact, nothing scared Isaac at all, and he can be a bit skittish. It wasn't overly loud or too dark.
- The Government Center T station is closed until next year, so if you take the T, get off at Park Street or Haymarket.
- The bathrooms are in a trailer outside and there are also port-a-potties. You have to go outside to get to them, so if it's cold or rainy out, don't forget your jacket!
- Concessions include typical circus fare: cotton candy, popcorn, candy.
- A tall adult sat in front of Isaac, and he found it hard to see the show. He wound up sitting on my lap for the majority of it.
- The Big Apple Circus offers an autism-friendly show on April 7.
- Tickets start at only $25 and because the tent is not that big, you're never that far from the action.
We can't wait until it comes back next year. And actually, I think Isaac will be campaigning to go back and see it one more time before it ends its run here!
The Big Apple Circus runs in Boston until May 10, 2015.
Buy tickets: http://bit.ly/11iwGTI
