The smash super-sized theatrical production from Australia, Walking with Dinosaurs - The Live Experience just opened at the Honda Center in Orange County. The life-size part-animatronic part human-operated dino-puppets based on the BBC series wouldn't fit in a smaller venue, so they're playing in sports arenas.A paleontologist character narrates two hundred million years of dinosaur evolution, introducing ten species of dinosaurs, with interactions between creatures and transformation of the supporting landscape. The life-like creatures were breathtaking. Many a child and a few adults cowered before the great beasts as they sniffed around the audience. Most young dinosaur fans seemed even more enamored after the spectacle, even as they admitted how scared they were.
The best views of the show are higher up on the sides of the auditorium where the amazing creatures get almost kissing close. The view from lower front seats is partially obstructed by set landscaping, and most of the close dinosaur interaction plays to the sides of the auditorium, rather than the end. The volume of the music was too loud, especially for children. I found it almost painful myself, and every child I talked to on the way out mentioned it. Hopefully they'll make adjustments, but you might want to invest in some earplugs if you're taking the kids, just in case. Most of the Honda Center shows are almost sold out, but there are still matinée seats available on Thursday and Friday, or get tickets now for the Staples Center in September.
In OC
When: August 20-24, 2008
Where: The Honda Center, 2695 East Katella Ave, Anaheim, CA 92806
Cost: $22.50 - $79
Tickets: At the Honda Center Box Office, Ticket Master locations, by phone at 714-740-2000, 213-480-3232 or online at ticketmaster.com
In LA
When: September 25-28, 2008
Where: Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90015
Cost: $25.00 - $88.50
Tickets: At the STAPLES Center Box Office by phone at 714-740-2000, 213-480-3232 or online at ticketmaster.com
Info: www.dinosaurlive.com
To learn more about dinosaurs, visit dinosaurs.about.com.
© 2008 Kayte Deioma, courtesy of www.KayteDeioma.com
(Note: These photos were taken without a flash. Despite flash photography being explicitly prohibited more than once, the ban was ignored and people were flashing with their little cameras and phones like crazy. The flash on a point-and-shoot camera or phone only reaches about 10 feet, so it's not very effective in a sports arena. It's just annoying. Set your camera to "no flash" (the lightning with a circle with a line through it), hold really still, and wait for a pause in the action if you want to take a photo.)
The 
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