Is Mama Mia! Family Friendly?

I don't think the subject matter is appropriate for a 4.5 year old but she might like the music. I guess it just depends. If it were me I wouldn't want to take a 4.5 year old to the theater it would be a waste of money and everyones time.

You would have to be ready to answer the questions after. My 5 year old has been asking lots of questions lately about why I have a mommy and a stepmommy, why wasn't I in my stepmommy's tummy, and when is he going to get a stepmommy too (should've seen my husbands face when he heard that one!). I think extra questions about the possibility of three dads would be too much for me to handle right now!

I can see where you'd think it is inappropriate, but kids don't pay attention really to the talking and the meaning behind the show, they just love the singing and dancing. I've seen the show a couple of times and it is very enjoyable and energetic she will probably love how up beat it is.

I loved the show. However, I think the content is what might not keep the interest of the 4 1/2 year old. The songs are great. (of course, they are from ABBA!) However, the content is also very adult. There are some sexual conotations, as well as what you thought it was about. It is about a girl whom is searching for her real father to walk her down the aisle at her wedding. I would be cautionary of sending her to see the show.

What benefit is it to a four year old to see an adult, professional production? If she is wiggly she will interupt the show for others and it will be uncomfortable for her, Dad and wife. I am an advocate for introducing children to the performing arts. It is much better to expose them to productions that are not as long, have a family friendly enviroment, and are age appropriate. STAND YOUR GROUND! I am sure Disney on Ice or a local production in the park is a better option.

I've seen the play quite a few times. Its very fast moving and fun. I dont' think she'll pick up on the subject as long as no one makes a big deal out of it.

Hello J.,
I saw Mamma Mia as a play a few years ago in Toronto. It was very funny in parts but is about a young girl getting married not knowing the identity of her father. 1st one man appears then another and another.There is inuendo that the mother slept around because one of the three is the girls father. I liked it as a play and it looks like a good movie but it's up to you if you or the ex want to explain why the girl doesn't know who her dad is. It's most likely got alot of music in it also and I want to see it but I would maybe take older kids before younger ones.

I didn't read all the answers to the question, but I wanted to relay a story of what is going on with my just turned 5 year old daughter. I stopped watching the news a couple of years ago becuase I didn't want my kids seeing and hearing the bad things in then news. A lot of people thought that my kids wouldn't know what was going on anyway. My husband was watching the weather chanel with my daughter when she was 4. With the recent weather she is scared to death of tornados like in New York where the people didn't hear the siren and the tornado hit the house and it fell down with the people inside! She knows what she saw and remembers the details well. I know this show wouldn't be scarry, but I am not sure that he might not pick up on somthing you don't want him too.

Depending on where the production is, your daughter would not be allowed in regardless based on her age. At the Wharton Center here in EL - the child has to over the age of 6 to be permitted into a show like that. If it is something specific for kids - then the age rule doesn't apply. This show is for adults - thus no 4 1/2 year olds.

Good luck!

P.S. The Wharton Center does have some fanatastic shows for this kids every year and I would recommend that you suggest that for him or even you could take her - a special girls outing...

Wow, that's a toss up! While she may LOVE the singing and dancing, she'll no doubt get the overall gist of a woman asking who her father is. That might make for some heavy questions for a while afterwards!

I think personally, I would wait for a child friendly production where 'wiggling' in the aisles is expected! Then again...it's not your checkbook! LOL

~L.

In my opinion, Mama Mia is definitely not a family show. The theme is mainly sexual relationships, straight and gay. And even thought the music is fine, and it is a comedy, your daughter won't understand the comedy because it is adult themed. If you want her exposed to the music, get the sound track.
There are some family theaters around that are okay to take kids to. Northville has a great one. Have fun!

J.,
I have seen the show and it is a fabulous experience. Yes there are adult themes, but the plot is very thin at best, basically trying to link ABBA song to ABBA song. There is a lot of dancing and a lot of loud music. If your kiddo loves music and dance she will probably miss most of the adult topics. Have you checked out commonsensemedia.org to see if they review the show?
Personally, if you don't want her seeing the show then don't let her go. You haven't seen the show and you know your child better than any of us. Encourage your EX to find a more approriate activity, she will be older and better able to deal with these situations in a few short years.
Let your instincts be your guide Mamma. If your gut is saying no then help Dad find an alternative. Good luck.

I love Mama mia. It's fast paced and fun to watch, but the story line is not one I'd want to explain to children. If they do take her, tell her it's funny story and just enjoy the dancing and the music. I would say better to try to let it go over her head than to try to explain the whole story. Since divorce is involved, she will understand two "dads", but three is a stretch.

Tell him to take your child to a show for children not a show aimed at entertaining adults. There is tons of kid-friendly entertainment for them to take her to. I have twin girls and I love kids but... if I go out for a relaxing evening without my kids I don't want your sweet little girl talking and jumping around in the theater. I am sure a 4 1/2 yr old would rather see Elmo, Disney, Wiggles, or whatever kid event is in town that weekend.

Hello J.. I've seen Mama Mia, and while it is really a good play, with singing and dancing and comedy, etc., I certainly would not take a child to see it. I feel it is an adult play with innuendos and sexual references and such. Tell your ex to wait until Big Bird or Diego comes to town. :)

I've seen Mama Mia and it is a nice show and I am looking forward to seeing the Movie with Meryl Streep as the Mom. But I don't know as I would take a 4 1/2 year old to go see it. It is a musical with the songs of ABBA. If they want to take her to show they should go to the Lion King or one of the other Children productions (names of others escape my mind at this time - but I know there are out there). I suggest they get a babysitter and load up on the disney movies and popcorn and go to the show by themselves.

Your ex sounds like my ex. Doesn't think things through. Why would you take a child to an adult production? That's just not appropriate. I doubt your daughter would get the gist of what's being portrayed but I also doubt she'll sit still for something she has no interest in.

I've never seen it but I have taken my kids to the Renaissance Festival and many of the shows are very provocative in nature. They don't get the "sex jokes" at all. They just pay attention to the dancing or juggling or whatever else is going on. So I don't think you'd have to worry about THAT part of it. But going to the Renfest is different than going to a play. I would never take my kids to a play that wasn't age appropriate. What's the point in paying for something they won't understand (or SHOULD understand).

My husband saw it and said he definitely would not take our children to it. He was a little uncomfortable with some of it himself.

I haven't seen it either, J., but I would suggest your ex wait till he and his wife can go by themselves. If a 4.5 year old is wiggly for Wizard of Oz, chances are she'll wiggle out of boredom for something she isn't at all familiar with.

Let's break it down. Mama Mia is a musical based on ABBA songs. A 4.5 y.o. is not familiar with ABBA let alone the music. It's a story of romance. Probably still not quite her area of interest.

Just keep her home that night. I just don't see it. If there's a DVD of the stage musical, get it and watch it yourself. If she watches with you then she gets familiar with it. Or wait till the movie comes out. But it just isn't a general audience type genre or script.

I saw the show with my mom and we were very impressed. There are some adult themes but they are light as the music just makes it fun. I would suggest listening to the broadway soundtrack prior to going. You can make a judgement from that. Or enjoy the movie with your husband as a date in theaters, and rent it for your daughter at a later time.

I took my 3 year old to see Mama Mia... it was a great show. the subject matter was not inappropiate she wasn;t paying attention to what they were saying, she was caught up in the singing and the dancing. There wasn't anything inappropriate about the show. I wanted to expose her to the theatre at a young age, so she has seen a ton of Broadway shows and she is now 8 years old, no scars from the shows content. I think your daughter will be fine... if she gets to wiggling around; remember it's your exhusband and his new wife that have to deal with it, not you.

I have seen the theater production and while the music is great (gotta love abba) I wouldn't want to explain to a 4 year old why the mom doesn't know who the daddy is and how their could be 3. I have a 4 year old-- I know all the questions they can ask.

I don't think it is an appropriate subject matter for a 4 year old.

Why not got see Kung Fu Panda or Wal-E?

while the music is fun, the subject matter is pretty adult stuff. Go see Lion King, my 4 year old loved it, and I did too! (and not just in a "Oh that's nice" kind of way, it was awesome!)

I've seen the theatre production and although I love the music (ABBA music) and laughed my head off during the entire show... I would never take a child to see this. (movie or otherwise)

1) Adult themes and you may get questions you aren't ready to deal with.
2) In my opinion, unless it is something the child can relate to they are goingto get bored ... then you're sitting either in the lobby while your partner finishes it or you're wrestling and 4 1/2 year old trying to keep them in their seat.

If your ex wants to do something as a 'family' ... tell him to go to the zoo or something more child oriented.

Hi J.,
I wanted to do something special for my daughter when she turned 13, so we went to Mama Mia (3 yrs ago), I was alittle uncomfortable with the storyline as well. She enjoyed the music and said nothing about the storyline. I don't know if a 4yo. would even get it. I don't think she'll sit for it. It's not a kid show at all.....................................
If it was me I wouldn't wasted the money or the time. I say NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOo!!!!!

Hi J.-
Mama Mia is a wonderful show...but it will bore the tears out of a 4 year old. If she can't deal with The Wizard of Oz yet, she is definitely not going to enjoy 2.5 hours of songs she doesn't know. And there are LOTS of songs in that show!!!! (It is a fantastic, fun show...but way more suited to the moms in the crowd). Just my two cents.

I didn't monitor what my son watched as much at that age as I did when he got a little older. Although kids are smart, they could care less about certain things. I would be more worried about your daughter watching something like that if she were 7 when she understands a little more about life situations. I have never seen the show, so I can't tell you about it...but I think she would be fine. She may get bored and restless, but that wouldn't be your problem at the time lol.

It is not necessarily the subject matter that I would be concern with, but I do not seeing a 4-1/2 year enjoying it much. Maybe the singing, but the musical is about a woman who had a daughter that is about to get married and does not know out of three men who the father is. The daughter finds out about this from an old diary her mother had. She writes to all the gentleman, but do not let on why she was inviting them. There are a few humorous provocative moments, but I do not think a 4-1/2 year old would pick up on it. It is a very fun musical. You know your daughter better than anyone if she would be quiet and still long enough for something that will not keep her interest. Also take into consideration of the other patrons. The youngest child I saw when I went as about 12 or 13. Ask your ex to save his money in taking her. Go to the musical with his new wife and enjoy and take his daughter to another event they would all enjoy.

Um I haven't seen this but my Honey has been researching plays/musicals to see while he's in NY on his business trips. He's seen Wicked and will see Spam A Lot tonight. He has considered Mama Mia, but from everything I've read it is not appropriate for a 4.5 year old. If she couldn't sit through the Wizzard of OZ then this one she will be bored with plus the content will be way beyond her and as you said already you do not think it is appropriate for her either. Go with your gut on this one.

I have seen it more than once -- and the movie is somcing out this summer. If you like the music of Abba, I HIGHLY recommend it! If they want to take her, prepared that she is 4 1/2. I would think it would be ok. It is adult subject matter, but I think most of it will go over her head. There is a lot of dancing and fun music.
I personally wouldn't take someone so young, granted my daughter is 3, but we do listen and dance around to the soundtrack. I think it might b e alot asking her to sit that long, but I wouldn't worry about the content -- if they do take her, she could very well enjoy the sights and music.
I hope that helps!

I would never let my child see a movie without me seeing it first. It sounds like you are wise mom.You are doing a wonderful job. Keep it up and do what you think is right.

Hi J.!
Good for you that you are alarmed and concerned. You should be! After all... your sweet, precious, impressionable little girl is your responsibility and what goes into her mind ( conscious and unconscious) is a big deal! Most people don't realize what goes in must come out!
If you don't feel comfortable that your very young dtr. be exposed to such an immoral story line you have the right to friendly but firmly request your former husband to pick a more age appropriate , moral show! I would be very concerned to allow even my oldest, 11 yr old to watch this!
For movies.. I use www.pluggedinonline.com to review for content. It's associated with the reputable 'Focus On The Family' program!
Blessings, C.