Sunny Days Are Here Again

Wendi Kimura

Cookie Monster wouldn't stand a chance against the sophisticated gimmickry and gadgetry of digital and pocket monsters - and it is this lack of paraphernalia and pyrotechnics that wins him big points in the preschool set. A thoroughly uncomplicated character, he speaks in short sentences, sings songs, and simply can't suppress his love for the cookie. Two- and 3-year olds couldn't imagine a better friend. And I can't imagine a more endearing - or enduring - children's franchise than Sesame Street, home to the exact kind of people (and monsters) I want in my child's neighborhood.

Although our next-door neighbors are something of a monstrosity and do have a couple of creatures chained to their fenceless front lawn lush with dirt and dog doo, they lead more of a soiled existence than a smartly silly sing-along. We have learned to seek our entertainment elsewhere, and we welcome the opportunity to experience Sesame Street Live, featuring the show "Everyone Makes Music," this weekend at the Freeman Coliseum.

The show stars the ever-lovable Elmo and his best friend Zoe, the benevolent Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch (who bears a striking resemblance to one of my neighbors), bickering closet cases Bert & Ernie, and of course, Cookie Monster (crumbs and all). It also features Rosita, the only bilingual monster on the block. Other friends and homo sapiens make the musical sing with instrumental improvisation as the entire cast discovers sound.
Disproportionately larger than life - a 3-year-old Elmo is the same height as a full-grown woman - the show will raise a few inquisitive eyebrows, it may even terrify some children, but it is all in good, clean, educational fun. Bring da noise.

SESAME STREET LIVE: EVERYONE MAKES MUSIC
7pm Friday, March 1
10:30am, 2pm & 5:30pm Saturday, March 2
1 & 4:30pm Sunday, March 3
$12-20, $10 opening night
Freeman Coliseum
3201 E. Houston
224-9600 (Ticketmaster)