*Media Invite*
The March holidays are upon us!
The term has sped by and I’m certainly looking forward to waking up at a decent hour in the week coming forward, with the 6am alarm being deactivated for a while. Now let’s just hope the kids get with the programme.
This holiday promises to be a rather fun one with family time and play dates galore, just the way I like it. It certainly got off to a good start at Gardens By The Bay on Friday night with their March Monster Mash movie screening of Where the Wild Things Are. The book by Maurice Sendak is one of our favourites and we had missed its motion picture release some time back, so I was particularly excited about catching it on screen. Better yet that it was to be in the garden under the stars. Most intriguingly, it was to be a “drive-in” movie. But only for kids under 12 who got a cardboard car each to decorate and sit in.
Movie, with pizza and a cardboard car to boot? The kids were thrilled.
Hard at work designing their licence plate.
Contemplation.
In and out she climbed, while Noey totally made himself comfortable and didn’t move at all.
It was a beautiful balmy evening. We couldn’t have picked a better day for a picnic in the park. Just before the show, we were treated to a special children’s edition of Garden Rhapsody, Gardens By The Bay’s music and light show. The kids were very excited to hear lots of familiar tunes in the music medley, from Disney favourites like A Whole New World, Under the Sea, and Bare Necessities, to pieces from Carnival of the Animals — Aquarium and The Swan, to even the theme from Angry Birds. The supertrees put on a dazzling show.
And then it was time for the movie. I wondered how a really short picture book was going to play out into a full-length film. The answer was this interesting, thoughtful film that explores themes of family relationships, loneliness, and fear of change. In Where The Wild Things Are (the film), Max is a lonely little boy with an active imagination with divorced parents and an older sister would rather hang out with her friends than him. When he spies his mother with her new boyfriend, he acts up, causing him to get into a huge argument with his mother which ends with him fleeing the house. He then boards a boat and sails off through night and day and in and out of weeks to where the wild things are. Fans of the book would instantly recognise the different wild things, so faithfully reproduced are they that they literally look like the Maurice Sendak’s drawings come to life. These are no cute, cuddly monsters — no, wild things they are, and slightly scary, but in that way I feel they capture the true essence of the book. During this time on the island, Max learns about family and relationships in the parallels with his home life. It was certainly not a typical children’s film, and Mei, who was watching it on my lap had plenty of questions of why Max and the Wild Things were doing what they were doing. But I personally loved it. The issues are not neatly resolved, leaving room for plenty of thought and discussion. It is probably the first time the kids have watched a movie like that and I know Noey has been turning it over in his head as he has asked me several times to explain themes and scenes to him.
Certainly a great monster-y start to the March holidays! Unfortunately Friday’s screening is the only movie screening session on the calendar, but there looks to be plenty going on outdoors all around Gardens By The Bay this whole week. This best news: for local families visiting the conservatories, you get FREE ADMISSION FOR EVERY CHILD WITH EVERY FULL PAYING ADULT from Fri 13 March to Sun 22 Mar! There’s lots to do and here are some activities that I’ve got my eye on:
Puppet Show: Monster Mates
14 – 15 Mar 2015 | 11:00 AM & 5:00 PM
at the Children’s Garden
Monsters of all shapes and sizes are coming to delight you from every corner whichever way you turn! Come along to the Children’s Garden Amphitheatre and you’ll be surprised by colourful monsters, delightful performers, as well as catchy songs woven into a terrific Monster Tale. An entertaining and enchanting performance for the little ones and all in the family!
Interactive Storytelling: I’m A Fine Storyteller And So Are You!
14 – 15 Mar 2015, 21 – 22 Mar 2015 | 2:00 PM & 4:00 PM || 16 – 20 March | 2:00PM & 3:15PM
at the Flower Dome & The Canopy
This storytelling session will bring out the storyteller in you! Spin a monster tale or two, why don’t you! How this story develops and how it ends is entirely dependent on you and your brilliant imagination. You’ll jump in and learn to improvise – moving the story in unexpected turns.
Monster, The Epic Play
14 – 15 Mar 2015 | 7:15 PM – 7:40 PM
at the Supertree Grove
Are you ready for an epic show? If you have a wicked sense of adventure, a terribly brave heart, get ready to have fun!
Water Play Performance: Splash!
21 – 22 Mar 2015 | 11:00 AM & 5:00 PM
at the Children’s Garden
A baby fish is born – but he’s terribly monstrous-looking! The ‘little monster’ makes its way, at first all by his lonesome self, and then encountering the monstrous elements in the water. Watch how the little ‘monster’ turns into quite a little hero and shows everyone how life has a way of turning things around. Take in an empowering tale and meet creatures of all kinds splashing about in the water! And hey, you can join in too!
Make Me A Monster Workshop
21 – 22 Mar 2015 | 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
at the Cannonball Room
Give the whole family a monstrous make-over in this costume-making workshop! Join in for a wild rumpus around the Supertree Grove for some inspiration then learn how to turn simple household objects and recyclables into awesome monster costumes for the whole family! (Registration required by 16 Mar 2015.)
Monster Family Parade
21 Mar 2015 | 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
22 Mar 2015 | 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM
at various locations
Want to join in a Monster Parade? We bet you would! Come dressed up as a Monster Family and join in the mass songs and dances! And if you survive the crazy fun, you might just win an award for being the best-dressed Monster Family! For some instant Monster accessories, come on down to the Monster Craft booth, or if you are up to the challenge, sign up for the “Make Me a Monster Workshop”. Friendly folks will help you whip up DIY costumes for you and your family.
SSO @ Gardens by the Bay
22 Mar 2015 | 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
at The Meadow
Pack your picnic baskets and relax at The Meadow for an evening with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. As part of SPH’s Gift of Music series, join Associate Conductor Jason Lai and the SSO as they present a selection of music rooted in love and fantasy at Gardens by the Bay. Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake is instantly recognisable while the composer’s Sleeping Beauty Suite will appeal to younger audiences. Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet Suite remains one of the best-known musical interpretations of Shakespeare’s tragic love story, while Stravinsky’s The Firebird marked the composer’s breakthrough to become one of the most influential composers of the 20th century.
There’s also face painting and bouncy castle fun on-going this week so do check the Gardens By The Bay Calendar of Events for more details!
Have a great weekend!
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