Sorry Blippi, I know we’re probably not going to be friends after what I have to say about your latest stage show, but feel it’s my public duty to give other parents the heads up.
The orange and blue-loving YouTube entertainer and educator has practically achieved deity status among his pre-school audience over the past decade. Familiar with his online clips and cartoon spin-off, I thought I knew what I was getting into as my three-year-old and I settled down into our seats. Nothing however could have prepared me for the one hour and five minutes of pure hell that followed.
Things got off to an awkward start when Blippi’s “best friend” Meekah appeared on stage to kick off proceedings. She invited everyone to get up and dance, which not a single person in the sparse audience did.
The character is surprisingly underused, only appearing at the beginning and the end of the show. Blippi meanwhile is supported by a cast of “Blippi Pals” – nameless characters played by adults dressed in bright colours who prance around the stage like him and it just seemed weird.
If not teaming him with Meekah (whom they kept reminding us was Blippi’s best friend), puppets would have been a more obvious option for a children’s show aimed at kids from two to six years old.
There was no plot, it was like watching random YouTube clips of Blippi songs such as The Excavator Song and Dinosaur Song. At one point Blippi had both a monster truck and an excavator on the stage at the same time but I couldn’t tell you why.
For those wondering, the actors playing Blippi and Meekah are not the originals from the TV show, which added to the tragic nature of it all, especially for those prepared to shell out an additional £12.50 per person for a meet and greet experience.
During our performance kids (mine included) were clearly bored and the adults were all looking to one another as if to say “What is this?” as we all stoically declined further invitations to “get our wiggle on”.
The summer holidays are approaching, there’s a cost of living crisis and so many better alternatives that you and your family could be spending your precious time and money on.
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You also don’t want to get hit on the head by a £12 light up wand that you’ve felt pressured into buying as soon as you’ve stepped foot in the theatre because trust me, it hurts. I don’t regret the £15 glass of wine on this occasion though which was actually the same price as a ticket.
Blippi The Wonderful World Tour is playing at the Harold Pinter Theatre from 8 July to 7 September 2024.
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