'Walking With Dinosaurs' live event big hit with kids of all ages

Millions of years ago, the Tyrannosaurus rex ruled the Earth, and Wednesday night was a return to form for the towering predator.

The vicious reptile was a dominating force in "Walking With Dinosaurs," a unique theatrical event that opened for a crowd of about 5,000 people Wednesday night at Van Andel Arena. The show runs through Sunday.

It almost seems cliche to peg the T-rex as the star of the show, but it didn't become one of the best-known dinosaurs by being dull. Those big teeth, the terrifying roar and teeny, tiny little arms; the T-rex is a fascinating creature, and the show's creators have done it justice with a state-of-the-art arena presentation.

More than a dozen dinosaurs get their time in the spotlight in this original stage show based on an award-winning BBC-TV series that first aired in 1999. The $20 million dollar production features 10 species of dinosaurs spanning the creatures' 200-million-year reign. The "cast" is a mix of huge, driver-controlled dinosaurs and smaller "suit" dinos.

It's an unusual project, with elements of education, drama, light comedy and "Jurassic Park" theatrics. Top-notch sound and lighting effects -- and some nifty staging with inflatable plants that appear to grow and die -- serve to enhance the presentation of the stunning dinosaurs.

The audience is seated on three sides of the bowl and the first few rows are closed off, slightly reducing the seating capacity inside the arena. The fourth side is closed off with two massive moving screens that open and close for the dino stars to enter and exit.

Part of the fun is the creative way in which each dino lumbers -- or sprints, or flies -- onto the stage for its appointed storyline. The audience is given time to appreciate the scale and magnitude of the reptiles and the humans who painstakingly recreated them for the behemoth show.

The only visible human star of the night is a "paleontologist," who serves as a tour guide, introducing the dinosaurs and giving quick science lessons that are informative and easy-to-understand. Special credit belongs to the unseen human stars who operate the huge dinos or leap around in the 40-pound raptor, baby T-rex and liliensternus suits.

The show is marketed as being appropriate for all ages, and seems to fit the bill. The closing scenes with the big T-rex, baby T-rex and two heavily armed herbivores were fairly intense and drew some cries from a nearby toddler, but a little well-timed humor quickly lightened the mood. For the most part, kids seemed enthralled with the dino action.

"The T-Rex was really impressive," said Nathanael Edwards, 11, of Grand Rapids.

The young dino-enthusiast said he learned a few things from the show and enjoyed the way the background elements combined with the dinosaurs.

"One of my favorite parts was the (Ornithocheirus) and the way it moved with the land (on the screen) as it flew," Edwards said.

Shelly Van Dyke, of Wyoming, and her husband said it was well-suited for all ages.

"The show was awesome," Van Dyke said. "I would recommend it to anybody. Take your children. Take your grandchildren."

Van Dyke said her young grandson -- who was seated elsewhere during the show -- was awestruck at the experience.

"He was glowing," Van Dyke said. "I've never seen him so excited." source>>>

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