Where-To-Go Wednesday - Modern Pinball NYC & Matilda

We were given free passes to Modern Pinball NYC for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

What:  Modern Pinball NYC

Where: 362 3rd Ave.

             New York, NY

Who: All ages

Mom's view: If you like to play pinball, you will love Modern Pinball NYC. Even if you don't like to play pinball, it is still a really fun place. It is like a museum of pinball. They have some really unique and interesting pinball machines from all different eras. Our favorite was a Wizard of Oz pinball machine complete with a house that can spin as if hit by a Cyclone, scary looking trees, and ruby slippers as flippers. The game actually plays clips of the movie as well. Other pinball machines available include ones based on CSI, The Walking Dead, Terminator, Avatar, Monopoly and The Simpsons. Modern Pinball NYC is not just for adults and big kids. Stools are available so smaller kids can reach the games. Another great thing about Modern Pinball NYC is that you don't have to worry about scrounging for coins or buying endless tokens to play. You pay for the amount of time you want to play and you have unlimited play for that time period. You can even leave and come back and the period of time you were gone will not count as part of the play time you paid for. Modern Pinball also offers birthday parties as well as science lessons for schools and camps during which classes will actually be able to see and examine an opened pinball machine. Modern Pinball is open every day from 11:00am to midnight. For more information go to 

 http://www.modernpinballnyc.com/.

 

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What: Matilda the Musical

Where: Shubert Theater
             225 W. 44th Street
             New York, New York

Who: 6 and up

Mom's view: Matilda is not the best show I have ever seen. However, there is a lot to like about it. The acting is good. The singing is good. A few of the songs are even memorable, a rarity in this day and age. I specifically like Naughty, When I Grow Up and Revolting Children. Naughy is really fun song despite the title. When I Grow Up is both sweet and sad. Revolting Children is a rousing anthem. The set dominated by giant scrabble tiles is unique and interesting,  There are a lot of comedic moments in the show. The character of Matilda is inspiring in the way that she ultimately manages to thrive no matter what.  However, despite, the likeability of the main character, this is not at all a bright sunny musical. Those who like their entertainment a little bit darker will  probably love Matilda. Those who have read the book or seen the movie and enjoyed them will probably enjoy the show. The show is a bit darker in tone than either the book or the movie, however. I would not recommend  it for very small children or those who are easily frightened especially if they are unfamiliar with the story. On the whole, the show is more enjoyable if you are familiar with the story before you go.  Not only because it is less likely to be frightening that way, but also because sometimes the English accents are hard to understand. Over all though, somehow the show was not like I thought it would be. I really expected to enjoy it a lot more than I did especially considering all the accolades the show received including 12 Tony nominations and 4 Tony wins. The show also won a special Tony Honor for Excellence in theater for the four young girls who initially played Matilda as well as two Drama Desk Awards, a New York Drama Critics Circle Award and a Theatre World Award. For more information or to order tickets go to http://us.matildathemusical.com/.

And that's Mom's view. Tune in to tomorrow's Talking Topics post for more about Modern Pinball NYC and Matilda.

photo credits: All Matilda pictures by Joan Marcus