The theater was packed with 3- to 5-year-olds ready to get their dance on with Bandit, Chilli, Bluey, and Bingo, and they weren't disappointed when the show kicked off the giant puppets of each character doing an extended version of the musical statues intro from the show.  The play included several intersecting plot lines, starting with the girls hiding Bandit's phone because they want him to play with them and stop scrolling. When Bluey gets mad at Bingo for copying her, Chilli, as always, gives sound mom advice about little sisters wanting to be just like their big sisters. And Bandit takes advice from Lucky's Dad about how to treat grubs in his lawn. The plots were less complicated than in the show, given the limited movement of puppets versus the nearly infinite action of animation, but still funny, heartwarming, and containing messages that were simple enough for even kids to understand.

The action of the play is created with giant puppets representing the dog characters, as well as surprise appearances from Chattermax (which yielded mass crazy dancing from the preschoolers), gnomes/husbands Gerald and Hecubah, and Grannies Rita and Janet. Some unique puppetry featuring bin chickens and shadows set the scene well at the start of the play. The entertaining and engaging puppeteers move the characters along to pre-recorded voiceovers, with the whole show lasting around 50 minutes with no intermission (so make sure your kids do a tactical wee first). The show ends with a giant game of keepy uppy with balloon balls thrown into the audience—super fun, but be prepared: you're unlikey to get to touch a balloon if you're in the balcony. While the show appeals to kids through early elementary school, the play is geared more toward the 3-5 crowd—it just didn't move fast enough for our seven-year-old. Our five-year-old, on the other hand, was sweating like Bandit after a run from jumping up and down and waving his hands in the air in the Chattermax mosh pit.

Bluey's Big Play is touring the U.S. with shows in various cities through late August 2023. In most cities, the show plays three times a day, so it's rarely sold out. You may want to check prices in your city before promising kids you'll go. While the cheap seats are often in the $20-$30 range in each location, the more expensive ones range from $75-$100, which may be a lot of dollarbucks to shell out if you don't have as much money as Uncle Stripe. Since some of the stops on the tour are close together, you may be able to find a better price if you're willing to drive an extra hour (i.e. we found some less expensive seats at the Milwaukee show, just 90 minutes from Chicago). Also, avoid a nap time show if you don't want to deal with a Flamingo Queen Muffin later. 

So, if you're a Bluey fan looking for some fun for real life, peel the sticky gecko off the ceiling and make your way out the door to Bluey's Big Play. 

All stage and audience photos are courtesy of the Bluey Facebook page.