Boom! Kapow! BAM! ~ Marvel Universe Live!

Editor’s Note: Framingham Patch and Petroni Media Company sent a Framingham mom and son to opening night of the live-action superheroes show on Thursday, Aug. 27.

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By Samantha McGarry

At Worcester’s DCU Center, Good battles Evil – and I’m here to tell you that Good prevails.

Worcester is hosting Marvel Universe Live! through Sunday.

Twenty-five of your beloved Marvel superheroes are there: Iron Man, Spider-Man, Thor, Wolverine, Hulk and Captain America and their pals, facing off against their nemesis Loki and his evil cohorts in a epic, live-action, pyrotechnic-filled fight to save the world.

The show’s story is framed around the battle over the Cosmic Cube, the source of ultimate power and one of the most feared and coveted treasures in the Marvel Universe.

Loki, Thor’s villainous brother, is set on owning the Cube so he can clone its powers, inciting a threat that could “not only decimate Earth but also obliterate the Universe.”

Except the Cube is now split into three fractals which must be retrieved by the band of Marvel super heroes. Throughout each of the action-packed, stunt-filled scenes – lit by fireworks, flames, incredible speeding motorbike tricks, flying antics and the boom/bam/kapow special effects of every punch and kick thrown – our heroes battled their biggest adversaries including Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, Red Skull, Madame Hydra, Aldrich Killian, Electro and more.

Now, being a 40-something mom, I’m really not the target audience for this show – though major props to the moms there who donned their capes and Marvel t-shirts – but my 10 year-old son was with me, helping identify the heroes and explain the intricacies of the plot.

That is, when we wasn’t sat there mute, eyes and mouth wide open in awe and amazement at the action unfolding before him.

The father who sat behind me enjoyed the show, I think, even more than his 5-year-old companion with his whoops and cheers!

I can safely conclude that this show will appeal to kids from 5 to 55.

Before my son Gabriel fell asleep on the car ride home (the show ran till 9 p.m. and it took another 30 minutes or so to get out of the parking garage), I quizzed him so that this review would resonate with kids and Marvel fans across Framingham and beyond.

Here’s what he had to say:

Me: So, what did you think?

Him: That was just AMAZING! It was a show that every kid should see. But kids under 5 might need to wear headphones.

Me: What was the best part?

Him: All the explosions, they really surprised me! Also all the flips and tricks on the motorbikes. They went so fast; must have taken so much training.

Me: Who was your favorite character?

Him: Actually it was Red Skull. He’s one of the most dangerous villains in the world and has been my favorite since I was 4. His character took the longest to animate and then design his clothing.

Other things you should know:

• Food: If you are cool eating fast food, then grab a bite from the concession stands at the DCU Center. Note, you won’t find a vegetable in sight. If healthy eating is your thing, best to eat before the show. On a positive note, there was a booth selling hot fudge sundaes – pricey at $8 but, hello, four scoops of ice cream!
• Merchandizing: Be prepared to be bombarded with requests from your kids to buy this that and the other. The show program costs $20 and there’s all manner of other temptations your kids will bug you for.
• Timing: The show starts promptly at 7 p.m and ran till about 9p.m. with a 45 minute intermission (So, you can buy that hot fudge sundae.)
• Tickets: Marvel Universe Live! runs until Sunday Aug, 30 at Worcester’s DCU Center. Shows are at 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. tonight, August 29, and 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Sunday. Hurry up and buy your tickets online here or take your chances at the door. Tickets start at $20 and can go as high as $90 for VIP seats. Doors and box office opens one hour prior to each show.
  

Samantha McGarry is a Framingham-based working Mom. You can read more of her blog posts either here on Framingham Patch or on her own blog, Keeping the Glass Half Full.

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Photos supplied by Marvel Universe Live!