One of the strengths of Sesame Street through its 28 years has been the ability to educate through entertainment.

This same principle has carried over to the traveling version of the show, Sesame Street Live, which opened its seven-show stint at the Bangor Auditorium Thursday night.

Let’s Play School, one of three different shows being performed at 150 venues across North America, once again made learning fun for the children and parents in the opening-night crowd.

The one big theme throughout the performance was that host Big Bird had nothing stored in his cubbyhole for Show and Tell. He spent most of the 90-minute show trying to decide what was most special to him so that he could display it at Show and Tell. He finally decided it was his friends.

The production was big on audience participation, as Big Bird got everyone clapping, stomping and oo-gaing on cue, early and often.

The show had a cast of 12, but focused on Big Bird, Bert and Ernie and Grover, who served as teacher because he had the cap and gown. (My 2–year old daughter was disappointed, as there was far too little Elmo).

Bright, flashing sets and lighting schemes and uptempo production numbers kept even those youngsters up way past their bedtime involved. By the end of the night, many children had made their way down to the floor, where they could dance, spin and clap to their hearts’ delight.

One of the evening’s highlights was a series of songs relating to the letters Q and U, including I Only Want to Be with U (Q), Side By Side, Til There Was U and Together.

Cookie Monster became a firefighter as the entire cast belted out Down on the Corner, a rewritten version of the Cree-dance Clearwater Revival classic.

Most importantly, the show brought the inanimate to life for the children. Where else are you going to see a dancing ear of corn or high-kicking fire hydrant?

Marring the event were concession stands flanking the stage on either side. Parents shell out enough to bring their kids to the show without having to buy $5 Elmo balloons or $7 character-topped flashlights.

But by and large, the evening brought the magic of Sesame Street alive for the children, giving them a night to remember.

Let’s Play School continues with shows at 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Friday, 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 and 4:30 p.m. Sunday. For tickets, call 990-444.