Today, we shine the spotlight on SeaWorld Orlando's Clyde and Seamore Take Pirate Island, which joins the field as the 10th seed in the Best Live Show bracket.
Playing in SeaWorld's Sea Lion and Otter Stadium, the show features - you guessed it - sea lions and otters (and a walrus). The current version, Clyde and Seamore Take Pirate Island, tells the story of lost treasure, pirates, and shipwreck... oh, who cares, really? The animals and trainers are going to mug for the audience, at some point, the trainer's going into the drink, and everyone sitting in the first few rows of the stadium is gonna get wet.
Sure, it's a formula, but when one works as well as this one, why mess with it? Take a look:
(You can watch part two and part three, as well.)
Many fans advise arriving early for the show, not only to snag good seats (inside or outside the splash zone is your choice), but to watch the mime who gets big laughs mocking late arrivals as they enter the stadium. Here's a life tip, folks: If you walk into a theater or stadium and see a mime in the aisle with you... walk away, as quietly and drawing as little attention to yourself as you can.
SeaWorld San Diego's "Clyde and Seamore" show is Sea Lions Live, which spoofs current TV shows, and San Antonio's show is Clyde and Seamore's Cannery Row Caper, where the crew tries to solve the mystery of missing fish at a local cannery. (Longtime readers might remember that I had a tiny walk-on role in a Clyde and Seamore show in San Diego in 2008.)
Let's hear your thoughts about Clyde and Seamore, in the comments.
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The mime alone is worth watching, and although the performance features many of the corny gags theme park shows are known for, it delivers them with a surgeon's precision. Sure, it may be more incredible to watch a dolphin or whale act on a human's whim, but it's not nearly as entertaining as this. Sea lions and otters were born comedians.
Oh, and walruses. Also very funny.
67.8.63.61,
The animal behaviors and gags aren't the things to see over and over, but how the trainers handle whatever the animals throw at them. The shows that the animals do what & when they are supposed to go quick but are always the most boring ones. I even heard of a show the trainers did all by themselves one day because all the animals were in a rut and the stadium was packed - the show must go on.
The question is, when are they ever going to be allowed to swap this show out for another one? The San Diego sea lion show has changed three times in the last six years and C&STPI has been going strong for a total of what 14?! They were supposed to get a new show after Blue Horizons went in, then it was Believe instead, followed by A'lure. Sheesh - enough already give em some new material to work with PLEASE. I'm just hoping there isn't any cirque elements or all schmaltzy. It needs to stay true to the animal behaviors and stay the comedy relief that the show is.
Robert,
have to concur - Sea Lions Tonight is the best! IF anyone is ever at SW in the summer, you must stick around for this.
Noremac
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