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The kids will giggle to Wiggles at MSG By CELIA McGEE DAILY NEWS FEATURE WRITER From l., Jeff, Gregg, Murray & Anthony of the Wiggles The laws of Wiggles World are strict and to-the-point: A Wiggle would never address the thousands of boys and girls who mob Wiggles concerts as "boys and girls." But he would feed roses to a dinosaur. He would never forget the hand gestures to "Hot Potato! Hot Potato!," a signature Wiggles song. But he would always run up through the audience to visit kids in the cheaper seats. Maybe that's why the Wiggles' first Madison Square Garden engagement, which starts today at the easy listening hour of 2 p.m., and runs for five days, is nearly sold out. MSG tickets are going for as much as $400 on eBay. "We always speak directly to the kids as individuals, rather than calling them 'boys and girls,'" says Wiggle Murray Cook "It makes them feel involved." The Wiggles are four former Australian rock musicians. Cook, Greg Page and Anthony Field have degrees in early childhood education. Jeff Fatt doesn't - parents like to think of him as the Ringo Starr of the group. He pretends to fall asleep at the keyboard so the audience can chant: "Wake up, Jeff!" Back to the rules: The reason they routinely head for the peanut gallery, explains Cook, is to make sure those who can't afford the expensive tickets don't feel left out. Prices at the Garden range from $15 to $65. Dorothy the Dinosaur loves eating roses, though the human backup dancer who plays her may not share her taste. Along with the other regulars - Captain Feathersword the nice pirate, Henry the Octopus and Wags the Dog - she just arrived in town by tour bus, which we'll call the Wiggles Wagon. Having sold 9 million concert videos, they've just sent "Space Dancing," their first animated package, to stores. They have the No. 1-rated show on cable's Playhouse Disney. On Nov. 27, the Wiggles will be in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. "That's one of the highlights," Cook says. "Walking down Broadway, we'll have to pinch ourselves." Originally published on October 31, 2003 |
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