WE are visiting S.F. and would like to know opinions on whether we should go and see the show Beach Blanket Babylon . Any recommendations on seating etc would be great or information on the show as we don't really know anything about it. We are from Australia so the other question is, is it based on American places and people which sometimes makes it difficult to appreciate as you don't get the gags because you don't know what they are talking about. Would you see this show over a trip to Alcatraz.

Absolutely loved BBB--oh what fun!!! The costumes are worth the price of admission alone not to mention the "review". We sat near the back and felt we had great seats as the theatre is cozy--seating consists of small cafe tables and chairs. Hard to compare with Alcatraz as that is a whole different venue. The views of San Francisco to /fro are fantastic, especially at night, and the history of the island is fascinating. Do both and enjoy!

We loved the show, but being from Australia, you might miss some of the satire on current events that have taken place here.

Haven't done Alcatraz, but you might enjoy that more.

Being from Aus shouldn't keep you from doing both and enjoying them fully. In fact, you can do both in the same day.

For alcatraz you can reserve your tour on the grayline tours website. This will guarantee a time of your convenience including the boat ride and tour. Although it is run down, the prison does offer an interesting look at the history of criminal containment in the US. Plus, the boat ride gives you a great look at SF and the harbor sea life....it wouldn't be so popular a tour if it was that bad...

As far as BBB goes, the attraction and fun is based upon a quickly moving musical review, Our version was based on nursery rhymes and travel around the world.... the fun is in the increasing size and complexity of the headpieces worn by the players in the review... the finale is a stage filling 25 foot wide 8 foot tall headpiece worn by the Diva in the final number... most of the content is universal with only a few local or US references... I took my teenage children to the Sunday family show (no alcohol served) and they made it one of the highlights of their vacation.... be sure to book early and look for more information on their website and have fun!!!

It's silly and fun, especially if you like music and dancing. I liked my reserved seat on the balcony. If you watch international news, I'm guessing that you'd get 80-90% of the jokes. It helps that the actors wear big nametags telling you which character they are playing.

We prefer the cheapest seats, which are chairs in the orchestra. They are general admission, but the theater is small, so you can see the whole show from any seat. Orchestra seats put you more in the action that those in the balcony. There is no drink minimum. Have fun.

I would definitely reccomend BBB. I'm not a "musicals" person at all and I loved it. There's a lot of energy and the time flies. Haven't done Alcatraz but I always read that you should get the audio tape for your tour for more historical background.

I live up north from SF in Portland, OR so I fly down there a few times a year. Last year was my first time seeing BBB and my first visit to Alcatraz and I loved them both! My boyfriend is a bit anti-musical but he loved BBB as much as I did. It is good for a laugh. The history of Alcatraz is facsinating and the views are incredible. I agree with the previous poster. You can easily do both in a day. You can purchase your tickets for Alcatraz in advance at www.blueandgoldfleet.com and for BBB at www.beachblanketbabylon.com. All seats in the house are good seats. Have a great time!

There is no need to choose between Alcatraz and BBB, but if you must, choose Alcatraz. Also, purchase trasit passes (and map) for unlimited trips on cable cars, busses, etc.

We took a business group of folks from all over the world. I thought the Aussies would pee their pants, they were laughing so hard. If you know who Paris Hilton is or Bill Clinton, you'll get the jokes! I think the Japanese people had a harder time but they were laughing too. Very silly, but lots of fun.

Beach Blanket Babylon is well worth seeing, no matter where you are from.
My daughter and I saw the show last year and we both loved it. Be sure and make your reservations early , as it is a very popular show. You can see Alcatraz during the day and the show at night. Enjoy!

I dunno, I think you love it or hate it. Maybe I got influenced by the hype and expected something more?? Anyway, I'm from the US and didn't catch everything that they were referring to, either! It was a bit of a waste for me......

Thanks, Abigail!