KIDS THESE DAYS:

The Newport-Mesa area has many opportunities to become culturally enriched. We have museums, historical societies and of course, the world-class performing arts complex near South Coast Plaza.

The Performing Arts Center, the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall and South Coast Repertory are our Lincoln Center, offering a wide range of productions, many with affordable seats.

That affordability is more important than ever, for as the recession continues, expenditures for the theater and concerts will decline.

And that’s too bad, because these cultural events present a unique opportunity for kids to learn how to dress, talk and behave in a unique social setting.

The case in point here is our attendance Sunday at the 2 p.m. performance of “A Year With Frog and Toad.”

Last week, I reviewed the local production without seeing it, relying only on my memories of the Broadway version we saw almost six years ago.

My memory served me well, and I am happy to report that this production is excellent. If you have kids, grandkids, nieces or nephews, or even if you don’t, go see “A Year With Frog and Toad.” You will leave the theater feeling very good.

Oh, and when you leave the theater, don’t leave the theater, for if you stick around for just a few minutes, a wonderful surprise awaits you outside.

Inside, you will witness the friendship of Frog and Toad, one of whom is the industrious type, while the other proclaims after hibernation, “That extra month of sleep really makes a difference.”

In many ways, “Frog and Toad” is like the “Peanuts” comic strip: It may seem like it’s for kids, but there are lessons for adults, too.

The running gag about “snail mail” is a perfect example. I doubt that any 5-year-old in the audience understood the meaning of having a character dressed as a snail deliver an important letter, but it didn’t matter. To the little girl behind us, all that mattered was that the snail was going the wrong way, which she loudly proclaimed twice.

The audience was full of kids, as you may have figured, and nearly all of them were dressed up; that is, girls wore dresses and boys wore pants other than jeans.

That was very nice to see for a change. I’m not sure when it happened, but many years ago, it became acceptable for young adults to go to one of the performing arts venues wearing jeans or other casual clothes.

It’s not.

Yes, I suppose this could be the rant of a 50-plus guy who remembers how it was back in his day, but I don’t think so.

These shows are an opportunity for us all to dress up, and in doing so, we act differently, perhaps a lot more civilized than we’d otherwise be. It’s hard to do that when you are wearing what you’d wear to go to a sports bar.

The parents who dressed their kids up should be commended for setting this bar, particularly the grandmother who told me that she has been a subscriber to the “Theater for Young Audiences” for several years and that each show is a chance for her to take her granddaughter out.

At least one parent was not so well-behaved. The father of two who sat behind us not only spent some time texting someone during the performance, he also sneaked some coffee into the auditorium after intermission, despite a large sign asking patrons not to do so.

Nice examples to set, Dad. When your kids grow up and are texting while you’re talking to them, don’t wonder where the idea came from.

There are only 12 remaining performances of this wonderful show. Go for the fun, but go also for the opportunity to show kids that there is a time other than weddings and funerals when it is appropriate to wear a dress or a tie.

And remember to wait outside after the performance.

STEVE SMITH is a Costa Mesa resident and a freelance writer. Send story ideas to [email protected].