“That Physics Show” was an authentic, family friendly show, displaying the laws of Physics with exciting experiments and a great attitude towards learning. I attended this show expecting an adult audience, and panicked a bit when more than 50% of the audience were children. The excitement and buoyancy of the demonstrator, David Maiullo, indicates that the show is meant for children, but quite the contrary. The show is kid-friendly though it goes through properties in the same way a physics class would, providing background information and displaying it in real time. Throughout the show, David Maiullo continuously expressed the importance of seeing things, and proving them, not just believing a statement’s truth at point value. He often asked the audience their thoughts on what would happen, and then again when he changed the conditions slightly. It got the crowd thinking critically about why and how things in our world occur. The audience was greatly involved- surprisingly even the adults who were constantly shouting out guesses. Maiullo chose his experiments artfully, deciding to demonstrate ones that would stick with the audience afterwards and guide their perspective on seemingly mundane everyday motions. The experiments were easily followed and fairly simple, many of which could be done at home on a smaller scale. Some, however, like the experiments with liquid nitrogen and a vacuum tube, did require special equipment which made the show more novel. Maiullo ignited the crowd with excitement and a thirst for more demonstrations, sparking a curiosity in the audience, especially the young members. The visuals he provided for the audience brought physics to life, clearly displaying the law and its properties in a fun way. His goal in educating as well as sparking interest was definitely achieved.
The show was nicely organized and logistically pleasing. It was an intimate show, with space for approximately 100 people, all able to see the experiments well. The show was 90 minutes long, and targeted many sections of physics, including motion, light, and sound. Having some background knowledge of physics is definitely not necessary, though it does add an extra appreciation for the experiments. Throughout the show I found myself making connections to things I had learned in my high school physics class. It was a rewarding experience to recall much of that information and see the facts come alive. One can also go into the show knowing nothing about physics and leave with loads of new information. “That Physics Show” can be a great resource to learn more, delving into a new topic without even cracking open a book.
This show is truly accessible by all-ages as the website claims, though you might feel more comfortable bringing a kid along. David Maiullo is extremely educated in the field, and is the right person to carry your interest throughout the show. He is upbeat, contagiously excited, and preaches important educational values. Curiosity is key in this show, and if you haven’t already got it, he’s determined to make you leave with it. I would recommend this show especially to families with children of varied ages.
