to want crying child removed from ballet audience?

[Lardycake]

I went up to London the other day to see the Nutcracker at the Coliseum. It was a matinee and advertised as a child-friendly performance, and the audience was packed with parents and children. It was noisy, there were sweets being unwrapped and handed round during the performance, and whispered running commenteries. I think it's a good thing to introduce children to theatre-going early, and was willing to tolerate such distractions. But one child began crying during the second act, and cried throughout several dances, including the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, yet its mother did not take it outside. It was incredibly distracting to me (it ruined my enjoyment, in fact), and must have been just as distracting to the dancers and musicians. Am I being unreasonable in thinking that this child should have been removed from the audience by its mother, or failing that, that both should have been asked to go outside until the child stopped crying?

[RockinRobinBird]

I think any parent with any sense would have taken the child out for a bit so YANBU. The only thing, I suppose is if they were with other children who couldn't be left unsupervised and would have kicked off if they were dragged out... On balance one child crying might have caused less disruption than two older ones having a strop, don't know really. Can't think of any other reason why you wouldn't step outside for a bit though.

[MumNWLondon]

I would have v pissed off too and probably after 10 mins would have asked a member of staff to assist.

Did you ask anyone. If not YABU.

If you asked and they didn't ask her to leave YANBU.

[dockate]

YANBU. Some people are just incredibly selfish. Child-friendly, yes, but that doesn't absolve a parent from the need to consider others.

[Lardycake]

I couldn't tell where the child was - it is a vast audience. Also, I'd have had to create a distraction myself by going to find a member of staff, and would have missed some of what I'd come to see. I started this thread because I'm not au fait with modern audiences, and didn't know what is now considered acceptable. The child sounded as if it was no more than a baby and was bawling its head off. I did consider that perhaps the parent had other children there, but even so, thought it unwise to bring a child that young.

[curlymama]

YANBU. Older children or not, she was being selfish. If you take older children to a show with a younger baby, then the older children should be warned beforehand that they may have to leave if the baby gets too upset.

[domeafavour]

I'm sure I've seen this thread before, from the mother's pov?
it's very familiar

[Lardycake]

I haven't posted on here before about it. If you do find the other thread, please let me know.

I think I should write to the theatre with my POV, as someone said.

[MumNWLondon]

I think if you take a baby and older kids to the ballet/theatre/cinema on your own this is a risk.

I personally wouldn't do it. Would try and arrange to go with friends so older DC could stay in with friends and friend's mum if baby cried.

Otherwise you have to take older DC out.

[FuturePM]

YANBU I hate little bastards ruining things. If it's going to ruin it for other people, don't take children to it. Simple. Pantos are a little different as it's audience participation.

[wewishyouamerrylissiemas]

YANBU, although Im very that you went. Ive been desperately trying to get hold of a performance of the nutcracker, or at least a dvd of it for ds. he has totally fallen in love with it.

[CristinaTheAstonishing]

YANBU. Have taken young ones to "serious" ballets or musicals but always prepared to leave if needed. Only needed to do this once and could leave other two behind for a few minutes as they were older and sensible.

[Annya]

Of course she should have left! It is a shame if her older kids - if she had any with her - would have missed it but it is not fair on the entire rest of the audience to stay. Probably a bit ambitious to go with little ones and a baby by yourself.

[FabbyChic]

If you wanted to be uninterrupted you should have chose a performance where children were not allowed.

The whole idea of child friendly performances is so that those with young children can attend and not feel embarassed when their child cries, or makes lots of noise.

[LetThereBeRock]

I'm quite sure that it's not acceptable,even in a child friendly performance,to allow that level of noise to continue.

People have paid to hear the music,and see the show,not to listen to a crying child.