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AIBU?

Singing along at a musical to cause such upset?

871 replies

cantbeatfreshsheets · 20/11/2019 14:45

I went to a musical yesterday with my parents & sister to celebrate my mums birthday. We had a really nice day & this was the last thing we had planned. Arrived a few mins late and got to our seats with no problems.

After about 20 mins in. A catchy song came on. It was Tina Turner. My mum sang along for a couple of times during the chorus. It was hard not too. The whole show was about her being oppressed. Which is exactly how we felt after what happens next.

The lady in front turned around. Looked at my mum & said could you please, then used her hand against her mouth to gesture my mum to zip it 🤐 very passive aggressive.

Mum looked at us as if to say. What the F**
Anyway. She said I'll have to speak to her at the interval. Meanwhile I just thought what a spoilsport?!?! If you can't sing along at a musical what's wrong with the world. It's not like she was singing at the top of her voice???

It resulted with the lady in front going to make a complaint about my mum as mum tapped her on the shoulder and said during the interval How dare you tell me how to behave. My mum ended up going to see the manager herself where the other women was acting like we were trying to victimise her for not being happy against us telling her it was a free country. They said we were aggressive and being unreasonable?!?!

She said. It said on the way in you can't sing. We said. Well we didn't see that notice as we were late. We ended up leaving as my mum was so cross. There was a slight scene. The other woman was behaving like a child in my opinion. Has the world has gone mad.

My sister and I told her that she had spoilt our mums birthday and She was clearly enjoying playing the victim. I think she was probably shocked we confronted her over it.

We left. Were we being unreasonable? Or has the world gone crazy? I'd love to hear you're thoughts.

OP posts:
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Wiifitmama · 20/11/2019 14:47

You are being very unreasonable. I go to musicals all the time. I pay to hear professionals sing, not audience members. I would have been very upset if someone behind me sang along and would also have complained. If your mum wants to sing along, buy the soundtrack and do it at home.

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Halleli · 20/11/2019 14:47

You were being very very very unreasonable. And so rude.

I go to a musical to hear the actors sing. Not run of the mill people with terrible voices.

If you went to see a play that you were familiar with, would you recite the speeches along with the actors?

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TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 20/11/2019 14:47

If there's a sign aying don't sing then you shouldn't sing.

I love a sing-a-long, I'd be bummed. But I'd obey the sign.

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Brimful · 20/11/2019 14:47

It said on the way in you can't sing

In that case, YABU. It's sad that your mum was upset, though.

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Goawayquickly · 20/11/2019 14:48

I go to hear the cast not your mum. I’d be really pissed off to pay all that money and have to listen to the audience warbling. It’s the theatre not a rock festival.

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plunkplunkfizz · 20/11/2019 14:48

You’re being totally unreasonable. People have paid to watch professionals sing, not your mum. If someone had to ask me to zip it during a performance I’d be very embarrassed, not having a word with them. And I certainly wouldn’t want my children getting involved. Utterly lacking in class, all of you.

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Thehop · 20/11/2019 14:48

Yeah I’m sorry, I think your mum was unreasonable to sing at a musical.

I have very little spare cash, but buy tickets once a year to a show because I love them. I pay to hear a professional not someone’s mum.

She could have been more polite but perhaps was keeping short and sweet?

Sounds like you made a lot of effort for your mum but she was in the wrong, as was the scene you caused.

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araiwa · 20/11/2019 14:48

This reply has been deleted

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IndigoHexagon · 20/11/2019 14:49

It’s theatre etiquette I’m afraid, you don’t sing along at musicals unless it’s specifically encouraged, and there would be no mistaking if you should or not. You go to the theatre to hear the professionals sing, not the audience.

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FenellaMaxwell · 20/11/2019 14:49

Have you and your mother never been to the theatre before? I don’t understand how people can get to adult age without understanding how it works otherwise. Confused

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plunkplunkfizz · 20/11/2019 14:49

OP flouncing off in 5, 4, 3, 2...

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ViaSacra · 20/11/2019 14:50

Your mother was being totally unreasonable to pay along. People have paid to hear professionals sing.

And are you always that confrontational when someone makes a very reasonable request?

You and your sister need to grow up. Tapping her on the shoulder during the play to object? How selfish are you - you must have ruined the first half for everyone sitting near you.

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hiphiphoorayback · 20/11/2019 14:50

A lot of musicals let you sing the last encore number. We all stood up to Joseph at the end the whole theatre!

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Everythingmagnolia · 20/11/2019 14:50

YABU

Were you so late that the show had already started?

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ElusiveOrangeTwirl · 20/11/2019 14:50

There was a similar thread on here a couple of months ago, and the consensus was as it is here - people pay to hear the cast sing, not some audience member. If it's a sing a long show and is advertised as such, sing away, but otherwise - pipe down.

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Elphame · 20/11/2019 14:50

I go to hear the cast sing not some person behind me who may or may not actually be able to sing. A lot of people overestimate their abilities. Unless of courseit's one of those "singa longa" ones where audience participation is encouraged.

I' have been annoyed too as it would have spoilt my enjoyment . I probably wouldn't have said anything but I'd have thought plenty.

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hiphiphoorayback · 20/11/2019 14:50

And sang/ shouted the song!

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Mrsfs · 20/11/2019 14:51

Yabu. It really spoils the show when you can't hear the actors/actresses sing because members of the audience sing along. She may not have been singing at the top of her voice but it was obviously loud enough to be heard.

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ViaSacra · 20/11/2019 14:51

Plus you were late, so would have disturbed everyone when the musical had already started by having to make them stand up so you could shuffle to your seats.

Does your family ever consider the impact your actions have on others?

Because from your OP it really seems to be all about you.

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BrightonBB · 20/11/2019 14:51

YABU - sorry but like others have already said I pay to hear professionals singing not your Mum.

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schafernaker · 20/11/2019 14:51

I always fall out with DH when we go to musicals and he attempts to sing along! Sorry I agree I pay to hear the pros!

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MrsMaiselsMuff · 20/11/2019 14:51

I'd be cringing at your mum's behaviour.

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PositiveVibes11 · 20/11/2019 14:51

Unbelievably rude and ignorant!

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Picklypickles · 20/11/2019 14:52

YABU. Very unreasonable. Theatre tickets are an expensive treat for most people, when my mum took me and my daughter to see Matilda the Musical it cost £300 for tickets! I'd have been furious to have had to listen to someone in the audience warbling away behind me. If you want to sing go to karaoke bar or stay at home.

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Batqueen · 20/11/2019 14:52

So you were already the annoying latecomers who disturb everyone by coming in after it starts and then decided to be even more annoying by singing along when everyone has paid to hear the actors and to top it all of you were aggressive when told to pipe down and follow the rules?

YABVVVU!

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