to be confused why children cannot go for 35 minutes without food

[PrincessScrumpy]

I left dtds at home with dh and took dd1 for a treat to the theatre - Charlie and Lola. She loved it and each side if the interval was about 35mins. From start to finish, the 2 families in front of us passed sweets up and down the row. I just don't get it - the theatre isn't the cinema with popcorn, but I understand some dc may need the odd chocolate button as a bribe, but my dd sat and watched the show, then had ice cream in the interval. tbh I think the kids infront would have been fine without food but their mothers insisted on them having it. I just think it's unnecessary and bad etiquette but I'm probably a grumpy old woman.

Why did it upset you so much?

I think you are missing the point somewhat, OP. It wasn't about a need to eat, it was a treat.

I would imagine it went along the lines of... child rushes into theatre excited. "Oooh, mum, look at all the sweets, can I have some?" Mum is in a good mood and having a nice day out with the kids and says yes.

The same as when dd2 spots an ice cream van. She doesn't need an ice cream. It's not a meal. But if I am in a good mood, have money on me and she is behaving well, she has a fair chance of getting an ice cream, because I like to see her smile.

I'm with the OP. Sweets and ice cream as an extra treat during the interval fine, packets and passing stuff up and down while actors are on stage is not fine. It's irritating to others who want to watch without people heads bobbing around, whispered conversations etc. I also think it's disrespectful to the actors. Yes, it's a children's show - which is why each act only seemd to be fairly short - all the more reason to be able to sit and enjoy it for half an hour.

TBH I'm amazed at the number of people who think it's OK. We've had theatre visits spoiled by similar behaviour - it's a shame that people don't seem to consider the impact their bahaviour is having on others. That is basic courtesy and manners surely?

YABU

If your OP had been complaining about the incessant noise, people would have understood, although I still think it is to be expected at a children's show. I also never understand why people will not point out a problem if they have one rather than sit there silently fuming.

Your DD probably would not have passed out without her ice cream during the interval. She didn't need it. And you can bet there was another even smugger parent who saw you and thought, 'Gosh, imagine getting your child an ice cream at the theatre, you would think the show itself would be enough of a treat, why on earth feed your child something with little nutritional value when they are going to have a meal later'. Someone is always a better parent than you.

I don't think the OP is MASSIVELY upset, tbf.

I am sure she is not blubbing into her family sized box of maltesers (would make them v soggy if she was).

I am sure she would not never eat sweets in a theatre never.

And I think sweets are v jolly as a treat.

But perhaps in this case, the sweets became The Thing.

And instead of concentrating on the nuances of Charlie and Lola, it was all about the chocolate buttons. And the keeness of the parents to dish out the chocolate buttons.

Perhaps if the parents had given each child a packet of buttons and let them get on with it, the OP would be less irritated?

The mums did not need to take ownership of the sweet dishing out. But hey, perhaps they just wanted to feel Involved.

Doin
But if I am in a good mood, have money on me and she is behaving well, she has a fair chance of getting an ice cream, because I like to see her smile.

You made me smile with that - exactly!

Same here Wilson. I thought that was spot on too.

OP when I am at the theatre, I often have a glass of champagne before the show and then another during the interval. I don't need it. It's just...well...rather nice .

I love this idea that the theatre should be prim and everyone should sit in silence. Have you any idea what theatres used to be like? :o

Gwendoline, yes, and I'm quite glad that they're not like that now!

Very true. It's quite hard to clap and throw a tomato at the same time

But there's quite a difference between eating a chocolate (or sipping a glass of fizz) to chucking stuff no?

I wouldn't mind tomato-throwing, I don't think. It's popcorn-scrabbling, sweet-rustling, and above all people on their fecking smartphones that pisses me off.

Have you ever been to the theatre before?

Be it the West-End or a city theater's Christmas panto- PEOPLE BRING SWEETS AND GENERAL NICE THINGS. It's a treat. It's not just people spoiling their little darlings- I brought my own little bag of M&S Sherbet Lemons and some Malteasers when I went to see a show last week. It's normal!

YABVVVVVU

I'm another who thinks it is the height of bad manners to eat during a theatre performance (and that applies whether it's Charlie & Lola or Kind Lear at the RSC). It's distracting for other theatregoers and potentially for the performers. Drives me mad. Yes, theatres sell sweets but IMHO they're for the interval.

The worst experience I ever had of this was when I took my children to see the Gruffalo on stage and the family behind unwrapped their McDonalds when they sat down. For goodness sake- eat lunch before the show.

The fact it is a children's theatrical performance is neither here nor there. Taking children to public places like the theatre is also about teaching them how to behave in those places. OP- YANBU.

wordfactory- the difference with your quaffing of the champers is that it is happening before the show and in the interval of the show. Nice treat for you, yes, and doesn't disrupt your fellow theatre-goers. You wouldn't dream of taking a bottle into the show and opening it during the performance, would you?

And just because the consumption of sweets and other 'treats' at the theatre has become common-place doesn't mean it right. It is bad manners if it is distracting for the people round you and rustling, unwrapping sweet wrappers and passing bags of sweets up and down rows (accompanied by whispering) is annoying.

Someone eating sweets is going to distract the performers? Seriously?

Well said, Fayrazzled!

Sirzy- it is potentially disracting for performers, yes. But it's definitely disracting for those sitting around you. Seriously.

DisTracting.

I doubt the performers pay that much attention to if the audience are eating or not!!

I have been to the theatre many times and unless people are constantly unwrapping sweets and chatting about it I have never been distracted by it. Most people pick sensibly and take unwrapped sweets which unless someone is exceptionally sensitive is hardly going to cause any upset

fay this was Charlie and Lola!!!

And as for the champagne, yes you can take your drink through in many performances thses days.

I read that The Great Gatsby is going to take eight hours. I will need a whole bottle for that!!!

I'm with Fayrazzled here. And with the OP.

I have been to the theatre quite a lot (mainly before kids!) and have never seen people eating during the performance. You just don't...during a live performance. On the other hand I think it is acceptable at the cinema, obligatory almost .

Doesn't matter whether it is Charlie and Lola or a Noel Coward play, you don't eat during a threatrical production.

Incidentall, I took DS to watch Charlie and Lola too a few months ago when he was 3yrs , and he was told that the snacks we had with us were for the interval and it was bad manners to eat during the play. He was fine with that, and he even got an ice cream during the interval!

Infact I'm sure I have seen signs up saying not to eat during the production.

choc then why on earth do they sell sweets and drinks in the foyer?