To think that the parents whose toddler kept speaking loudly during Les Miserables should have done something about it?

[SweetestThing]

Leave aside whether a two year old (by the look of her) would follow anything about the show, or whether it's an appropriate show for her age, should they have taken her out when she started making a noise?

MN Jury, what do you think? It was a matinee performance, not the evening one.

YANBU.

Fair enough to the parents if they thought their DC could handle it so gave it a try but they obviously couldn't and should have removed them. It's not a pantoM

if it was so loud and persistent that it disturbed others,yes child should be taken out
at a matinee I'd expect some noise,some chatter but not full disturbance
others pay to not have enjoyment interrupted,I'd take my noisy child out

Was the film any good? Am wondering whether to go. Have seen stage production.

Yes they should have done something. In the past I have complained to staff about similar incidents. It is not fair on other people when kids are noisy, or adults chatting away.

Sounds like the parents wanted to see it so poor DC was just along for the ride. That is unfair to paying customers and to the poor DC who was probably very bored.

Any noise can be mildly irritating (especially if a very young child is present at a place that is arguably inappropriate for them) - but was it simply 'a noise' or persistent and disruptive noise?

At the very least, one of the parents could have walked to the back with the child and stood near the door with her so they could watch as much as possible of the film and made a quick exit when/if needed.

Of course they should have taken her out. No question.

It was the stage production, not the film - sorry, didn't mean to drip feed, but I guess it could make a difference because the actors could be affected by it too.

Oh, and in answer to earlybird, it was pretty regular, quite noticeable asking of questions type noise.

YANBU. At all. In the slightest.

Oh, right. I'd have taken the child out.

YANBU... twats.

I'd have been furious if I'd paid for tickets to see the stage show and there was a toddler chattering. Different if it was Chitty Chitty Bang Bang or something. I think I would have got hold of an usher and asked for them to have been removed.

Matinees are no cheaper than the evening performances so YANBU. The performers do expect a little more disturbance during matinees, and loathe them for that reason, due to children, school groups and deaf OAPs (who have a tendency to sing along loudly, bless them) but I'm one of those audience members that has 'words' with unruly punters, or parents of unruly punters, if they disturb my enjoyment of something that I've paid upwards of £40 to see.

Slightly OT - why the bloody hell does the UK have to wait until the middle of January for the Les Mis movie when the rest of the world gets it from Christmas/Boxing Day? I NEED to see it!

YANBU. If it was a stage show it's pretty disrespectful to the actors too (I'm sure they're used to it, but still), as well as being annoying to others in the audience.

I agree with whistling. The staff should not have allowed a toddler into a show intended for adults.

YANBU. Completely ridiculous to take a child of that age to Les Mis.

We went to the theatre for an evening performance recently, had the more expensive seats, and there was a very disabled lady (with LDs as well, I think) and her carer, behind us. Unfortunately the lady was not really in control of her own voicebox and she screeched and yelled through the whole thing. I feel awful mentioning it, obviously because she couldn't help it, and I'm sure she got huge pleasure out of the show, which is probably what the excited screeching was about.

But the tickets cost a fortune and we wanted to be able to hear it without constant interruption. Of course I could hardly complain, given that the lady was profoundly disabled and wheelchair bound, but I was really pissed off to be honest. I think perhaps there should be certain performances for people who, for whatever reason, may not be able to sit still or stay quiet throughout, and maybe the tickets could be discounted for that performance to entice people to fill the theatre up. For all other performances I think the theatre staff should be able to ask them to stay quiet or leave. And now I feel really bad for saying that.

I was very proud of my son though. He looked around, saw who was making the noise, and just politely ignored it, with the odd little smile and eye roll in my direction when it got really bad.

Having spent a slightly eye watering £85 per ticket for les Mis recently, I'd have been most annoyed.

I get a bit of a red mist in situations like this, and to my family's horror, would have gone and had a word with the parents.

fellatio, our local cinema does scream sessions, where parents can take babies and young children and no one minds if they make a noise, so that could work with people whose disability means they may not be able to avoid disturbing others, but it's uncomfortable thinking that somehow we are excluding them from ordinary activities. It's not easy, trying to find a balance between inclusion and appreciating that people have often paid a lot of money to see something and want to be able to do so in some peace!

I wish I knew the answer to that one.

I know, exactly. I nearly mentioned it on MN once before but I chickened out.

Don't get me started on this.
When you've paid a hell of a lot of money for the theatre you don't need a child ruining it for you.

The seat kickers, sweet rustlers and chatterers should not be there. So rude.