to gloss over during school productions?

[Ahardyfool]

I'm a glutton for punishment with two contentious (probably) AIBU posts in as many days but...

I've not missed a single school play in almost 15 years of my DC's schooling so it's not that I'm unsupportive but when I watched my DD's play this week I have to say I have zero idea of the story. I caught some of the punchlines - though OH was sat next to me chortling away so I may have missed a fair few - and I had a little tear in my eye at many of the performances by the children; their bright smiles and voices and shiny eyed enthusiasm gets me every time. But... most of the words I could barely pick out due to them not being well trained actors (understandably) and I struggled to follow the plot because of this and many factors. My attention span is not great when sat in a sweaty hall on a tiny plastic chair that reminds me that I probably have arthritis.

So AIBU?

I don't think so. As long as you weren't disturbing others (head back loudly snoring) and you were appropriately enthusiastic to your child afterwards then so what. You're right, the objective standard is low. We go for love. I write as someone who recently attended a Year 2 ocarina recital.

Yeah just turn up and clap at relevant bits. No one actually enjoys these things do they? Well to be fair the year 6 production I saw this year was actually watchable but they are a bit older and have louder voices

School plays are dire.

YANBU.

As a music and drama teacher who puts on countless school productions a year I'd say YANBU to gloss over as long as you are not loudly rude in the interval about your opinions about the perceived failings of said production. The productions at our school are inclusive-every child has a line/named part to play. This means that for every super confident narrator/Mary/Joseph, there are the kids who are amazing at maths but hate reading in public, those who are terrified and those who just would rather be playing football in the playground. We are damned if we do selective (Not giving everyone a chance/always giving the good parts to the same children) and damned if we don't (why isn't this consistently good?!).
So I do my best and put on productions each term and spend hours and hours and hours rehearsing with the children to try and do something nice for you and them.

So in short-doze off but be nice about it to the teachers.

Yanbu. DS had the main part in a reception play recently, and despite the fact that I was on the edge of my tiny chair throughout because it was my first school play, and it was all so damn cute, I have only the vaguest idea what was happening. There were insects. There was counting. Someone got rescued from a bad guy by DS method-acting all over the place and chewing scenery. One of the ants had an accident on stage.

I did super smiles and clapping but my ears kind of tuned out so hope that's ok. I totally appreciate the efforts of the staff and children it was just too much energy to try and follow along to be honest.

In my head I did cast myself as next year's director for entertainment but realised that I'd be absolutely disastrous in reality.

Super smiles and clapping is perfect! We have a rule in our family that you don't say anything negative about the event you've just attended until you've driven out of the car park! You never know who's standing behind you in the queue for the drinks and it's easy to put your foot in it.

Also objectively we music teachers know That The year 3 recorder ensemble sound horrific, we're not stupid. however we know how far they've come in a year, so it's all relative. It's the same as the year 3 football team-they wouldn't win at Wembley but they've made progress this year.

Cakes, my hat was always off to primary school teachers, but having seen their work up close for a year, I'm in awe. DS's teachers were brilliant. They were kind and funny and professional, and I would have gone out on the town with any of them at the drop of a hat. And that's even before I saw glimpses of them trying to cast this play and rehearse it. It was like Fitzcarraldo with five year olds.

Agree OP. But the last one I went to with a friend who seemed genuinely enthusiastic and enraptured by the whole thing.Made me feel a bit guilty.

I was blown away by the year 6 production I watched last week at my children's school. It was two hours of Romeo and Juliet. I thought it would be awful and a yawn fest, especially being a tiny inner city primary school. But the standard was exceptionally high and I heard every word. The children were brilliant, really brilliant and I don't say that lightly. I really enjoyed it.