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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think you shouldn't be allowed in to the theatre 30 mins late?

133 replies

MardyMarie · 29/12/2017 22:48

I took my DC to the panto today. There were two seats empty on our row and I knew it was fully booked so I waited 15 mins before getting new born DS to sleep; presuming the theatre wouldn't let people in any later and that those people may have been poorly. However, half an hour in a man and his son arrive and ask me to move to let them in. I asked him to go to the other side of the row as DS was sleeping but he kept talking and woke him anyway, before squeezing past and knocking my DDs popcorn out of her hands.

AIBU to think the theatre shouldn't have let him in that late as it's disruptive to both the audience and the performers? Fortunately I got DS back to sleep but that man disturbing us could have resulted in us having to leave.

OP posts:
Wineasaurous · 29/12/2017 23:09

Fun fact about panto:
Often the antagonist will enter from the right and protagonist from the left as it's less comfortable for western culture folk to move their eyes from right to left than it is from left to right thanks to the way we read.

Wineasaurous · 29/12/2017 23:12

My DD is autistic and loves panto, I didn't want her to have to miss out. DS slept through it and was in no way disruptive

So if DS had of cried or been disruptive you would have dragged your autistic DD from the show she so desperately loved and wanted to see? Or allowed DS to cry, moan, gargle, coo etc disrupting the show for those around you?

ButteredScone · 29/12/2017 23:12

Actually gobsmacked that you took a baby to the theatre and then think other theatre goers should work around that.

Er, YABU.

hmcAsWas · 29/12/2017 23:12

Yabu and extremely precious!

Sparklingbrook · 29/12/2017 23:13

Pantos are really LOUD. I wouldn't be able to relax with a new born. Plus if it did wake up and start screaming it's unfair on everyone else who has paid ££s.

I am sure the Daily Mail will love this though.

TheTasteOfInk · 29/12/2017 23:13

These are harsh replies. A newborn isnt a monster, they sleep and feed with a pathetic cry, not disruptive.

I dont think anyone was bu actually.

Samcro · 29/12/2017 23:14

HE'S BEHIND YOU
(sorry had to say it)

Sparklingbrook · 29/12/2017 23:14

I wish my two had pathetic cries as newborns. Envy

RestingGrinchFace · 29/12/2017 23:17

YANBU. I am actually shocked that people think it's ok to arrive late and expect to be let in (even if it isn't your fault although let's face it, unless there has been a traffic accident it is probably your fault for not allowing yourself enough time). If you are late then you buy yourself a glass of wine and wait for the intermission.

Fairenuff · 29/12/2017 23:17

Haha Sparkling I was thinking the same thing. This is the sort of thread that the Daily Mail will pick up as an easy story.

bruffin · 29/12/2017 23:18

Are you the poster who was always complaining about your dh?

Sparklingbrook · 29/12/2017 23:19

It's always a bit slow news-wise between Christmas and New Year Fairenuff, a topical dilemma like this is a gift. Grin

Rightpivotturn · 29/12/2017 23:20

I work FOH at a theatre. Policy on latecomers is decided on a show by show basis. For panto which we are currently in, it's a complete free for all with kids dashing to the loo, being sick, being frightened of the baddie etc plus all the audience participation - the whole thing is hugely enjoyable chaos. Today's shows were even more disrupted as heavy snow this morning disrupted travel and this meant we had lots more latecomers than usual. I'm quite staggered at the idea of anyone expecting a new born to sleep through a performance.

Original poster
MardyMarie · 29/12/2017 23:21

I doubt there's only ever been one of those on here bruffin Grin

OP posts:
PricillaQueenOfTheDesert · 29/12/2017 23:21

I hate late comers disrupting everyone else at the theatre. I hear what you’re saying MardyMarie and agree with you, but I’m struggling with how the lady with the newborn baby at a theatre can even consider trying to take the moral high ground. It was only panto so nobody expects the same etiquette as if you was at Jersey Boys or Sunset Boulevard, you knew that, that’s why you took a baby, so don’t expect everyone else to treat it seriously when you didn’t.

SlightlyJaded · 29/12/2017 23:22

OP - you asked the question and you have had an answer.

That's how AIBU works.

But you are doing the thing where you just keep defending your decision - despite numerous YABU responses - so what's the point.

ps. YABU

Original poster
MardyMarie · 29/12/2017 23:24

But he did sleep through it, Right. Boob in mouth = quiet baby. I've always taken my babies to the theatre with their siblings and not once have they caused us to have to leave. Why else do babes in arms tickets exist?

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 29/12/2017 23:24

I can't imagine taking a newborn and all the newborn stuff with me to the theatre. There was barely enough room to put my handbag under the seat last time I went.

gillybeanz · 29/12/2017 23:24

I don't think newborns should be in the theatre.
I hope he had ear defenders on, it's really loud for babies.
Mine came to work with me a couple of times and the mw insisted when I asked about the decibels.

Beakyplinders · 29/12/2017 23:24

YABU.

Hth.

bruffin · 29/12/2017 23:25

Yes but only one kept being told they were very unreasonable, even through several namechanges.

RebeccaWrongDaily · 29/12/2017 23:25

we went to the theatre today, advised aged 8+

some absolute twat parents on the front row let their maybe 18months to perhaps 4 year old daughters shout out, climb onto the scenery etc etc (was in studio of a theatre so bleacher seating)

I was going to complain when I left but thought that actually the theatre should've stopped them going in.

utterly thoughtless to take a baby to a theatre.

brizzledrizzle · 29/12/2017 23:26

A few years ago I read a local news item about a woman who had a baby at the panto, what a story for them :-)

Sparklingbrook · 29/12/2017 23:27

Oh no she didn't brizzle. Grin