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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

My DH and I are tall and dared to go to the theatre.

411 replies

MangoSeason · 08/04/2021 08:48

I’m 6 ft 1. My DH is 6 ft 4 and very broad. We went to see Hamilton at the Sydney Lyric Theatre yesterday and were subjected to a tirade of passive aggressive invective by the lady sitting behind us, for the whole show. The Lyric Theatre has very roomy seating, but a very low incline. This is beyond our control. We were not trying to thwart the woman! We were very close to the stage and everyone has to look up here anyway. I don’t think she missed as much as she wanted to make everyone around you believe. The lady behind me offered to swap with her but she loudly announced that “she is just as bad”. Sorry for my tall self exiting in your world.

I mean I do get it. It would be frustrating to be seated behind a couple like us. However, I’ve been at shows that I have looked forward to for years and have dealt with unexpected issues- the man with the very loud vocal tics two seats down, the lady who had to go to the toilet 6 times in a show. It is frustrating but I don’t carry on like a pork chop and I certainly don’t direct any invective towards the person for issues beyond their control. I may privately sigh or have a whinge afterwards but that’s it. DH and I can’t shrink!

We are both used to the under breath FFSs when we sit at shows. We really try to avoid sitting in front of people if we can. But at a sold out show with allocated seating, we are not doing it to upset you. We weren’t wearing hats, wearing scarves or big collars or high hair styles. We were simply existing, sitting quietly within our allocated seats. It was a matinee show with dozens of pre-teen kids around us. They would have had the same issue as the woman and none of them were carrying on at all. They were just enthralled, like everyone else.

Fully prepared to be massacred by the shorter people now!

OP posts:
Daphnise · 08/04/2021 22:29

In addition to tall people being a nuisance at theatres, what about people with very large heads?

They are also a great nuisance.

You'd really think this type of person would be more considerate, or that theatres could do special sessions for fat, tall, big heads etc.

Goldieloxx · 08/04/2021 22:34

Theatres you can't do much, it does annoy me when tall people push to the front of standing gigs though, they should stand towards the back

79andnotout · 08/04/2021 22:36

Yanbu. I'm five one and don't go to the theatre for this reason. I go to gigs where I can at least move around the tall people.

Osirus · 08/04/2021 22:50

I voted YABU, simply because I’m really short and it drives me mad when I can’t see! It’s my issue, not theirs, so YANBU really, it’s just makes me irrationally frustrated.

If I find that I’m sitting in front of a child, I always slump down in my seat though, even if that means I can’t see as much.

Joeblack066 · 08/04/2021 22:55

I’m just envious you were in the room where it happened! 😁👍🏻

Natsel84 · 08/04/2021 22:56

Don't carry on like a pork chop...
I shall use this phrase forever more .
Cheers op
😁

Swimmum78 · 08/04/2021 22:59

Slightly irrelevant but I once got irrationally enraged by a man sat next to me silently stroking his goatee beard throughout the final act of othello. I was 6 months pregnant at the time so prob hormones.

TheTeenageYears · 08/04/2021 23:22

I think our tall family need to watch in Sydney. The London show is in the most fabulous theatre but the seating is for absolute midgets.

Glad to hear you enjoyed it, it is hands down the best show ever!

blueshoes · 08/04/2021 23:29

I think you would have been upset if the situation was reversed.

This

Homehaircuts · 08/04/2021 23:46

I'm short and I would probably just ask to use one of those child booster seats they have in cinemas if I was sat behind you Grin She should of booked front row seats if she didn't want to run the risk of not having a perfect view.

CounsellorTroi · 08/04/2021 23:55

She should of booked front row seats if she didn't want to run the risk of not having a perfect view.

This can be easier said than done. Front row seats aren't reserved for short people and they sell very quickly!

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 09/04/2021 00:29

Slightly irrelevant but I once got irrationally enraged by a man sat next to me silently stroking his goatee beard throughout the final act of othello.

Was he trying to indicate his disbelief of the veracity of the goings-on of the entire act? Do people even do that any more or am I very old? Grin

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 09/04/2021 00:33

She should of booked front row seats if she didn't want to run the risk of not having a perfect view.

That's it, though - seatS (plural). Most families/groups won't consist of people who are all the same height. Also, it depends on the venue, as I've been to some where the front row is so close to a high stage, you'd have your nose touching the edge of it if you're under 5'8". Not that taller folk will see anything much more exciting than a load of ankles (knees at best), mind....

PeggyHill · 09/04/2021 02:59

Most theatres I have been to have ridiculously tight seating. I'm not tall or overweight and I find them to be a squeeze.

I think it's because they tend to be very old buildings, and people have gotten bigger. I mean fatter (although that's probably part of it) - we are taller/broader than our ancestors.

PeggyHill · 09/04/2021 03:00

*I DON'T MEAN fatter

Oops

Butwasitherdriveway · 09/04/2021 06:52

How does a pork chop carry on?

waterlego · 09/04/2021 07:20

It hisses and spits in the pan.

LST · 09/04/2021 07:30

@blueshoes

I think you would have been upset if the situation was reversed.

This

But what should op have done about it? The woman behind didn't need to share her annoyance
Butwasitherdriveway · 09/04/2021 07:30

Oooh

Peachylovesherpoochy · 09/04/2021 07:39

It’s nice to find some fellow tallies here. I saw Hamilton last Jan before everything shut down and it was epic - just as-well as I was literally folded like origami into the seat and had dents on my knees for weeks (6’1) DH is just under 6’5 and won’t come to the theatre anymore as he just doesn’t fit (that’s his excuse and he sticks to it)

For those on the thread that think tall people may not be aware that we are tall, I can only say that I am aware - my whole life everyone has made me aware that I am tall, but not just tall, HUGE! MASSIVE! You’re so BIG!! So yeah, I know I am tall, I don’t deliberately go blocking peoples views but if you are assigned a seat what can you do? I’d have told the moaning mini (get it!) to get a booster seat....

RampantIvy · 09/04/2021 07:51

I tried watching a filmed version of Hamilton, and just don't get the love for it, even with the subtitles on. Sorry.

Butwasitherdriveway · 09/04/2021 07:57

@RampantIvy

I tried watching a filmed version of Hamilton, and just don't get the love for it, even with the subtitles on. Sorry.
Wash your mouth our!
fizbosshoes · 09/04/2021 07:59

As a shortie, I'm almost glad I cant afford to go to the theatre very often (I've literally been about 3 or 4 times in my whole life)
And I choose seats based on price and availability, and hope for the best. We have been to our local panto several times and I always try to get front row of the upper circle there.
Seats being not steeply banked enough is a problem, in theatres, but if you've ever been anywhere the back of the 02, you wont have a problem seeing but the steepness of the seats takes a few min to get used to!

littlepattilou · 09/04/2021 11:40

@fizbosshoes

As a shortie, I'm almost glad I cant afford to go to the theatre very often (I've literally been about 3 or 4 times in my whole life) And I choose seats based on price and availability, and hope for the best. We have been to our local panto several times and I always try to get front row of the upper circle there. Seats being not steeply banked enough is a problem, in theatres, but if you've ever been anywhere the back of the 02, you wont have a problem seeing but the steepness of the seats takes a few min to get used to!
@fizbosshoes

As a shortie, I'm almost glad I cant afford to go to the theatre very often (I've literally been about 3 or 4 times in my whole life.)

Even if you DID have more money, and COULD afford to go to the theatre a lot, you still wouldn't have to go you know............ Wink

SweetAsANutt · 09/04/2021 11:56

How awful you have to feel like this going out.
The only person who ruined the night was that ignorant tool huffing, puffing and muttering.

I'd of asked if she wanted to sit on my shoulders just to wind her up a little bit more. Anyway, hope you had a great view Grin.

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