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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:
EmpressWitchDoesntBurn · 10/04/2021 11:48

Some of you will definitely get this - I’m in the process of buying a flat & was delighted, when I viewed it, to find that the mirrored cabinets in the bathroom were already at the right height!

I don’t go to standing gigs & when going to plays, concerts etc I try to make sure I’ve got a seat where I know I’ll be able to see regardless. But if I was standing in an audience somewhere & a tall person blocked my view, I would expect them not to mind my moving in front of them with a polite ‘Excuse me’.

bemusedmoose · 10/04/2021 12:15

I am a smidge over 5ft - i pretty much get my view obliterated where ever I go but tall people can't shrink any more than I can grow!

I have only been genuinely pissed off once - my kids first play, first come first served seats - 6'4 huge guy sits right infront of me (i had to get an Isle seat as had a toddler and might have to leave so also didn't want to be front row.) tons of seats free as only a few of us had arrived. So i angled myself to see around him, uncomfortable but hey. The kids come on and out comes the massive tablet to film it on and so it doesn't spoil his view he leans away a bit meaning I can't see over or through him, can't see around him, couldn't actually see a damn thing for the whole 1.5hrs. I had to watch my kids solo on his fing tablet.

Oceanbliss · 10/04/2021 12:35

@MangoSeason Being from Australia you may have heard of Tripod, a musical comedy trio from years ago. They wrote a song about tall people getting grief from other audience members.

It’s called Tall Man by Tripod.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=EEbODR02MDs

Ddot · 10/04/2021 13:15

Most of my friends are tall, I'm not so going for a drink is hard if your not seated. Thought about wearing heels but sod that. So I just get on with it and I do have a friend who thinks I'm massive at my 5.3 haha.

ilovechocolate07 · 10/04/2021 14:12

I'd have booked tickets at the back if one of the rows but I'm a short person who has had my view blocked on many occasions. I view that I have paid the same amount as everyone else for. I make painstaking research whenever booking anything and tend to have to pay a premium to see which is ridiculous.

It is an issue that, especially older venues have to deal with. I love a steel incline or staggered seating.

Hardbackwriter · 10/04/2021 14:28

I'd have booked tickets at the back if one of the rows but I'm a short person who has had my view blocked on many occasions.

So, in fact, you've never actually voluntarily taken worse seats, you just think tall people should?

PlumpAndDeliciousFatcat · 10/04/2021 14:40

I go to the theatre a lot and never pay a premium for the stalls despite being 6’. It would be very very silly to pay a premium for seats in unraked stalls if you are below average height. Someone upthread mentioned theatre monkey and it’s so useful for checking seats before you buy.

nokidshere · 10/04/2021 14:52

I’d know there’s nothing he could do about his height but perhaps you should book aisle seats too? Of course you don’t have to but it would be courteous to do so.

Don't be ridiculous. So because DH & Sons are tall we should book 3 separate aisle seats 'just in case' the person behind is short?

LovelyLovelyWarmCoffee · 10/04/2021 16:30

@Kaykay247

Can we have the same for airplane seats in that case!! Too many shorties get the legroom seats
To be honest, yes it would make sense. So tall people at the back for shows, but also assigned seats with more leg room. The question is what about groups/couples. I guess the fairest way would be say that if your party has at least one tall person in then you all go at the back / get the extra room. Obviously this will never happen, especially can already book the seat they want.
EmpressWitchDoesntBurn · 10/04/2021 16:38

Taller people getting the legroom seats sounds entirely fair to me.

MiloAndEddie · 10/04/2021 16:41

I’m enjoying the shorter people saying ‘I’d book seats at the back if I were tall’
No you bloody wouldn’t Grin

Fembot123 · 10/04/2021 19:02

@MiloAndEddie

I’m enjoying the shorter people saying ‘I’d book seats at the back if I were tall’ No you bloody wouldn’t Grin
And the tall people that would be fine with not being able to see Grin
goose1964 · 10/04/2021 19:15

DS1 is 6'5" and he couldn't physically sit in his seat but he was at the end so he sat at an angle with his feet in the aisle, didn't have a problem with 5' 3" dd. I'm 5'7" and I was probably the tallest that could comfortably sit there.

EmpressWitchDoesntBurn · 10/04/2021 19:15

And the tall people that would be fine with not being able to see Grin

GrinGrinGrin

HunterHearstHelmsley · 10/04/2021 19:38

I'm not as tall as some but have had similar before. Theatre seats are bloody uncomfortable too so it's not really possible to sit "as still as a statue"! I don't fancy having a cricked neck or a back ache for days from slouching either!

The shorter people need to book suitable seats or take a phone book to sit on.

Profiterolegirl · 10/04/2021 19:41

I hate it when massive people totally block my view and I can't see anything. If I were very large I would sit at the back.

Parker231 · 10/04/2021 19:44

Profit - we are a tall family - not massive. When we book seats we book those we want (if available). We don’t want to sit at the back. We usually aim for those lined up with centre stage, about half way back. Why shouldn’t we book the seats we want? If you are tall you pay the same price as someone shorter!

Fembot123 · 10/04/2021 21:34

@Parker231

Profit - we are a tall family - not massive. When we book seats we book those we want (if available). We don’t want to sit at the back. We usually aim for those lined up with centre stage, about half way back. Why shouldn’t we book the seats we want? If you are tall you pay the same price as someone shorter!
Why don’t you want to sit at the back?
Parker231 · 10/04/2021 21:41

We prefer to sit in the middle- our preferred seats.

TrainspottingWelsh · 10/04/2021 21:45

@Fembot123 I imagine for the same reason short people don't take booster seats with them.

PlumpAndDeliciousFatcat · 10/04/2021 22:06

Why on earth would you buy tickets in unraked stalls if you were very short? The circle is your friend.

Comefromaway · 10/04/2021 22:09

@PlumpAndDeliciousFatcat

Why on earth would you buy tickets in unraked stalls if you were very short? The circle is your friend.
When Hamilton went on sale in London you had little choice. The lock your seat function didn’t work and you had to simply enter your chosen price range and let the computer pick your seats.

Also my dh has vertigo and struggles with being in a high balcony.

Fembot123 · 10/04/2021 22:09

[quote TrainspottingWelsh]@Fembot123 I imagine for the same reason short people don't take booster seats with them.[/quote]
That’s a kids response 🤷‍♀️ You’re a tall family in your words, tall enough for you to remark upon and yet you don’t want to sit at the back, would your view be obstructed?? How much height do you think booster seats actually add 😚

Comefromaway · 10/04/2021 22:10

Sitting at the back means you struggle to see facial expressions and detail. That’s why those seats are cheaper. You are too far away.

PlumpAndDeliciousFatcat · 10/04/2021 22:12

I selected our seats, @Comefromaway, but tbf we bought them in the early release. Perhaps it was different on general sale. I’m familiar with the system you describe; you can reject the choices and ask the computer to choose again.