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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Why do people do this?

92 replies

Wellandtrulypeedofff · 17/08/2023 06:48

Spend £150 on theatre tickets, then proceed to rustle crisp and sweet packets and munch their way through the whole performance? Even the emotional solos and monologues weren't safe from the incessant rustling and crunching.

Special mention for the man in front of me, who despite having a clear veiw of the stage, sat right forwards in his seat with his neck stretched like bloody meerkat the whole performance giving me a great veiw of the back of his head.

Usually when I go to see a show i like I'm on a bit of a high, but I just feel deflated this morning. Feel like just giving up on theatre altogether.

OP posts:
Original poster
Wellandtrulypeedofff · 17/08/2023 06:50

Forgot the aibu part. AIBU to give up on theatre entirely?

OP posts:
BitOutOfPractice · 17/08/2023 06:50

Because they are selfish idiots with no self awareness? And because People can’t seem to cope for 15 minutes without a snack? I hear you op. Oh I hear you!

BitOutOfPractice · 17/08/2023 06:50

Don’t give up though! Live theatre is good for the soul. What did you see?

Hawkins009 · 17/08/2023 06:52

It's similar with the cinema.

TheaBrandt · 17/08/2023 06:52

I glare. A bolshy friend once said “enjoying your picnic?” to one which cracked me up

panko · 17/08/2023 06:53

I guess that's the "joy" of public performance

StupidCupidKeepsOnCallinMe · 17/08/2023 06:55

My sister had an awful experience at a show in London recently. The person next to her was translating every word to his mother, people filming all over the place, someone climbed over a row and fell, there were people filtering in late which ruined the opening number as people had to stand for them to go past.
There is no theatre etiquette anymore sadly. She did complain and got free tickets for another showing though. The ushers were doing their best but it's the people that are going that are the problem.

MotherOfGodWeeFella · 17/08/2023 06:58

I disagree the ushers were doing their best. The doors to the auditorium should have been closed the minute the performance started. No ifs, no buts.

SingingKlingon · 17/08/2023 06:58

Same experiences. Theatre etiquette is worse every time I go.

Not sure I want to spend so much money and not be able to relax or enjoy the show. Such a shame. :(

Thehippowife · 17/08/2023 07:00

People are now self entitled and self obsessed. We live in an age sadly where empathy is lacking. It’s very sad, but I see our “polite” society eroding in front of me.

Original poster
Wellandtrulypeedofff · 17/08/2023 07:02

I saw The Lion King. Saw it as a child and fell in love with it. The nostalgia hit me so hard I was already misty eyed after that first note and was SO ready to experience the show as an adult and add to what was already a great memory. But munchy lady and meerkat man had other plans for me last night.

OP posts:
Dunnoburt · 17/08/2023 07:03

Ahhh OP that's made me laugh (sorry!)...YANBU it's up there with nails down a blackboard!!!!!

Original poster
Wellandtrulypeedofff · 17/08/2023 07:04

@StupidCupidKeepsOnCallinMe That's outrageous! What show was that?

OP posts:
Original poster
Wellandtrulypeedofff · 17/08/2023 07:11

Hawkins009 · 17/08/2023 06:52

It's similar with the cinema.

Tell me about it. I tend to avoid the cinema if I can, or book well after the film has come out and choose my seats away from other people. I don't mind the thought of wasting 6/7 quid but I saved my arse off to go to this.

OP posts:
Cakesandbabes · 17/08/2023 07:12

Yeah. Went for Don Giovanni last.
Last time I went to theatre at least in UK. I always like theatre since I was a child.
Tip for parents. Don't bring your already disinterested younger child to opera not even sung in English with 7 bag of sweets, let them lie on floor and kick their seat, and be surprised someone next to them asks you to swap seats so your family can enjoy that treasure in the middle.
Adults chatting through parts an quite loudly. Rustling. Mobiles ringing... Honestly, just sit the fuck down quietly for couple of hours or stay at home and watch it on tv.

If theaters will die, it's because folk who actually enjoys them stopped going because of people who behave like squirrels on coke.

Ushers did do well though! Right onto the people. Bar the sugar kid next to me but I wasn't there to make friends so sorted that.

Cakesandbabes · 17/08/2023 07:13

Wellandtrulypeedofff · 17/08/2023 07:11

Tell me about it. I tend to avoid the cinema if I can, or book well after the film has come out and choose my seats away from other people. I don't mind the thought of wasting 6/7 quid but I saved my arse off to go to this.

Show quote history

Same here

Justleaveitblankthen · 17/08/2023 07:13

I think adults who do this they are selfish greedy pigs.

Why do you need to be aimlessly ramming 'non food' into your gob to sit and watch something?

Is the show not enough?

Eat your tea before you leave home FFS..

DrManhattan · 17/08/2023 07:14

Don't do cinema now because of this, will just wait for it to come out on sky. I don't understand why someone would pay money for a ticket and talk all the way through it. They can do this in the lobby for free!

calmcoco · 17/08/2023 07:17

If theaters will die, it's because folk who actually enjoys them stopped going because of people who behave like squirrels on coke.

This is something to consider. Have read articles about this issue, so much changed with COVID.

Original poster
Wellandtrulypeedofff · 17/08/2023 07:20

@Cakesandbabes More outrageous behaviour. I think myself lucky that I only had to put up with what I did now. The only problem I've had at the theatre before was two women talking behind me, but that was such wtf are you doing behaviour, I had no problem telling them to please be quiet.

Last night, i was saying to myself "5 more minutes of this and I'll say something" then 5 minutes would come and go and I'd add another 5 on to that. The longer I waited, the harder it was for me to confront.

OP posts:
Babsthebookworm · 17/08/2023 07:22

Hawkins009 · 17/08/2023 06:52

It's similar with the cinema.

I've completely given up on the cinema and wait to stream new films at home.

Last time I went to see an opera I paid a small fortune for my favourite front row seats and ended up sitting beside an inebriated man in an expensive suit who insisted upon wildly swinging his half full glass of red wine about in time to the music. When he wasn't doing that he was leaning forward rummaging about under his seat. I've not been back since, but sadly opera is not the same streamed into my home. Not even if it's live streamed.

Original poster
Wellandtrulypeedofff · 17/08/2023 07:22

I love your squirrels on coke comparison. You've hit the nail on the head there!

OP posts:
PersephonePomegranate23 · 17/08/2023 07:38

I agree, OP, it's such crass behaviour. They should stick to the cinema if they want to stuff their faces and food shouldn't be allowed in, except during the interval.

Can people really not go one hour twenty or whatever without eating?!

Hawkins009 · 17/08/2023 07:40

Wellandtrulypeedofff · 17/08/2023 07:11

Tell me about it. I tend to avoid the cinema if I can, or book well after the film has come out and choose my seats away from other people. I don't mind the thought of wasting 6/7 quid but I saved my arse off to go to this.

Show quote history

Then the whole talking, up and down to toilets etc, sometimes it would be nice to have individual ones to watch the film.

MrsMarzetti · 17/08/2023 07:47

It is time theatres and cinemas banned food. Can't people sit for a couple of hours without feeding their faces ?