I do not like nativity plays

[ZippyPeer]

Went to my first one to watch my daughter, huge discovery that I do not like them. My view:
The play wasn't funny or an interesting story.
An irritating number of sexist stereotypes in the reimagined story - innkeepers wife fgs.
A few kids clearly actively hated being involved - not enjoyable to see them suffering.
Lots of the kids looking exceedingly bored or like they didn't really want to be there.
Reminded me of when I had to perform in them as a child and the literal hours of waiting around doing nothing during rehearsals and on the day and being told to shush and sit still - so boring.
Nice to see my daughter doing her bit and some of the other kids I know, and see the differences in the way the kids were on stage, but like, no where near enough to offset the other stuff...

Probably I won't go again and will leave it to the enthusiasts, but are there other people who feel this way?

Am absolutely bemused by the number of people who seem to love them.

Yabu - do you have no soul, the nativity is delightful
Yabu - it's a pain in the arse we all have to endure

Are you actually on crack?

I used to love nativity plays as a kid. First plays I ever performed in and began a lifelong love of drama and theatre.

People enjoy it because they like watching their child perform, not because it's great entertainment in itself! Surely that's obvious?! It can be cute and (often unintentionally) funny, but I'm a bit baffled that you were somehow expecting the story to be the highlight! I mean... everyone knows the story, so I'm not sure how you were disappointed by it! You have clearly misunderstood what it is that 'enthusiasts' like about it.

Can I ask.. do you actually HAVE children?

Or are you a step-parent or a step grand-parent dragged to something that you have literally no connection with?

I know you said you have a daughter, but that's such a weird reaction about seeing your own daughter?

You have to be a special kind of grinch not to find any joy in a child’s nativity!!!

One of the things I'm dreading about mine starting school. I will go but I'm not looking forward to it at all.

Get the school to do Lights, Camel, Action next year, I actually quite enjoyed watching that one!

It was tedious

I think we’ve got to the point in society where everyone expects everything to be highly entertaining all the time. Your child as third shepherd is just never going to compete with the dopamine hit you get from scrolling your phone.

Even if you don't like them, it's once a year for a few years. I can't understand how you don't enjoy seeing DC on stage and the pride and love it brings but that's fine, it's important to them. Xx

I absolutely hate all that stuff and find it torturous to sit through. YANBU.

I had one kid who was always offered big parts and was happy about it, one who wished she was offered bigger parts and another who would rather clean his room rather than participate. I think that if you child is keen (singing the songs for weeks etc) then it’s rude not to go where as for the one who wasn’t keen, I offered him an excuse not to go to the evening performance (no lines so didn’t affect the play)
FWIW I think that the enthusiasts attend to see their child, they don’t care about the actual play unless it’s a performance school like Brit School and the kids have professional ambitions.

😂 Wait til the recorder comes home.

I think team sports are the most brainless pointless things. 2 groups of people running around after 1 ball. Ridiculous when you think about it. (Teamwork is the big plus to be fair). I have hated every single match I've seen and mostly day dream with no idea of what's going on. But I stand under umbrellas and shiver or sweat on the sidelines because its important to my DC. I will continue to support them because I'm their Mum. All schools play sports despite some kids hating them, they all have to do PE so the kids that don't like the nativity can tolerate it because some kids love it and it's their turn to shine.

My DD was one of those deer in headlights, would rather be anywhere but here types.

She actually has happy memories of those plays now shes a teenager.

The worst performance i saw at Primary was when they decided to write their own play on how difficult it was to put nativity plays on, including every child in the school but only six speaking parts.

I guess this post kind of explains my confusion on this. I do not feel this way at all about the nativity, I went for my kid but didn't enjoy it. But the enthusiasts they love LOVE LOVE it and is it weird that I am not like that

I love being a parent but if I'm honest i cant stand anything that involves a large number of parents / kids, nativities, kids parties, toddler groups etc...but then I'm not very sociable generally

Anyone else think of the competitive Dad from the Fast show? The one at the school play. I think of that scene every single time I go to a kids play or show.

Were you expecting a London musical show? Hamilton or Les Mis or Wicked.

perhaps you didn’t have realistic expectations of 5 year olds abilities

Very meta for primary school!

My DS is autistic and I spent his whole Nativity worried that he was hating it because he looked terrified, but turned out he really enjoyed it and just doesn't feel the impulse to share that with his face (see also theme parks, days out, presents, shows).

OP, if you got no joy from watching children try really hard and be really proud of what they achieve, that is genuinely your loss.

It was based on 2000 bloody years ago. What do you expect?

Did your child like it? Were they looking out for you in the crowd? That’s the part they like the most is seeing their parents/loved ones in the audience in my experience. I could never let them down like that just because I can’t be arsed.

If you're going to get offended by sexist stereotypes, surely the virgin mary tops the inn keepers wife?

I tried to post the clip but can't seem to get the link. BUT... the girl on stage is a 14 yr old Amy Winehouse!! Mind blown. Sorry for derail. if you search up Fast show competitive Dad school play on YouTube it comes up

They are probably a regular poster on mumsnet then.