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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think that this shouldn't have ruined my night?

62 replies

Smoony · 03/04/2010 13:09

Last night, as a treat, DH and I went to see a musical in London. We booked for the evening and then arranged to stay in a hotel, so that we could make a real night of it. My son, who is eight, went to stay with his grandparents.

We got to the theatre and got our seats and just as the performance was about to start, two women with about five children came to sit down in front of us. The children looked to be between the ages of 3 and 8.

When the first song started, the children knew all the words, and all the way through all the songs during the evening, shouted out the lyrics really, really loudly. During the talking, they got up, talked and played with each other. They were 'bobbing' up and down in the seats so that husband and I kept having to move around in our seats so that we could see. The women with them didn't seem to do anything, and kept smiling at them when they were 'singing' the lyrics.

To cut a long story short, it really spoilt my, and my husband's, evening. It's a real shame - we don't get time to ourselves often, and had paid £80 each for the tickets.

AIBU to think that children shouldn't be taken to the theatre until they can sit still and enjoy the performance?

OP posts:

Tee2072 · 03/04/2010 13:11

Why didn't you say something? If not to the woman then to an usher.

Original poster

Smoony · 03/04/2010 13:12

We didn't, but the people next to us did, and the mothers just rolled their eyes and said something about 'children being children'.

Sorry, meant to put that in my OP

OP posts:

TragicallyHip · 03/04/2010 13:13

What Musical was it?

Joolyjoolyjoo · 03/04/2010 13:13

If it was an afternoon performance then I would have said you were BU, but given that it was an evening show, YANBU. I wouldn't take my children to a show in the evening for that reason. In the same way, if we are going out to eat we take our kids to an early dinner (5pm or so). We won't let them loose at more civilised "adult couple" times until they are more civilised!

GoldenSnitch · 03/04/2010 13:14

I would have said something. I've had to in the past to a couple sat next to us slagging off the performance when compared to others they'd seen.

GoldenSnitch · 03/04/2010 13:14

x-posts sorry

GoldenSnitch · 03/04/2010 13:15

I'd have gone to the usher if the mother was no help though

cookielove · 03/04/2010 13:15

You are not being unreasonable, i would have been fuming if it had been me, The last musical i saw my friend thought it would be fun to sing loudly to all the songs, when she saw i was getting annoyed she just sang louder and almost directed it at me

I have also experienced this in a cinema, parents dropped their children off in seats in front of me and then sat about 4 rows behind. The children talked the whole way through and misbehaved, twas annoying

DebiNewberry · 03/04/2010 13:17

It was obviously a suitable for children type of show or the theatre wouldn't have let them into an evening perf. What did you go and see?

They obviously were enjoying the performance, but weren't behaving as an adult/older child would have done.

Tbh, I would expect children to be at a musical and so if it was important to me to be in a child-free environment, I wouldn't go.

Summerfruit · 03/04/2010 13:20

An evening show ? Well YANBU, I mean come on, the mothers should have done something, I would have said something.

SusieCarmichael · 03/04/2010 13:22

they should have sat still during the talking but the singing i think you have to expect at a musical really. what show was it?

Needanewname · 03/04/2010 13:25

I would also have said something or spoken to an usher about it.

Original poster

Smoony · 03/04/2010 13:47

The musical was Wicked!

It was very good, apart from the children. Apparently, the theatre recommends it for 8+ but there are no age limits, apart from 'Babes in arms'.

OP posts:

RunawayWife · 03/04/2010 13:59

YANBU, I hate it when people take children to adult things and then can not control their children.

MrsMeow · 03/04/2010 14:08

I'd have been really cross. In fact, this is why I hate going to the cinema - it costs a frickin fortune (although obviously not as much as your theatre tickets!) and we always have someone sitting behind us, kicking one of our seats, or in front of us laughing at EVERY SINGLE THING funny or unfunny throughout the film (thanks to the man that did this all the way through Ice Age 3)

Sorry...I went off a bit there!

But no, YANBU. I know children will be children, but the mothers should have tried to calm them down. You should have said something though.

Was it good apart from that though? I really want to see it!

MrsMeow · 03/04/2010 14:10

Sorry, just saw that someone else spoke to them.

violethill · 03/04/2010 14:11

I would have been furious and complained. You were paying to listen to the Musical, not some out of control kids being annoying.

muggglewump · 03/04/2010 14:15

I'd have complained.
I hate when kids do things like that, I don't care if they like singing, it's ruining enjoyment for others.

I took DD to see Joseph when she was 7 and told her no singing beforehand, and we're going to see Les Mis in a couple of weeks and I've said the same for that.

ElleBing · 03/04/2010 14:16

YANBU.

That's what matinees are for. You wouldn't mind having half of the show obstructed by bobbing heads if you't got cheaper tickets but £80 to hear the show performed by two kids? No. Not good.

ninedragons · 03/04/2010 14:16

YANBU. I am stunned at how rude some people are. Last time I went to the opera, the couple beside me yakked throughout, despite my telling them to STFU (not in those terms, though that's what was going through my head).

Their children had no place at an evening performance.

skihorse · 03/04/2010 14:20

YANBU.

It's sad that you've had your evening spoiled like this - but we see plenty of this on these boards, e.g., "nobody but me has the right to discipline my children" and "I would never say anything negative about my special pfb gifted child". Different story when it's someone else's kids being a pita!

muggglewump · 03/04/2010 14:27

I'd have been annoyed even at a matinee.
We're seeing a matinee performance of Les Mis, and as they encourage guidance for under 8's I'm not expecting to see many kids (DD is 8), I haven't paid £80 either, but £35 for both (it's Edinburgh, not London) but if anyone ruins it, I will complain.
It's a lot of money to me, and DD's first time in a real theatre so I want it to be special.

MathsMadMummy · 03/04/2010 14:33

YANBU.

I'm really excited to have booked tickets to 2 shows, but they're kids shows - a RPO 'noisy kids' concert and Peppa Pig!

wouldn't dream of taking my DD (2.9) to a proper show for several years yet.

mind you I went to loads of classical concerts when I was young, but I was an unusually well-behaved child no tantrums or anything. so I guess if you know your DCs will be ok, then go, but this family were clearly a bit ambitious.

Undercovamutha · 03/04/2010 14:41

Can't imagine why people would take their kids to an evening performance, when they could just go to a matinee. YANBU at all.

My DD (3.5) had her first visit to the cinema recently (we went at about 1pm) and to the Panto (matinee Schools performance) and even then I would have taken her outside if she was unable to behave herself.

I would have been furious.

QOD · 03/04/2010 14:43

Hey I was there thurs night! SO near and yet so far!

The guy standing in for Lee Meade, who played Feraro (sp) bless him - he ran on to take his bow and ....... fell over

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