A Message to Parents - Please Do Not Bring Your Little Children To The Opera- Page 2

[Testing1232]

Posted: 3/4/07 at 9:54am

<< When my parents tried to take me back after intermission to The Nutcracker, I said "We're going to see it again?!"

So we went to IHOP and that was that. >>

Same way I felt when my wife wanted us to stay for the Second Act of "Cats" !! :))

[HumATune]

Posted: 3/4/07 at 11:35am

Parents I’ll ask you this: Do you think it’s fair to the other audience members to bring a child so young that they may cry a lot? Or you have to step over a bunch of other audience remembers because they need a potty break? That’s too young. Get a babysitter. The reason a lot of theaters say “no children under 5” on the tickets is because young children are prone to crying and frequent bathroom breaks.

[cooperross]

Posted: 3/4/07 at 12:35pm

My 2 cents..it's a different time now..a majority of parents can't be bothered to instill any type of discipline or even proper manners or etiquette in their little darlings. Instead they let little Johnny or Janie run rampant..up and down the aisles of the supermarket, at the movies, etc.

It is these type of parents that obviously think that their little darlings are free to express themselves without fear of reprisal for their inappropriate behavior that are the problem. They are the ones who should keep their kids at home if they want to have an evening out, and not subject others to their inept parenting skills.

And no, I do not nor will I ever have children, but if I were to have behaved the way I see lots of children behaving in public I would never have been allowed to go anywhere until I was 21..and you'd better believe the minute I started behaving inappropriately I would have been in the car on my way home, being lectured all the way.

[HumATune]

Posted: 3/4/07 at 12:42pm

Well put cooperross. I like children--a lot; it's parents I hate.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 3/4/07 at 1:53pm

<< My 2 cents..it's a different time now..a majority of parents can't be bothered to instill any type of discipline or even proper manners or etiquette in their little darlings. Instead they let little Johnny or Janie run rampant..up and down the aisles of the supermarket, at the movies, etc.

It is these type of parents that obviously think that their little darlings are free to express themselves without fear of reprisal for their inappropriate behavior that are the problem. They are the ones who should keep their kids at home if they want to have an evening out, and not subject others to their inept parenting skills.

And no, I do not nor will I ever have children, but if I were to have behaved the way I see lots of children behaving in public I would never have been allowed to go anywhere until I was 21..and you'd better believe the minute I started behaving inappropriately I would have been in the car on my way home, being lectured all the way>>

I'm a parent, and I agree with you 100% !!

There are WAYYYYY too many parents that let their children get away with murder... I think after a while, they just get tired of telling them to "stop", so they basically just "give up"-

Our daughter will know the way she is supposed to act when she gets older (she is only 11 mos now). If she doesnt act the way she is expected to, then the privilege of going to nice places (and it IS a privilege)will get taken away. Simple as that.

My sister and I NEVER disrespected our parents the way that I see
too many kids do nowadays.

[GoSmileLaughCryClap]

Posted: 3/4/07 at 2:06pm

I'm a six year old going off to kindergarten with my Sponge Bob lunch box. As I meet my friends outside of school we all begin to talk about who was allowed to watch Pirates of the Carribean Dead Man's Chest on HBO the night before. Who had cool parents who allowed it, and who had lousy parents who forbid it.

Just then, Poindexter, a strange little kid walks up and announces that the night before he had seen Gotterdammerung at the Metrpolitan Opera. The converation brought to an unexpected close, we all went inside to learn how to count.

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/4/07 at 3:46pm

I also agree with cooper. When I was a kid in grade school, we would have a session with our music teacher about theatre etiquette/manners before going off on a school trip to the theatre or the opera. I was not a bad kid, but I knew that if I misbehaved, my mother would know and I would hear about it.

I have heard many times that couples bring their kids to a show because they couldn't get a babysitter or that they don't trust their child with a babysitter. I have attended shows with crying babies and talkative kids. I say that if your baby is going to cry during the performance or your kids are going to talk, stay at home or figure something out as far as not bringing the kids. The worse are the ones with infants that think they can quiet the child inside the theatre, only for the child to cry even louder and after 5 minutes (which is a long time) realize they need to go to the lobby. (After disrupting a performance and annoying audience members)

Also...I love kids! I helped raise 3 of my nephews and niece and have an adopted daughter and am now an adopted grandfather!

Updated On: 3/4/07 at 03:46 PM

[LittleFish8386]

Posted: 3/4/07 at 4:49pm

I saw my first show, Miss Saigon, when I was about 6 years old. Looking back on it now, my mother was taking a huge risk in bringing such a small child to a show that really wasn't at all kid friendly. However, I absolutely LOVED every minute of it and sat without moving a muscle and thus my love for anything and everything Broadway was born.

I think it's extremely important to start introducing the arts to children at a young age, but I think it all depends on the type of kid you're raising. I think far too many people bring kids to the theatre or to the opera or to the ballet b/c they think that's what they should be doing, or because of bragging rights. You don't know how many times I've accompanied mothers who's children I watch into Manhattan to see musicals or the ballet only so they could tell all their little soccer moms that they went to see this show and that show. 98% of the time, children don't give a crap about what their seeing.

I just think that a parent has to be wise when picking the theatrical event they are bringing their kids too. My mother had previously seen Miss Saigon before bringing me and I had been quite familiar with the cast recording, so I guess she was pretty certain that I would enjoy myself. Again, it all depends. It sucks you had a rotten children and theatre experience.

[JKlock]

Posted: 3/4/07 at 5:12pm

- I agree with LittleFish

My dad took me to see Les Mis when i was 6 years old but my parents thought i was ready to see a broadway show and by the time we went to see it i was extremely familar with the cast recording and was so happy to be able to see the show performed live that i had no reason to cause chaos in the theater since i remember being so entranced during the performance haha

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 3/4/07 at 5:54pm

I have been attending the theatre since I was 6 and have always been engrossed and behaved. I agree that it depends on the kid.

PS: How was the show? I'm playing the Major-General in May!

[BobbyErikValjean]

Posted: 3/4/07 at 6:11pm

I agree in most cases. I had to wait until I was nine to see my first show.

Although, there was a 5 or 6 year old waiting in line in front of us for Phantom and she was bouncing off the walls. We expected her to be annoying, but she was dead quiet during the performance and walked out babbiling on and on about the show. You never know.

[keen on kean]

Posted: 3/4/07 at 6:36pm

To respond to the title of this thread specifically, opera is the least little child friendly medium. Why not try something shorter first - if the kid won't be quiet during a short movie, what is the likelihood that he/she is ready for three hours of live Gilbert and Sullivan?

[gymdudeva]

Posted: 3/4/07 at 7:26pm

Don't they have children's theatre anymore???

[Elphaba]

Posted: 3/4/07 at 8:08pm

Not that I disagree with you --- (We had a horrible time at "Mary Poppins" because of same reason), but you definitely sound like someone that does not have any children.


what a ridiculous statement, whether he/she has children or not has NO bearing on kids who cannot be controlled by their parents. If I pay for a show and there are kids acting up, I ask the parents nicely once to calm them down. If they do not, I get an usher, period, end of subject.

I am not paying to hear you or your spawn talk through a production because you cannot control your mouth or that of your spawn.....and I use the generic you, not you personally.

Updated On: 3/4/07 at 08:08 PM

[lisaspo]

Posted: 3/4/07 at 8:22pm

My first instinct was to fully agree with the OP... but, can see that there are a lot of exceptions, as evidenced by people's reponses. I think part of the frustration is that when a child *can't* handle sitting still and being quiet, a parent will often try to "deal" with the situation much longer than is acceptable to others in the audience.

And, really, it's not a matter of who's at the theater... it's how they're behaving. A child can be the model of perfect behavior and a grown adult can talk through a show and crack a snack bag constantly.

I just think *anybody* misbehaving should be ejected immediately. And I'd be happy to give you a (long) list of what I consider misbehaving. :)

[stonewall2]

Posted: 3/4/07 at 9:56pm

It really DOES vary from child to child and I've been seated next to some adults who shouln't have been left out of the house!

[evadiva]

Posted: 3/4/07 at 10:37pm

Oh LOOOOOOORD!

If you were a 3-year-old angel sitting through a live show, well then GOOD FOR YOU! If I could give you all cookies, I would. And all of you PC police officers and child advocates SIMMA DOWN NA!

Obviously, YES OBVIOUSLY, this thread was not directed at your well-behaved inner child or your quiet beloved offspring. YOU KNOW WHO THIS GUY IS TALKING ABOUT! Take a chill pill and let a brotha VENT for crying out loud.

Like someone said, I love children - IT'S THE RUDE PARENTS who are the problem.

If children come to the theatre or opera and they behave the way audience members SHOULD behave, then who is going to have a problem with that!?!?

[myManCape]

Posted: 3/4/07 at 11:56pm

Just reading the thread title all I could think of was "Duh"

[evadiva]

Posted: 3/4/07 at 11:57pm

Oh myManCape you'd be surprised.....

[Urban]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 7:50am

I remember the first time I went to the Opera (and also various other cultural stuff) as school trips at the age of 10. We pretty much had the riot act read to us before the trips, not to mention WEEKS AND WEEKS of listening to the music over and over again so we didn't dare clap in the wrong section. (Seriously - in fact I did feel a snobbish satisfaction after one orchestral number where where the only school not to clap and what was a fake ending piece because we all knew that the orchestra was going to play for another few minutes after the pause).

Seriously if I was in those parental shoes I'd start with something child-friendly like 'Peter & the Wolf' and work my way up only going to the next level if I think any kid I have would not be bored and get restless.

Still I do agree majorly with the original poster in his point, that 95% of kids just can't cut a 3 hour G&S piece (frankly alot of adults I know would grow restless).

[evadiva]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 11:42am

Urban, great story!

[2373]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 11:45am

you guys are so funny.

You all knew exactly what this poster meant but decided to start an argument.

the poster was talking about the specific children that were acting up at said performance.

don't be so nit picky.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 6:18pm

<< Not that I disagree with you --- (We had a horrible time at "Mary Poppins" because of same reason), but you definitely sound like someone that does not have any children.


what a ridiculous statement, whether he/she has children or not has NO bearing on kids who cannot be controlled by their parents. If I pay for a show and there are kids acting up, I ask the parents nicely once to calm them down. If they do not, I get an usher, period, end of subject.

I am not paying to hear you or your spawn talk through a production because you cannot control your mouth or that of your spawn.....and I use the generic you, not you personally.
>>

Ok... despite your SN, I will respond... I never said that having children had a bearing on uncontrollable children.

I just made an assumption, based on the OP's remarks. I just dont feel that anyone WITH children would tell other people not to bring their children to the theater. (in this case, the opera) I could be totally wrong. Its just my opinion.

Would I bring our infant? Absolutely not !!!! However, being a parent, I cant see myself telling another parent what they should or should not do with their own child, thats all.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 6:38pm

Are you judging Elphaba by his screen name?

Have you read these boards since you joined?

[Testing1232]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 6:48pm

<< Are you judging Elphaba by his screen name?

Have you read these boards since you joined? >>

Not at all--- that was just a little joke---

With a SN like mine, I wouldn't SERIOUSLY mock another.