Posted: 7/31/25 at 9:57am
I went to see the incredibly great JUST IN TIME yesterday and what should have been a walk in the park became a walk all over 50th street. I was accompanied by a friend who is 82 years old and uses a cane for assistance. We have been to many theaters and we always get access early due to the handicap and just because the staff at most theaters are so gracious. Yesterday I did the usual , went up to the front of the line and asked where the handicapped people should go to get entrance. The MISERABLE woman said that I should go inside scan my tickets and come back and stand to the right side of the line and we would be let in and assisted to the seats.
I got the tickets scanned (gentleman was very abrupt) and went back outside and we stood in line with others with special needs. Well the doors opened and we stood there and everyone else went in and we stood there and the other people in our line asked her when are we being let in...she said someone will come , so I waited (about 15 minutes) and asked her again and stated that my friend cant stand much longer due to his being a stroke victim can she do something, and she said I told you they will be coming. She then let about 100 other people in and was ignoring our line (all elderly and handicapped , about 7 people so it wasn't a huge amount). I said to her this is ridiculous, and she said I am trying to help you, I said well key word here is trying and you are being very rude and not trying hard enough , she said well she was very hot because of the weather ,,,>>>> WHAT.. they finally came and walked us up the street to another bldg and down 6 steps (struggle ) and onto an elevator and into the theater .
Once in the theater we were making our way to the seat (our aisle was empty thankfully for my friend because he has to move very slow with a cane) I showed the woman my ticket and she said ..these are you seats ...we sat down (the first three seats) and then the aisle filled up , only to find out we were not the first three seats but the last three....so everyone had to get up so we could make our way down the aisle which was difficult because of the walking ability of my friend. ....Sorry to whine but the staff should know which seats are which (I didnt see any numbers on the seats , they may have been there but we were so concerned with getting our friend seated and ready for the show .
I am just writing this because if a theater has limited handicapped accessability it should advise earlier (the theater where Little Shop does this) so we can make time and informed decisions prior.. They should also train the staff to not treat us like we were from a different planet and look bothered and basically disgusted at us. Remember we all get old and should be treated with respect !!!!!
The woman who helped us when we left was Incredibly nice...kind and helpful to all on the elevator. She said she was new ....well the rest of the staff may need her to train them.....The funny thing in all this the show was so great and worth all of these problems for my friend...