Mentally Impaired Audience Members — Page 5

Yeah I hear that geaj. And you know what? If a Down's person ended up sitting behind me at a b-way show, I think I might be secretly sooo curious as to how they act, I might want them to stay, just out of curiousity, even if they do make random sounds here and there.
However, the ORIGINAL poster's story sounded like he was sitting near a person who was just totally disruptive, and I think he was asking if we could excuse a disruptive person because of a development issue. I'd say no, we cant excuse a disruption, but yes geaj, we could still be reasonably tolerant.

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miss pennywise, I think you are taking things way too personally.

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Ok, george. I get ya. Maybe I missed the whole disruptive to the point of intolerance. I have had a few martinis here. LOL! The great thing is, I see your point, and you see mine. Wouldn't be great if more of the world's problems could be solved as such?

When ANYONE goes to a show, it is expected that you should have some sort of theatre etiquette. This will be blunt (and politically incorrect sorry), but I do not want anyone around me talking!!!!!!! I don't care if you are mentally challenged, old and can't hear, 4 years old, a 10 year old who can't behave,never been to theatre before, or translating for the person next to you who doesnt fully understand english-SHUT UP!!!!! It is an unspoken rule. If you are mildly annoying-whatever, but if you are loud and disruptive that is absolutely NOT acceptable.

I feel sorry for you seeing as you have no sense of humor.

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Marilyn you pretty much said it all. And this is what I meant before about the paradox of "treat a Down's person like they're normal---but they're not normal" That's just it--if you can't sit in a theater and not be disruptive, then you really dont have a right to be in the theater.
My cousin is obsessed with the movie "Grease". He's so obsessed that for every holiday, all he wants is Grease on DVD. If you get him a present that's not Grease on DVD, he will throw it across the room and swear at you. (yes that's made for many shocking Christmas scenes) I bought him a window card and a t-shirt of the current Grease on b-way, but thankfully if he ever came here, he wouldn't even understand that Grease is a live musical and not the movie. And he'd prefer the dvd anyway--thank goodness.

But in response to some people who were saying that if a mentally impaired person wants to enjoy a show, should we prevent him? I really think that if a person as enough mental capability to understand there is a show on b-way and he/she wants to see it, then that person will probably have enough capability to understand that if they talk, they'll have to leave.

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ok... I will switch modes.

Anyways. So today at work one of my clients has this thing where she will chase you around once in awhile and say "I'm gonna spank you in the butt" (the way she means it is in a flirting manner) and she had me laughing so hard, because she was doing that to me today.

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in what way have I "Offended" the Developmentally Disabled community

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I would be curious too, George, as I also would be interested to know the person's reactions. I also have a 50 year old cousin with Down syndrome. She has the capacity of perhaps a 4 year old, but musicals are her life. She has a huge record collection, and somehow can put them back in the correct sleeves even though she cannot read a word. She has attended live shows since she was a child, and is taken to summer stock every year to see everything available (her sister has sat through more hideous productions of Annie than she can count). My cousin is very well behaved because she is totally into any show, and would undoubtedly shhhh anyone around her who made noise. And yes, Lake, many of her comments about the shows are hilarious. And the bonus - her cell phone never goes off.

I would totally love to see a show with your cousin.

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Miss Pennywise, please don't make this into a thread that attacks other members. And PLEASE do not attack "those young people." I'm sixteen and I'm damn sure that I act mature and can speak my mind without being disregarded as just another teenager.

The purpose of this thread was to discuss thoughts and opinions on how the mentally impaired should be treated in a theatrical environment, not to attack those who have views different from yours.

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I am totally down with that. : )


And tgn, as a high school teacher who takes his students to see b-way shows all the time--i got your back.

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awww come on lakezurich, I love Chicago winters, and NYC winters have had a lot of snow the past few years, but now this year there has been none! so i'm jealous! (snow doesnt bug me out here since I walk/take subways everywhere)

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