Get over yourself

So, several weeks ago, the Hubster comes home from work with a surprise for me. He found out there was a local production of Grease going on in town. He purchased tickets for us to go to a Sunday Matinee, as a late Mother's Day gift. He knows that Grease is one of my all time favorites.

Now granted, taking a 16 month old to a play is a challenge. However being that it was Sunday Matinee, I think ok, no problem.

I grew up in suburban NJ, just outside of NYC. If you were taking your kids to a play it was... on Sunday afternoon. I don't know if it's just me or not, but I always assumed it was standard. You don't really take young children out to the evening show, for a variety of reasons, but if you go to a Sunday Matinee, expect to see children.

Ava was a bit fidgety, She hadn't had much of a nap. All things considered we thought she did really well. I had to nurse her a bit. Had we been sitting on one of the ends of the rows, I may have considered getting up and discretely taking her out. As it was, we were seated smack in the middle, with at least 6 people on either side of us. I figured it would be far more disruptive to get up in the middle of an act, carrying a screaming baby, and making 6 people stand up than it would be for her to cry for 10 seconds while got her situated to nurse.

Apparently that was the wrong thing to do. AFTER the the play was over, we were accosted by the Director. She cornered us saying she had at least 25 complaints, and some of those were from the actors. She said she recommends only children over the age of 7 come to plays. JUST as we were getting ready to apologize to her she said in a very egocentric, snotty tone "I am APPALLED that you did not take THAT CHILD out of the theatre".

Had I been able to absorb what she said in that moment, I would've had a lot more to say to her.

I really have a hard time believing that THAT many people complained and she did NOTHING about it. I also have a hard time believing that the actors were complaining as well. If you can't act through a little bit of disruption in the audience you have a problem. It's not like she was screaming non-stop for 30 minutes. Her worst episode lasted maybe 30 seconds, at best.

I'm pretty sure the theatre itself will be getting a call tomorrow. We want to find out of this is the theatres' policy or just this woman on an ego trip. Especially since the Hubsters employer is a sponsor for that particular theatre. The Hubsters employer prides themselves on being Family Friendly. I'm sure they will be interested to know just how we were treated by this organization.

NOWHERE does it say don't bring children. In fact the ticket prices are set for "All Ages."

We love community theatre. When we lived in MN, we frequented our local one. Here in SD, they are always talking about how they need support and people to come see the plays. We were happy to help and be entertained. Until this.

I mean, honestly. Someone tell me if I'm in the wrong here.

Had someone come up to us at some point during the 2.5 hour performance and said the baby was disturbing the other patrons and could they help us to find a place outside the theatre to take her, I would've been MORE than happy to oblige.

There was a 15 minute intermission. did anyone say anything then?

Hell, if someone is disruptive at the movie theatre, they ask you to leave. So this all came as a complete shock. The people next to use weren't annoyed. In fact the saint of a man was smiling and talking to Ava.

It's a MATINEE people. Get over yourselves.