Miss Saigon

[erilyn]

It was good, but not great. Reasonably well produced and performed, but I didn't really find the music particularly memorable.

Quick theatre-going-behaviour poll: would you bring an infant, 6-12 months (plus a three year old) to a professional production of something like Miss Saigon? Seemed massively inappropriate and thoughtless to me. Plus, they weren't even at the end of a row (and at the Lyric theatre, the only access to the longlong rows is at the ends, no centre aisles, and don't ask me how that's allowed in terms of safety), which would allow an as-inconvenient-for-others-as-possible exit. Fortunately, they weren't too close to us, though we did hear the baby a couple of times briefly. Or am I being too harsh?

[Poll #1065848]

Comments

[raynedanser.livejournal.com]

Children belong HOME. They are disruptive to everyone that is there. Just. NO.

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

I'm still surprised that they were allowed in.

[raynedanser.livejournal.com]

Yeah, me too.

[krazykitkat.livejournal.com]

As far as I'm concerned kids should be banned from theatre, it's the height of rudeness. People pay a lot of money to see a production and they don't want to be interrupted by kids. It's also very unfair on the child. Hire a babysitter dammit!

I saw the original production of Miss Saigon, and pretty much the same reaction. Much prefer Les Mis.

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

Exactly! And I'm possibly being a little unfair on Miss Saigon, as I was unfamiliar with the music going in, but I didn't leave with a deep desire to re-listen to the music.

[krazykitkat.livejournal.com]

Oh, that icon :)

[trumpeterofdoom.livejournal.com]

I'm going to disagree with your first sentence because the score Miss Saigon is one of the most haunting ones I've ever heard (mostly because I played it in school and it was my favourite piece), and is in the running for my favourite musical score ever. :)

That aside, I think it's okay to bring kids to a family/kid-themed production. Definite NO to bringing your young children to something like Miss Saigon where the music (scary sounding) and the stage action (war) are inappropriate for their age.

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

It's not that I disliked the music, I just didn't remember much of it once it was over.

I think it's okay to bring kids to a family/kid-themed production.

Oh, definitely :)

[nafs]

Dude. In my universe no one is allowed to whisper, eat, or even breathe too loudly at the theatre. Children under like... 10 or 11 are NOT ALLOWED at productions not expressly aimed towards children. OTOH if the audience isn't complete chaos at a panto, then clearly something is very wrong ;)

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, family-oriented shows or pantos are a completely different kettle of fish, but I'm so disappointed in them and the theatre, really.

[lydia-petze.livejournal.com]

When I saw Phantom, some twunt played with a plastic bag for the first ten minutes. Eventually the whole ROW tore them a new one.

[copracat]

would you bring an infant, 6-12 months (plus a three year old)

No. And front of house shouldn't have let them in. 1. Babes in arms should be specifically excluded in the conditions of sale of the ticket. 2. If you can afford a Miss Saigon seat for a three year old you can afford a babysitter. 3. Miss Saigon NOT SUITABLE for small children! Death! Violence! Violence threatened toward a child! A very obviously upset mother! 4. What kind of fuckwit takes small children to a two-plus hour musical? How do you enjoy the show while taking care of two small children?

Harsh? Harsh would have possibly been if you'd gone over and demanded that they be chucked out.

Possibly I have a strong opinion.

[between-names.livejournal.com]

2. If you can afford a Miss Saigon seat for a three year old you can afford a babysitter.

Sing it. I agree completely.

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

As I was boggling about this at the theatre, I was thinking of all the keen theatre-goers I know around here, and resolved to blog and determine if I was crazy or not :)

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

We first saw them because they were having a serious conversation (by the looks of it) with a staff member, and thought they were being refused entry. Alas, they were not. If they'd been sitting closer to us, I would have possibly made a complaint.

Miss Saigon NOT SUITABLE for small children! Death! Violence! Violence threatened toward a child!

Exactly!

[poofusgirl.livejournal.com]

What kind of fuckwit takes small children to a two-plus hour musical?

Probably the same type of people that took their children to see The Day After Tomorrow in theaters. Tornadoes and buses smacking into people and instant freezing are not right for a 4 year old to see!

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

I've seen very young children in such inappropriate movies too. It baffles me, it really does.

[buddleia.livejournal.com]

I don't think it's appropriate to bring a baby when everyone else is going to be disturbed by it, but I don't see why theatres can't do what some cinemas do and have the occasional parent-and-baby production. It's not always easy for a parent to get childcare while they go and do something adult.

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

I think they absolutely should do that :)

[nic]

I'm actually more concerned about the 3 year old because they're more likely to watch. And there is some SCARY/HORRIBLE stuff in that show that kids shouldn't see.

If the baby was quiet, then I could accept that, but few babies would sleep through a performance that loud and that long.

And as for the music... "Miss Saigon" is one of my all-time favourite musicals. :) Some of the songs are on my never-to-be-deleted list. "American Dream!" "Last night of the World"! Even the haunting music when Chris and Kim got married. I could go on, but I won't. ;)

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, as far as the children are concerned, the three year old being there is probably more inappropriate. As far as everyone else in the audience is concerned, the baby is probably more the issue (though a three year old could chuck a tantrum or get scared very easily too).

I liked the music well enough in the show, but none really stuck in my head. To be fair, I've never really heard much from it before.

[msktrnanny.livejournal.com]

I think 3 is too young for Miss Saigon as well. and they wouldn't have been allowed in here in the states. Most shows have age restrictions... some it's over 4, some 6 and some frown on children at all [which means you get teens, which is okay if the parents want to expose them]. An infant is never appropriate at a Broadway style show unless it is specifically a children's performance [either in subject matter or a special production designated for such, which they do annually in New York]. Some parents just don't think.

As to the music. I enjoyed it very much when I saw the show on Broadway, but it didn't translate on CD, there wasn't the emotion in it and those screams at the end of each act weren't on it. I only listened to it once. lol.

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

It wasn't that I didn't enjoy the music as such, but I didn't come out of it wanting to hear it again in a hurry.

An infant is never appropriate at a Broadway style show

That's what I thought too, when I saw them. It's never something I've really thought about before, since I don't think I've ever seen someone foolish enough to try it!

[sproke-ina-can.livejournal.com]

An infant just wouldn't know what was going on anyway. They don't have the memory to be able to watch what's going on. A 3yo also mostly know what's going on though they'd pick up bits and pieces of the storyline. I hate it when parents do stuff like that, e.g. take children to the theatre or the rugby. They don't understand what's going on. Sure, it's a fantastic experience for them when they get introduced to the atmosphere and stuff, but mostly that only lasts for about 15-20 mins at the most and then the child is bored. They just don't have the or the patience to deal with a long show, and then the parents just end up getting shitty with them telling them to 'shh', 'don't do that' or jiggling them on their knee. It's just silly an unfair to everybody involved, especially the child who has no control over what's going on.

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

Yeah, there are child-appropriate ways to introduce your children to musicals and theatre - this was not one of those!

[engenda.livejournal.com]

You're freaking kidding me?

That is just rude.

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

I couldn't make this shit up *sigh*.

[vaudevilles.livejournal.com]

No bringing babies or young children to shows. No No NO NO NO! I mean I adore the theatre but I'd never take my son along, unless they did a mums & bubs session (which they're never going to do because it would be horrendous for the actors).

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

It just boggled me (and my sister) so much. WHO thinks that is a good idea?

[charliequinn.livejournal.com]

Something like Beauty and the Beast or Lion King, go ahead and bring the kiddies! They will have seen the movie, they know what they're in for.

Miss Saigon? A KID? ARE THE PARENTS NUTS???

Although I have to admit when i saw it earlier in the year, all you could hear was people crying by the end, and there were no kids ::G::

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

I also think young children and *BABIES* are a kind of different story ;)