The Lion King

Today I had the opportunity to see The Lion King.  The show was o.k., it was clearly Disney.  However I quickly became distracted by watching all of the parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles, who took their nieces, nephews, sons, daughters, little brothers and little sisters, etc., etc., etc... to see the show.  You know it is going to be a problem when the audience becomes more fascinating than the puppets on stage.

I've decided that I'm going to write the folks who write and distribute Playbill,  you know, the handout that they give you when you sit down, and suggest that they add a section in all Playbills that have shows that may have more than 10 children in the audience, called "Taking Your Child to see a Broadway Type Show" or "How to Behave when Tickets are Over $50.00"

A Guide From Someone Without Children to Someone With Children

1. You are not in your living room.  People can hear you talking.
2. Please take your child to the bathroom before the show starts.  "Popping" up and down is downright rude.
3. Opening a bag of chips is distracting.
4. Stop banging on the back of my chair.
5. If your child starts whining about going to the bathroom, just buck up and take them (See Rule #1).
6. Don't pump your kids up with sugar.  It makes them hyper and that makes them annoying.
7. Don't let them sit on your lap, then their seat, then your lap, then their seat, then your lap...you get the idea.
8. Tell your child that all of their questions will be answered as the story unfolds and that they should refrain from asking questions when the theater is dark.
9. When in doubt, please refer back back to Rule #1.
10. Don't dart out during the curtain call.  Teach your kids to sit, clap, and applaud the actors.  Saving 6 minutes isn't really worth it.

Comments

[Heidi Tobias Wong]

Was there myself and completely agree. Bring the kids, use it as a teaching moment and turn off your cell phones.

[Caroline Bender]

You are never too young to learn etiquette. Kids do have to learn how to behave in a theatre, a museum, a church. This is what children's events are for. The Lion King, while Disney-produced and family-friendly, is not Disney on Ice or The Wiggles show. It is not a sporting event. That is - audience participation is not encouraged. We did meet and sit with other families whose kids knew how much was expected from a trip to the Boston Opera House, and we thank them for taking the time to help their children become theatre patrons.

~~Resident Cranky Spinster

[Sharon Woodward]

Well said! I'm a mother of two young girls and couldn't agree more. Love #10!

I'd like to add #11 - only take children that you think are ready for the theatre experience. While my
3 1/2 year old would probably enjoy the show, I know she would make the people around her miserable.