As any parent knows, bringing your child to a live performance can often be a challenge. For one mother, her public challenge turned into a viral post on Facebook recently. A mother recently brought her autistic son to a matinee showing of the popular stage show “The King and I” on Broadway.
During the show, her son began to make a fuss which caused some of the other people in the audience to become exasperated with the pair. After the show was over, Kelvin Loh- who is one of the stage actors, took to his Facebook to share what his thoughts were about the incident. What he had to say shocked many and his post ended up going viral…
Kelvin started off his post by mentioning how upset he was over the incident. Not for the reasons that many would think, not because his company of fellow actors were interrupted or because the audience was taken away from the moment.
He was upset because no one showed any compassion for that woman and her son. He applauded the mother for trying to bring her son to the theater and give him an experience like that. Kelvin also pointed out that the boy cried out during a violent scene in the show, and it seemed clear that his cries were those of terror.
Kelvin then went on to make a recommendation that theaters should hold shows that are inclusive for all types of audience members. A day at the theater should get to be a treat for anyone, including those with disabilities. Read his full response below:
