Musical theatre fan buys Les Misérables tickets for family, only to be late to the show because of parents' tardiness, leading to a dispute: ‘It just felt ruined’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Feb 24, 2026 5:00 PM EST

Imagine waiting months to see your favorite Broadway show only to miss the first 25 minutes because of someone else's mistake.

You don't have to be a musical theatre fan to hate the idea of being late to something you have paid so much money for and have been looking forward to for months. If it has a starting time, it's best if you arrive on time so as not miss anything important. If you've waited for it for so long, the least you can do is ensure you are actually there by the time it starts.

Some people, unfortunately, will never be on time for anything, no matter how important it is to them. They are physically incapable of planning their schedule in a way that will allow them to arrive at events on time, or dare we say, even early. They are sure that "things will be just fine", expecting everything to work out despite their lack of care for a schedule.

Which leads us to this general pro tip: Never plan to go to something you have been looking forward to with someone who is never on time, at least not if you want to be there when it starts.

When the musical theatre fan below bought tickets to see Les Misérables on tour, they were so excited. They were going to see their favorite musical with their family, and it was going to be a great night… or so they thought. You see, they made the mistake of inviting their in-laws to tag along, because those two are always late to everything. Planning to drive to the theatre with someone who is always late to everything was perhaps not the best idea…

On the night of the show, the in-laws were, unsurprisingly, late, which led the entire family to arrive at the theatre right before the doors closed. Unfortunately, they did not get there in time to be in their seats once the show started. The poor fan had to miss the beginning of their favorite Broadway show, and they fully blame the in-laws for it. The rest of the family, on the other hand, blames the venue for the whole ordeal. Scroll down to find out why.

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  • Woman in Dress Posing in Theatre near Chairs
    via Harrison Haines

    Woman in Dress Posing in Theatre near Chairs

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • AIO for being upset that we missed the beginning of a Broadway show after my in-laws made us late

    I'm a musician and big music lover, and a few years ago I began to really fall in love with musicals, like almost obsessively.
    via RhubarbOk1178
  • My wife has always been a fan (her whole family is) so getting tickets to certain Broadway shows when they come to our area has become one of the main things we will splurge on.
    via RhubarbOk1178
  • We don't make a lot of money, but we will save up so we can afford halfway decent seats.
    via RhubarbOk1178
  • Les Misérables has become one of my absolute favorites to listen to, so I bought tickets 6 months ago and have been ecstatic looking forward to seeing it.
    via RhubarbOk1178
  • Like counting down the days. We also bought tickets for her parents, because they're also big Les Mis fans and have seen it multiple times.
    via RhubarbOk1178
  • The plan was to ride together (parking is expensive), and her parents would meet at our house since it's on the way.
    via RhubarbOk1178
  • The show started at 7:30, and it takes about 50-60 minutes to get there. They suggested picking us up at 6:00.
    via RhubarbOk1178
  • Now, her mom is notoriously late for everything. Sometimes extremely late. I told my wife that 6:00 was pushing it and the absolute latest we should leave, and leaves no room for being late.
    via RhubarbOk1178
  • She just acts like "oh it'll be fine" and always thinks I'm making a big deal out of everything.
    via RhubarbOk1178
  • Well, lo and behold, they were 15 minutes late. Not horrible, but it was enough that we didn't even get to the venue until 7:15, giving us just 15 minutes to get in the doors, through security, tickets scanned, and into our seats.
    via RhubarbOk1178
  • The venue was also having some technical issue and could not get people in very quickly at all.
    via RhubarbOk1178
  • The Les Misérables theatre on Broadway.
    via Samuel Regan-Asante

    The Les Misérables theatre on Broadway.

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • The line outside was huge, and incredibly slow, and when it was all said and done, the show started with well over a hundred people still waiting outside.
    via RhubarbOk1178
  • We missed getting to our seats by probably 2 or 3 minutes. Once the show starts they won't let you in until a certain point in the show, so we had to wait 25 minutes into the show before they would usher us into our seats.
    via RhubarbOk1178
  • There were a lot of upset people, it wasn't just us. My wife and her parents 100% blamed the venue, and were pretty much over it immediately.
    via RhubarbOk1178
  • I do think the venue had issues, but that's why you don't wait until the last minute to leave!
    via RhubarbOk1178
  • To account for any issue - can't find parking, getting pulled over, a long line to get in.
    via RhubarbOk1178
  • I honestly can't help but feel it's mostly their fault for being so late. So I couldn't help but feel just absolutely devastated missing a big chunk of this show that I'd been looking forward to for so long.
    via RhubarbOk1178
  • The beginning is extremely powerful, and missing it just really s ked. I couldn't get immersed, and couldn't get over how upset this whole thing made me.
    via RhubarbOk1178
  • The whole thing went by in a fog. It was a really big thing for me, and it felt ruined.
    via RhubarbOk1178
  • Now it's the next day and I'm still bummed. I didn't blow up on them. or tell them it was their fault or anything, that wouldn't have helped (though I will certainly take charge next time we go to a show and drive separately).
    via RhubarbOk1178
  • But my wife was baffled that I am still upset about it this morning. I told her I'd been looking forward to it for so long and it just felt ruined.
    via RhubarbOk1178
  • She just acts like it's ridiculous that I would actually be upset over this. "You can't let this actually ruin your mood." I'm honestly debating getting a ticket to see it again. tomorrow, the last day it's here, by myself.
    via RhubarbOk1178
  • It would be expensive, but I'll just work some overtime, donate plasma, whatever. But now I'm wondering if I'm just overreacting to this whole thing and if that would be ridiculous.
    via RhubarbOk1178

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family drama theatre mother siblings in laws musical broadway ticket family parents children Les Misérables Father
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