Seeing a classic on the big screen was great but..
by Flippyflyer on 12/20/15Valley Performing Arts Center - NorthridgeRating: 3 out of 5OK, this is my Ba-Humbug review of the event. If this is a review of the movie, let's say it was fantastic as always. But, if this is a review of the program, then I will start by saying that the tickets prices were rather high, unfortunately I paid the full amount ($57.00 for two non VIP tix) and just the next very day tickets went down to half-price (as I presume few seats had sold at the original price) Not a problem, it's going to a good cause and it's a donation. Additionally they were asking $50 a ticket for a "meet and greet" with several of the cast members. Again I think this is noble as I believe the proceeds are going to a good cause but $50 to meet several former child actors who you could possibly meet at a 7-Eleven somewhere these days.… Sounds like someone organizing this event was possibly getting too caught up in the mystique and importance of the movie and decided to take advantage and overcharge the hard-core fans for that experience. Just seems a bit tacky, I mean we are not meeting Lawrence Olivier or even any one of the main actors of the movie. I think if one just sets up at a table after the movie in the lobby where people could line up and possibly get something signed for a charge would've less silly and gouge-y feeling.
OK back to the show, for starters, charging six dollars for parking on the school campus after hours with the parking lot completely empty just seemed a little bit excessive and petty. The parking lots were HUGE and being after hours almost completely empty. The weird thing is is that they take your money right at the entrance of the auditorium and you're thinking that there's a normal parking lot adjacent to the auditorium but, no, they then point you two blocks away to the parking lot where do you have to have park and huff it back to the auditorium… Just really odd.
OK about the show, let me start by saying that there were happily, a lot of kids there with their parents. I think it's great that this classic movie is being "handed down" to the next generation. I don't know who with the program director but when there's a movie that's going to play, then let's see the movie. While the intentions might of been good to add the choir prior to the screening, there were a lot of children that didn't want to sit through that, as well as the Q&A with some of the actors of the movie (which I think was a great touch and interesting). The problem was the choir was singing sleepy religious songs rather than the uptempo classics like "Rudolph the red nose reindeer" and "Santa Claus is coming to town". not a Sleighbell to be found in the group!!! (which this time of season is sacrilege) Nice thought but a real downer before the movie. These preshow festivities dragged on for over an hour and 30 minutes. Kids around me were falling asleep.
Next time keep it short and sweet, have the choir outside as people are walking in singing songs and then do a quick Q&A before the movie and then right into the movie. The movie starts with just a couple of glitches, someone seem to be leaning on the pause button of the movie started and stopped a couple of times.
Overall, a good experience. Would definitely not pay the amount I paid next time around but it was for a good cause. So to sum up keep the choir out in the lobby before the show, Q&A and then the movie. In fact forget, the pomp and circumstance of this big auditorium opera house and just hold it at the New Beverly theater next year or just a more intimate venue with better surroundings and most likely a lot less cost for the people producing this program. (and lower tix priced to the patrons!) I don't see this event happening again at this venue. Nice thought just executed very poorly. Finally this is just a constructive criticism of the show, I hope the promoters will read it and take it to heart to possibly improve the next event! Happy holidays! Flippy