Archive for September 18th, 2006

Often when I tell people about my love for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I am met with strange looks and people backing away. But on Friday night I was in good company when I went to the IFC for New York’s first Buffy the Vampire Slayer Sing-A-Long. Back in Season 6 creator Joss Whedon wrote a musical episode that has since become a favorite among fans.

Luckily I had bought my tickets in advance because when I showed up at 10pm to pick them up I was told the show was sold out and to come back early. I asked what time the theatre opened and was told “Not for an hour and a half; but because of the. . . uh. . .emotions. . . of the Buffy . . . people, the line will probably start any minute now.”

Here’s a tip I learned about the IFC: they let people drinking in the bar next door into the theatre first.

Everyone in the packed theatre started playing with their vampire teeth and little monsters from goodie bags being sold ($2 each). Clinton McClung (the organizer) came on stage and gave us our instructions - when to yell when to throw things (the goal is to make it like The Rocky Horror Picture Show). He then had people come up on stage to act along with a sad Buffy/Angel scene and do their best impressions of Cordelia and Anya.

When the movie finally started the crowd went crazy. For the entire length of the one-hour episode everyone in the theatre was singing, yelling, throwing things and sometimes even dancing in the aisles. Buffy fans may be considered weird in the real world, but inside the theatre we could embrace our inner dorks.

After the screening McClung joked about starting it over again, to which half the audiences members yelled “yes!”, but instead he showed us the original unaired pilot, which Buffy creator Joss Whedon himself says sucks-ass.

For anyone who couldn’t get tickets or just plain missed it, you’ll stll have your chance. The Sing-A-Long will be back in November and hopefully will become a regular staple after that.