Labyrinth Celebrates 40 Years At The Fitzgerald!
What’s better than seeing one of your favorite movies in a theater? Well, having it be shown in a beautiful historic space like the Fitzgerald Theater with a live band performing the legendary score! When I saw that Labyrinth was celebrating its 40th Anniversary with a 60 city North American tour, knew I had to go. If you have not been to the Fitzgerald, really encourage a visit. Built all the way back in 1910, the theater is Saint Paul's oldest surviving theater space and still has plenty of that old-world charm. Make sure you find a sweet event or show there soon, it really is a gem.
When I got to the venue, there were plenty of folks hanging outside the doors, chatting about how excited they were for the movie. As I got inside, a cheeky Fitzgerald usher started my mood off right with a little quote-off, which of course I passed with flying colors. The plush red seats slowly finding their owner, spied a few fun costumes in the audience. Wigs and capes dotted the crowd, of course with plenty of sparkly accessories to accompany the looks. Just before the band got started, two members from the project, the leader of the troop and also lead keyboardist, came out to greet everyone. Stating it is known as a ‘cult favorite,’ then jokingly stated they were unsure why right before saying “You remind me of the babe” with immediate “what babe?” right back in eager response from the audience. Also making sure to tell us that this was not an ordinary movie watching experience, encouraging people to dance and sing when they would like to throughout the screening. Seems like everyone was in the right mood for a fun night. The lights dimmed and a brief heartfelt message from Brian Henson, director Jim Henson’s son, popped up on the screen. Stating how excited he was that this movie had stayed in the mind of so many people after decades, and how proud his father would have been to see its continued popularity. Fantastic including that, got lots of smiles from the audience.
The band was really fantastic. Having seen Labyrinth a hundred or so times through my childhood, the soundtrack is seared into my brain, was slightly nervous about how it would differ than the theatrical release. The musicians are so talented, knowing how and when to flourish and deviate from the source material. Feeling warm and alive, amplified the story in ways I’ve never experienced before. One particular spot that really heightened a scene was when she is on the outskirts of the labyrinth and trying to find a way inside. The music in the film is already engaging, but when played live, feels like it really emphasizes the urgent feeling Jennifer Connelly’s character Sarah was feeling. When iconic characters, such as Ludo or Hoggle, popped up on screen, the crowd would cheer and clap as if they were performing just for us and not being projected onto a screen. Not too much dancing was had, but plenty of crowd participation through singing and uproarious laughter. The Bog Of Eternal Stench was hilarious, as almost everyone was making fart noises together to magnify the flatulence sounds in the movie. Fricken hilarious.
I was also very happy to see parents bringing their kids to share this magical movie in a theater together. Even though it may be 40 years old, it stands the test of time and hits like a home run. Not only did all the musicians play beautifully, it was honestly just cool to see the movie on a big screen again. As a fan of film, really hope this style of show becomes a standard for flicks with sick soundtracks. Fell in love all over again with the sights and styles, deepening my affection for what is one of the most influential films of so many childhoods. Thanks for visiting Saint Paul, Labyrinth crew. It was such a lovely evening.
