There's no place like the Regent

By Brooke Leister

The Arlington Advocate
Thursday, December 30, 2004

Some dressed as Dorothy in blue-checked dresses and sparkling ruby slippers, others chose the creepy black costume of the Wicked Witch of the West, one donned ears for Toto, while another wore a sparkly silver costume in homage to the Tin Man.

On Monday afternoon, The Regent Theatre hosted "Sing-a-Long Wizard of Oz," an interactive film experience based on one of the most beloved movies of all time.

Despite Sunday's snowstorm, young and old braved the wintry weather to see the 1939 film on the big screen. To get in the spirit, several attendees, mostly children, dressed as their favorite characters. Dorothy and the Wicked Witch were popular choices, but there were a few Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, costumes, as well as the Scarecrow and Cowardly Lion.

Everyone who attended received a "Perform-a-Long Fun Pack," filled with a kazoo, a magic wand, bubbles and a noisemaker. Before the film began, "the Scarecrow" instructed the audience on when to use each item.

Because Glinda always arrives in a bubble, people were encouraged to blow bubbles at the screen each time she appeared. Magic wands were waved every time there was "movie magic," or the witches used their magic. Noisemakers sounded whenever the Tin Man made an entrance and kazoos were played whenever there was music without lyrics. White icons on the screen's left-hand corner were flashed to prompt participation at appropriate times.

Unlike most movie experiences where "Silence is Golden," audience members were encouraged to talk back to the screen, boo and cheer. When Toto escaped Miss Gulch's basket, the audience erupted in cheers - likewise when Dorothy yelled "Run, Toto, run!" when the terrier escaped the Wicked Witch's castle.

During each song, the audience merrily sang along to the lyrics flashed at the screen's bottom. Many also recited dialogue.

Arlington resident Julie Greenberg brought her two children, Isabel Chaney, 5, and Ben Chaney, 9, to Monday's Boston-area premiere of the sing-along version of the film. The family has seen the movie many times, and enjoyed the interactive experience.

"We thought it looked like fun," Greenberg said. "It was interactive. There was something to do besides just sit down."

Although she didn't sing along, Isabel enjoyed waving her wand. Her older brother sang, and liked using the props as well.

"I like the lesson that it teaches - that the place you should really most like to be at is home," the Peirce Elementary School fourth-grader said of the film.

Dava Singer of Brookline brought her daughters Danielle, 18, and Lauren, 13, to Monday's show. Her oldest daughter is a big "Wizard of Oz" fan and collects items related to the film.

"I was very excited to see it on the big screen since I wasn't born when it was made," said Danielle Singer, adding it was the first time she saw the movie in a theater.

Her mother loved the experience, and called it, "relaxing and a get-away."

Younger daughter Lauren liked being able to talk back to the screen.

"I thought it was (neat) to see it in the movie theater and scream things out because I like to talk during movies," she said.

Seven-year-old Gabriela Zylbersztajn of Jamaica Plain cheered for Toto throughout the film, but admitted to being frightened by the orange smoke that accompanied the Wicked Witch whenever she entered, or left, a scene.

The second-grader attended the screening with her mother Lourdes Sariol and friend Patty Gaitan, also 7.

Sariol decided to bring the girls after a friend told her about the showing, as well as about the child-friendly shows staged and shown at The Regent Theatre.

Based on the success of the "Sing-a-Long Sound of Music," which the theater hosted a couple of years ago, "The Sing-a-Long Wizard of Oz" seemed a natural fit, said Leland Stein, director of marketing and promotions at the theater.

"We saw that the week between Christmas and New Year's as a really entertainment and movie week for families. We saw it as a great thing," he said of the screenings. "This is the kind of show everyone can enjoy - young and old. Because everyone knows the words and lyrics, it seemed a real natural for a sing-along."

The last two screenings are today at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Throughout the week, six screenings were held, and Stein said about 200 tickets were pre-sold for each show.

Tickets cost $15 for adults, $12 for children and seniors and $10 for groups of 10 and more.

For more information, call 781-646-4849. The theater is located at 7 Medford St.