If you know me, you know I'm way into Lord of the Rings. Let's run through the check list.
Did I have an Aragorn life-sized poster in my room— 100%
Did I take my first ever selfie on a Kodak disposable camera with said life-sized cardboard cut out... mhmm
Did I only cross the precipice of Hot Topic to buy LOTR merch— you betcha
Do I still have the soundtracks on CD, the original movies on DVD and of course the extended box set edition on BluRay—YUP
So it was no surprise that Instagram aptly targeted me for the 'Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Live at Radio City' performance. I had to go.
So what does Live exactly mean. Are people on stage reenacting the film? Or is it more Rocky Horror Picture Show-inspired where the audience dresses up and interacts with the film? Neither actually. Live refers to the symphony orchestra performance of the score with a full choir and soloists that perform throughout the entire film as the movie played in the background— very culturally forward.
My long-time pen pal Bristol and fellow Brooklynite reserved our tickets. We were in the back row right on the aisle. The plush red Radio City seats were classic. It was mid-February so we laid our large puffy jackets across our laps like blankets. By the time we sat down, Galadriel was already sharing the history of the ring. The orchestra was in full swing with world-ending intensity.
It was easy to get sucked in even if I've seen the movie a thousand times. I hardly noticed that the two seats beside me were empty. Soon the mood lightened as the string section carried us through the sloping hills of the Shire. I was entranced by moving the violin bows, the cohesion of the musicians, the swift direction by the conductor. I happily followed Gandalf on his horse and carriage as he passed by the hillside hobbit houses. That's when a man and a woman came to the edge of the aisle each with two drinks in their hands.
"Excuse us, those are ours," the man said. "Sorry." He wore a baseball hat. They didn't have jackets. They looked rather casual. Bristol and I stood up with our puffy coats and waited in the aisle so the couple could sneak by.
"Thanks so much," the man said.
"No problem," I said quietly.
Back to the film. The hobbits celebrated with fireworks, Bilbo disappeared using the ring and then I felt a tap on my shoulder. "Excuse me, again," the man said.
I looked at Bristol as we picked up our coats and ourselves to stand in the aisle again so he could pass. We sat back down to reset. Now, Gandalf was on horseback to confirm whether the ring he cast into the fire was indeed the one true ring of power. As he confirmed the hero's journey with Frodo the the man with the cap appeared again. With two more drinks.
"Sorry," he said, again, shamelessly with a smile. I forced one in return as we got up, stood in the aisle and sat back down.
"Did these people come to get drunk or watch the movie," I whispered.
Soon Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin were on the run from the Ring Wraiths. The drums vibrated, the choir began an operatic end-of-days chant as the woodwinds delivered deep notes. I was transported into my 9-year-old body seated in the Brass Mill Mall movie theater in Waterbury, Connecticut when I I watched this scene for the very first time. I was afraid. The scene is dark. The shrill shrieks from the Ring Wraiths as they pulled on the reigns of the red-eyed horses was anxiety inducing. Frodo raced to reach the ferry. His run was sloppy, he looked like he might trip over himself. Would he make it? Or was this it? I remember my mom leaning over to say this is a trilogy you know. I didn't know. Then Frodo jumped and made it onto the raft safely with his friends... for now.
Watching this film with a live audience of other LOTR-fans was fun. Of course, we all couldn't help but laugh when Sean Bean's character, Boromir, said "One does not simply walk into Mordor." This scene wasn't funny in the year 2000, but now this moment is a meme. Ah for the love of pop culture.
After the fellowship was established someone in the audience yelled MEDIC! Of course there was cause for concern amidst fellow audience members, but the orchestra continued to play. The show must go on.
The man said, "Get up. You are a doctor.' He lifted his female cohort up even though she was frazzled (and clearly inebriated). "C'mon get up," he said pulling her.
Bristol and I moved, yet again, as he dragged the woman down the aisle.
"WHERE ARE YOU," I heard him yelling as the drunk 'doctor' trailed behind him. "WHERE ARE YOU! She's a doctor! Tell us where you are? We are here to help!" I shook my head as they weaved through the aisles. The whole time he pulled her. Her hands bounced and her head bobbed.
"Is this seriously happening?" Bristol asked.
I'm not sure if it was a false alarm but moments later the dynamic duo returned. We got up.
"Thank you. Sorry. So sorry. Everything's okay," he said. "They're fine."
They settled while I returned my focus on the fellowship ducking behind rocks to hide from the evil bird spies Saruman sent. The pair stood up again as the Fellowship climbed the snowy mountains.
"This is the last time," the man said. "We won't be coming back I promise."
It was at that point I was completely relieved to have a place to stash my coat when realized how insanely long this movie is. And it wasn't even the extended edition.
Naturally, over the next few days I watched the rest of the Trilogy from the comfort of my bed. The only interruption came from the cat when he meowed for his meals and from my boyfriend who sat down to watch with me.
"That's Eragon, right?" He said.
"Aragorn." I corrected.
"Same thing," he said.
"Actually it's not."
"So what are they going to do again?" Marc asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Like what's the deal with the ring?"
"You're joking right?"
"No. I've only seen these movies once?"
"Excuse me?"
"I really think I've seen this movie only a few times. I'm not obsessed like you."
"Okay... well they have to destroy the one ring that will rule them all before it destroys all of Middle Earth."
"Or else?"
"Really? Or else all of Middle Earth will succumb to Sauron and his army of evil."
"Dork," he said. "I bet you know the speeches too."
In fact, I do.
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