I'm a Potterhead, Sherlocked and a Whoivan. I am also a big cinephile. I love everything about the cinema-going experience. The popcorn. The over-priced tickets. The sense you get when in the middle of a great crowd, all ready and willing to be entertained.
But never in all my trips to the cinema have I experienced the atmosphere that was last nights screening of
The Day of The Doctor in cineworld. There were fezzes, pin-striped suits and even a forth Doctor, and that was just the crowd. (I lacked any Who-inspired clothing, which disappointed me. I did wear my Loki Charms t-shirt though, you know, just to show
some geek.)
1. The bar part was somewhat pimped out with Bad Wolf posters and had Sonic Screwdrivers cocktails on offer. Sadly, we were the later showing and there wasn't much left. Not even a coke to wet my whistle, I had to make do with a diet coke *shudder*
2. Never has it been so packed. There was a queue for the pre-booked ticket machines. (never seen that before!) You couldn't move in the corridor for the crowd awaiting to go in.
3. The sense of camaraderie was something else. Strangers were stopping each other in the foyer and along the corridors complimenting each others t-shirts, costumes and fezzes. Oh, there were sooo many fezzes! (That's because fezzes are cool!) People were picking up conversations with people in the seats in front of them, behind them, and none of it was to complain. It was all excited Who-themed talk and many people offered their neighbours a Jelly Baby or two.
4. Clapping. Cheering. Gasping. Laughing. The 50th anniversary inspired it all. One guy was so utterly thrilled by the Curator that I think he bust an internal organ for the little joyous dance he did in his chair.
It was an entirely new experience, and one I wish would happen more often. It was a pleasure to be a Whoivan and witness that little pocket of time-wimey when the Doctor inspired nothing but thrilling bliss tinged with expectations of the grandest sort.
