Play it Again, Plaza
Theatre opens classic-film series with Casablanca
By BARRY HALVORSON bhalvorson@journal-spectator.com

Staff photo by Barry Halverson Debbie Cenko gets the popcorn ready to pop Friday night at the Plaza Theatre.

The majesty of seeing a classic movie as it was intended to be shown - on the big screen - was a revelation for many in the audience last Friday night at the Plaza Theatre on the Square launched its Plaza Classics film series.

While drawing heavily from the local community, the movie selected, Casablanca had a strong enough name to even draw visitors from out-of-town. Van Vleck resident Sarah Hanna said she heard about the movie screening on the radio and didn't hesitate to make plans.

"I love Casablanca," she said. "But I've only seen it on television and really want to see it on the big screen. I'm expecting it to be a more intense experience."

Following the movie, Hanna said the experience lived up to and possibly exceeded her expectations

Hanna was joined by Houston resident Emily Haworth, who had never seen the film before. At the end of the night, she said the evening was a minor life changing experience, at least for now.

Staff photo by Barry Halverson Jean Waller looks through a scrapbook of the various theatrical productions the Plaza has presented in the past.

"It's my new favorite movie," she said.

Those were the kinds of responses Plaza Board Member Candyce Byrne said she wanted to hear even before the evening started. Waiting for the people to arrive, she said adding classic movies to the live stage and music performances at the Plaza is all part of a campaign to continue to draw attention to the Theatre.

"It's more than deliberate," she said. "In making the decision to add classic movies, we want people to understand that this is a significant community asset. If we can get people to come and enjoy what we offer, they will develop an interest in the theatre and help us take care of her."

Like many in the audience, Byrne said she had never seen the movie on the big screen but was looking forward to the experience.

"I even studied it in college for a class," she said. "I looking forward to seeing it in the format that it was intended to be seen. Those producing the movie were thinking on that scale (the big screen).

"It's also important to see it in that format as an actor because you can appreciate it more. As an actor, you scale your performance to the stage you are on and the performers in this movie weren't doing a TV movie. It was meant to be seen in a movie theater."

An active member of the Plaza group, Roshunda Jones is one of the Plaza Live committee members as well as a director for the Litefooter youth theater program.

"I like the idea of bringing back movies to the Plaza," she said. "It's a demonstration that the community hasn't lost its sense of history but rather with all the things we offer, how it has evolved."

Jones said she intends to catch all of the classic movies as they are shown.

"I think it will give people a whole new appreciation of the big screen versus television. If you love movies, this is the way they are intended to be seen. You get a whole new appreciation for them."

Among those who had never experienced Casablanca on the big screen before the night was Stephanie Konvicka. She exited the evening impressed.

"I loved it," she said. "Movies like this are calls classics for a reason."

Considered one of Hollywood's most all-time quotable movies, Konvicka said she recognized at least a half-dozen quotes that have worked their way into popular culture such as "Here's looking at you kid."

Quinn Wrench specifically mentioned the quote "Round up the usual suspects." That was due in part to some of the subtleties that she'd never caught on the small screen showings.

"I didn't realize how much humor was in the movie," she said. "I caught a lot more of the great lines from the police lieutenant."

Watching the film with both a fan and a professional's eye was Carl Woodworth, the theater teacher from El Campo High School.

"It was so much better than trying to watch it on a television screen," he said. "And I'd forgotten how quotable the movie was. I can't count the number of great quotes like "Beautiful friendship" and "Looking at you, kid."

Woodworth said anyone skipping the movie missed out on a great opportunity and would encourage them to join in the fun in the future.

"I'd seen it once before on television and I missed a lot," he said. "It is truly a wonderful story and it's a classic that needs to be seen on the big screen. "