When Vancouvers storied Orpheum Theatre opened in November 1927, it did so with a week-long run of the silent film The Wise Wife. And when it marks its 85th anniversary on November 8, it will be with a very special screening of the Charlie Chaplins City Lights.
Given these celluloid-based bookends to the theatres history (to date), its somewhat ironic that it was the movies that almost spelled the end of The Orpheum in 1973.
It was a really dark time, recalls Rob Haynes, chair of the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Civic Theatres Board. Famous Players had a great idea: They decided that theyd bulldoze the place down [in favour of a multiplex]. There was absolute public outcry over this.
The ensuing grassroots campaign culminated in the city wresting the one-time vaudeville house away from the theatre chain. After four years of extensive renovations, The Orpheum was reborn as a concert hall and permanent home of the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Symphony Orchestra.
Consequently, its only fitting that the VSO should play an integral part in commemorating The Orpheums upcoming anniversary. While Haynes is quite certain (but not willing to guarantee) that City Lights graced the theatres big screen upon its 1931 release, theres no question about the rewarding 25-year relationship that Bramwell Tovey, the VSOs musical director, has shared with the film. November 8 will mark the forth occasion that the Grammy winner has conducted live orchestral accompaniment to the Chaplin classic that sees The Tramp wooing a working class blind girl.
Its such a great film and the music is by Chaplin himself. Its a beautiful score. Gorgeous melodies that are very haunting. enthuses Tovey. Ive done other movies with live orchestra but this one I always felt was the best one.
Given the conductors evident reverence for the filmmakers work, hes ensured that every element of Chaplins composition is preserved. Were sticking to exactly the same music, the same sound effects... Everything.
Of course, this requires Tovey and the VSO players to familiarize themselves with a dense, intricate, and idiosyncratic score that features a wealth of music cues. The cues are, as you can imagine, in pretty much a continuous stream, he explains. Furthermore, the players must keep pace with Chaplins on-screen antics. Its almost like conducting for ballet in reverse. You get the sense of Chaplins physical comedy. Its interesting how he allied that to music. If you can catch that, youve done a pretty good nights work.
Tovey is quick to refute any suggestion that conducting comedic music poses any unique challenges. All music making is about timing... Its about judging climaxes... Making sure the adagios and minuets are all done at the appropriate speed, he details. In this particular case, the timing is all Chaplins... The conductor is in charge of the music but Ill be in thrall to Chaplin and his incredible brilliance. You cant deliver a diminished seventh chord too soon if Chaplin is going to fall on his butt.
Appropriately, the screening of City Lights should also mark the return of one of Granville Streets most long-standing sights. If you go down at night, The Orpheum sign is dark right now, shares Haynes, referencing the iconic neon sign thats graced the theatre since the 1970s. One of the reasons is because were having it totally rewired. All of the electronics are being fixed. Were hoping that well light it up for the first time on November 8.
Thats a step in the right direction for Tovey, whos seen the cultural significance of The Orpheum grow in his 13 years as the VSOs musical director. In Vancouver, were very happy to strip away our architectural heritage, he laments. The Orpheum has become much more than just an old theatre thats been saved. Its become, in a sense, almost a talismanic construction that represents a great swathe of Vancouvers history. It was a vaudeville theatre, a movie house, a regular theatre, and its been a concert hall for most of the past 35 years.
And if he were asked to boil all of that down to a single descriptor? Its become a shrine for heritage buildings in British Columbia.
Tickets to the November 8 screening/performance of City Lights range from $26.25 for students to $45. Go to VancouverSymphony.ca for details.
