Reviving Buffy…Once More, With Feeling
By Denise Tong
Who knew ten years ago that a TV series with a name like Buffy the Vampire Slayer could earn the love of viewers and critics alike? And who knew how much people would miss it after it was gone?
Nowadays, superhero stories are the norm. They’ve enticed millions of people into the multiplexes and can come in rather unlikely forms—witness Hayden Panettiere as the indestructible cheerleader on NBC’s smash hit Heroes.
But the concept of a cute young female superhero was patently absurd to some in 1997, when Buffy debuted as a mid-season replacement on The WB. Its dubious premise and silly title seemed to doom it for failure. But the series—at once clever, funny, and moving—began gaining critical kudos and a cult of devoted fans, eventually spawning seven seasons.
By the series’ end in 2003, its writing had been nominated for an Emmy (2000), its star Sarah Michelle Gellar had been nominated for a Golden Globe (2001), and it had landed at #41 on TV Guide’s 2002 list of the “50 Best Shows of All Time.”
Today, Buffy fans are still burning up online message boards and fanfic sites, as well as buying Buffy comics, DVDs, and books. And for those who want to enjoy one of the series’ most popular episodes with a group of enthusiastic strangers, they participate in the nationwide Buffy Musical.
Created by über-fan Clinton McClung in 2004, the event revolves around “Once More, With Feeling,” the series’ classic musical episode. Attendees watch a compilation of clips or participate in a few games prior to a screening of the episode, during which they sing along. As the episode plays, a cast of actors encourages attendees to punctuate the experience with props—think a gentler version of the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
The event takes place twice monthly in New York City with a regular cast and also travels around the country, drawing out fans everywhere.
When asked about some of his most memorable past showings, McClung recalls, “The first show we did in NYC with a cast in November 2006 really showed me that I could take the show in a whole new direction; my first shows in Chicago in January 2007 brought in 750 people a night, which were our biggest crowds; and of course the Buffy Prom in Boston—that night was truly magical because the audience came in formal wear, then stayed up dancing and partying with us until 4 a.m.”
He continues, “Pretty much every city is its own crazy fun time, and having a different audience every time makes each show an adventure. The presence of the NYC cast adds a different energy, though. We get a lot more laughter here because we pull off lots of gags during the show.”
A recent showing at Manhattan’s IFC Center proved as lively as expected. Fans entered the theater armed with a goodie bag that contained a set of vampire teeth, a monster finger puppet, a small bottle of bubble solution, a kazoo, and a party popper. McClung came out to greet the crowd, explain what the props were for, and suggest some non-prop actions for certain parts of the episode.
After a clip show of the best moments of Anya, the blissfully tactless ex-demon, the screening kicked off. Below, some highlights from the evening:
- Being prompted to shout, “SHUT UP, DAWN!” every time the annoying teen acted, well, annoying. It seemed like a lot of people enjoyed shouting that as well…
- Witnessing the cavalcade of underwear that was thrown at the end of the extremely short but completely terrific “Mustard” song. Plus it’s always fun to watch Buffy writer David Fury (who has written for Angel and Lost and is currently writing for 24) sing and dance with dry-cleaned garments in his hand.
- Enjoying the dreamily weaving spots of light from the dozens of cell phones held aloft during Giles’ plaintive “Standing” number.
- Blowing bubbles for “Dawn’s Ballet”; it nicely achieved the “Lawrence Welk effect” McClung had been going for.
- Hearing the kazoos attempt to correct Sarah Michelle Gellar’s off-key moments in “Something to Sing About.” It was so wonderfully ridiculous that some audience members were giggling too much to contribute instrumentation of their own.
While the event gently poked fun at its own geekiness, it was ultimately a heartfelt tribute to the episode and series in general. And that was really the best part of the evening: For Buffy fans to be together, all wearing their devotion on their sleeves.
Perhaps no one enjoys the event more than McClung, who says, “I meet other Buffy fans, travel to all these different cities, and make my hobby of being a Buffy geek into a full blown career!”
For a fan of any TV series, it doesn’t get much better than that.
Image courtesy of BuffySings.com.
