Latest 'Potter' draws opening-day throngs
BATAVIA -- Harry Potter fever hit the Fox Valley hard Wednesday, as fans flocked to local theaters to see the latest installment in the Hogwarts series -- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Dressed in capes and robes and wielding wands, crowds of people filed out of the Randall 15 IMAX here full of muggle-chatter.
(STNG Photo)
"For the past four nights we've been watching the movies in order," said Lauren Loveday, 13, who put off attending the movie's premiere with her sisters until Wednesday afternoon. "We were deciding which movie we liked best so far."
Others, including Stephanie Sukut, 20, of Naperville, and Brittney Tarr, 20, of Aurora, were a bit more ambitious. By 3 p.m., the girls had already seen the new movie twice.
At 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, the friends were waiting eagerly in line at the AMC Cantera 30 in Warrenville where 14 theaters showing the new film were sold out.
"I've been to a.m. showings before," Tarr said. "But they've never been that crazy."
"The entire first row was filled with kids in Hogwarts robes," Sukut added. Others came dressed a Professor Snape, Rita Skeeter and other wizards made famous by the books.
Kendall 10 Theatre in Oswego had three sold-out midnight showings and remained steadily busy throughout Wednesday -- a trend that held true at theaters across the country.
And while many are quick to poke fun at Potter fanatics, especially those old enough to drive, Tarr takes it in stride.
The cheerleading coach said her obsession is something that few understand.
"I coach 12-year-olds," she said. "When I tell them I read Harry Potter they say, 'That's so dorky.'"
Seeing the plethora of fans waiting in line as early as 8 p.m. for the midnight showing gave Tarr a little faith.
"It makes me feel like I'm not a lone Harry Potter fan," she said, looking around. "Clearly I'm not a loser."
A loser, no, a fanatic, maybe.
"She's got a robe ... and a wand," Sukut said, laughing at her friend.
"I'm saving them for the book (release)," Tarr interjected.
Harry Potter and the Whispering Hallows, the final book in the JK Rowling series based on wizardry, magic and a boy named Harry, will be released on July 21. The hype, however, is already taking the nation by storm.
"We're going to Oak Brook," Tarr said. "According to Muggle.net it's going to be the biggest party in the U.S. I told Stephanie she has to drive, though. That way I can start to read it on the way home."
ewurst@scn1.com