THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 21, 1994 TAG: 9406210087
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KEITH MONROE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940621 LENGTH: Medium
It was the kickoff for this summer's edition of the Great Outdoor Movie Festival. Every Thursday at 9, The Family Channel provides recent G and PG films for free and Festevents shows them outdoors on a big screen at the Town Point Park band shell. Sort of a drive-in movie without the cars.
{REST} This year the films will be interrupted for a brief intermission around 9:30 as Nauticus contributes a laser light show and fireworks display. Vendors provide frozen lemonade, Italians sausage, pizza slices, ice cream cones, you name it. Weather permitting.
That last caveat is a reminder to always read the fine print. As movie time approached, courting couples were lolling in the grass, kids were playing catch and running hither and yon, babies were gurgling, a tugboat chugged past in the water, a half moon rocked in the sky and clouds were gathering.
Perhaps prophetically, the sound system was pumping out ``The Little Mermaid'' hit ``Under the Sea'' - ``everything's better, down where it's wetter, listen to me. . . ''
Several large drops pattered across the picnickers. Soon a light rain was steadily falling. Luckily the grass was dotted with tents erected in anticipation of the next day's Bayou Boogaloo. Moviegoers crowded under them to wait for the clouds to roll by and for ``Beethoven's 2nd'' to begin.
``Don't worry, folks, it's just a little water,'' said the technician. But he shut down the sound to avoid electrical mishaps.
Great jags of lightning split the sky. Clashes of thunder followed. By 8:45, the downpour was torrential and the lightning was striking in every direction. An executive decision was made to cancel the first Great Outdoor Movie of the season.
Not that anyone appeared to be too put out by this turn of events. There was an exhilarating charge of ozone in the air. After days of oppressive heat, rain, and the breeze it brought, were a pleasure. Kids gamboled in streets coursing with water. They clearly felt singin' in the rain was at least as much fun as watching a large dog slobber on Charles Grodin for 90 minutes.
A sudden squall is just one of the hazards of staging outdoor entertainments. Deb Hickman of Festevents warns that, on still nights, ``you might want to bring along a little mosquito repellent.'' But the shows will go on. Festevents and The Family Channel will convene the next meeting of the Great Outdoor Movie Festival Thursday, at 9 when the feature will be Sister Act II. Once again, fireworks and a laser show from Nauticus will be added attractions. Weather permitting.
A word to the wise: Bring an umbrella.
by CNB