Future Cinema does Ghostbusters at the Troxy, London

I must have seen Ghostbusters a dozen times with two and a bit of them at my old hometown cinema when it was first released in 1984. I say 'and a bit' as the third time I tried to see it I had arranged with a school friend to meet outside the cinema. As I was so keen to meet him and get good seats I was at the start of the queue. As the doors opened and everyone crammed in my 11 year old mind told me I would meet my friend inside.

Being dropped off by his mother they probably thought I hadn't turned up so called my own mum. Whilst I started to watch the film oblivious to the worry caused, I noticed my mum was talking to the cinema's manager looking very worried but decided to duck my head and try to ignore her. Somehow it worked as my mum and manager went back down the stairs to the foyer. Thinking I'd gotten away I continued to watch the film up to the film's library scene.

Unfortunately, instead of hearing Bill Murray's voice it was blanked out by the cinema's PA and the voice of the manager announcing "Could Robin ***** please come to the foyer, your mother is waiting for you". All I remember from running out of the cinema was the audience laughing and not from the film's comedy script. Probably the most embarrassing true story of my lifetime.

Saturday night at the Troxy
Fast forward 30 years(!) and Future Cinema puts on Ghostbusters at the Troxy in East London. Despite the potential nightmare of a return journey the venue looked incredible. Plus, as soon as the ECTO-1 car drove past and the Walter Peck character waving his hands around warning us we soon forgot about the travel problems. The queue to enter went down quickly and the actors welcomed us in without a hitch. Once inside the stringed quartet played sophisticated chamber music and there were a couple of interactive areas such as the ESP laboratory. Loved the demon sofa chair with scary hands that spooked the girls.

Plenty of good 80's costumes around including the threesome appearing as ECTO-1, Adam Ant, Michael Jackson and a guy in a very homemade but funny Ghostbusters logo. The tables in front of the stage looked like a great place to get close to the action but we found the front row of the balcony allowed excellent views and some actor engagement.

Some clever use of projections, fantastic costumes and acting, and great timing and interaction with the movie made it one of the best events Future Cinema has done for ages.

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