Premiere Night
Monday, November 25, 2013
Wang Theatre, Boston
I was having a busy week following the World Series trophies and players around, and I wasn’t done yet. On Tuesday MLB Films would be releasing the official World Series DVD to stores, and Monday night they held the premiere showing at the Wang Theatre. I knew from having attended the 2007 premiere that there would be players in attendance and that we could see them on the red carpet before the show. I also knew from last time that I likely wouldn’t be able to see anything, since the cameramen stood in front of the fans and had their huge cameras up on their shoulders.
The Wang Theatre was decked out with its most elegant leg lamp. Apparently "A Christmas Story" is also playing in the theater.
I was right; when I got there, John W. Henry and Tom Werner were being interviewed, but I couldn’t see or hear anything and it was too crowded to get any decent pitcures, so I went up to my seat in the balcony. A table on stage held the 2004 and 2007 World Series trophies, glowing under a red spotlight. Don Orsillo and Joe Castiglione entered to introduce the night’s guests. Ben Cherington, Larry Lucchino, bullpen coach Dana Levangie, and Hall of Famer Jim Rice were all in the house but didn’t appear on stage.
David Ross, Will Middlebrooks, and John McDonald shared their memories with Joe Castiglione.
Tom Werner came on stage to introduce the players – Will Middlebrooks, John McDonald, and David Ross, who was carrying the 2013 trophy. They all spoke briefly. Ross said his concussions felt so long ago, as if October had been a whole season of its own, and was impressed by the number of fans who kept thanking him for helping the team win. McDonald said that when he was growing up in Connecticut, he never thought he’d see a World Series trophy, let alone being one of the players rushing onto the field at Fenway Park after winning one. Middlebrooks talked about how fun it was to be a part of the team, and how the minor league staff did a good job at preparing the homegrown players for reaching the highest stage.
World Series trophies from 2004, 2007, and the 2013 one in the middle.
Then it was time for the movie. It was fun having a theater full of people all cheering along (not to mention yelling, “He was out of the basepath!” as the obstruction play that ended Game 3 was shown) as the film captured the season highlights and then detailed the postseason. I really enjoyed this year’s film. I personally think this is the best (read: most Red Sox-centric) World Series film of the 3 Red Sox wins. The other years I liked the NESN one better than the MLB one because it seemed like the MLB version had to focus equally on both teams. This time it started with the reaction to the Marathon bombings, and focused on the characters on the team, with the Cardinals being just another team they beat on the way. It was quite funny with Ross, Mike Napoli, and Jonny Gomes giving a lot of one liners, and there’s a funny bit as the credits roll and they debate whose beard is best. (Don’t worry, I won’t give away the ending. But go out and get a copy – I think you’re going to like it!)
