Another Harry Potter film is approaching — the last one ever — and for the first time, South Enders won’t have to leave the island or drive to Oak Harbor to see the young sorcerer on opening day.
The Clyde Theatre in Langley will be opening a film for the first time in its history, and co-owners Blake and Lynn Willeford couldn’t imagine a more perfect movie for the occasion than the last of the epic series, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.”
“We’ve loved all the books and all the movies,” said Lynn Willeford. “We’ve been watching kids grow up with Harry Potter, and it gets kids reading, so what’s not to like?”
Opening a movie generally means playing it for at least three weeks, and this is the first one Willeford thinks South Islanders will want to see for that long.
Anacarey Clark, 12, of Langley, and her friend, Sarah Stone, 13, of Freeland, have read all the Harry Potter books and have seen all the movies. They’re big fans of the teen wizard.
“I’m like a fanatic, actually,” Anacarey said.
“I’m like obsessed,” Sarah said.
Because Harry Potter has never opened on the South End, Anacarey hasn’t been to many premieres and Sarah hasn’t been to any, so they’re excited for The Clyde to play this one on opening day Friday.
But The Clyde is straying a little from traditional Harry Potter openings, which take place at midnight the night before opening day.
“We couldn’t think of anybody who would want to drive home from a movie at 2:30 in the morning, and on Whidbey Island midnight is more like 9:30 p.m. anyway,” Willeford said.
So they’re showing the movie at 9 a.m. Friday instead. Willeford is encouraging moviegoers to come in their pajamas.
“We want it to be like we’re all sitting around at the Hogwarts dorm,” she said.
A few people want to take it one step further and actually camp out the night before — another first for The Clyde.
Frannie Fleming, 13, lives at Sandy Point during the summers and has never been to a Harry Potter premiere because they’re always late at night and off-island. She hopes to camp out with a few friends (and parents) to avoid arriving to her first HP premiere after it’s already sold out.
“It’s my first one, so I’m really excited,” Frannie said. “I’m hoping it’ll have a lot of action, that it’ll be just as good as Part 1. I hope it has a good ending and that it goes along just like the book does.”
Blake Willeford doesn’t think camping out is such a good idea, and Frannie said there may be some trouble if there’s a curfew in Langley. Either way, she’s willing to spend a while in line to make sure she gets tickets.
The Clyde holds 258 guests, and Willeford is expecting at least 200. She said not to be discouraged if the line goes past the Star Store; the theater holds more people than that.
Doors will open at 8:15 a.m. and tickets are being sold first-come, first-served. Willeford said there will be a strict no-cutting policy.
Guests can get breakfast before the show, and Willeford said coffee will be available at Mike’s next door. Just don’t try to bring your food inside, she said. “It’s pajamas at The Clyde, not breakfast at The Clyde.”
Anacarey and Sarah have camp Friday morning, so they may have to wait until The Clyde’s 7:30 p.m. showing Friday. But they’re still excited to have the opportunity to go to the movie on opening day — Anacarey in her invisibility cloak and Sarah in her Hermione costume.
