Written By Sason Bishope Parry
Ah, the Halloween spirit is amongst us again. It’s my favourite time of the year when you can be anything you desire and, of course, a time when witches, ghouls, and zombies come to life. There are good and evil witches, and in the case of Disney’s 1993 classic film, “Hocus Pocus,” witches love eating and stealing children’s souls. San Francisco’s Davies Hall was decked out in Halloween, and Dios De Los Muerto’s décor and art were installed throughout the crowded reception area. Fans of all ages poured in on Tuesday, October 24, some dressed as witches and maybe a few actual ones with us that night to share in the holiday excitement. It was a full house for the film, and rightfully so, as “Hocus Pocus” is one of those timeless Halloween favourites that can be enjoyed multiple times. Yes, it’s lots of fun, complete with comical mayhem and brilliantly done, with incredible musical performances! It’s a Halloween tale that tells of a trio of crafty witches, known as the Sanderson sisters, accidentally brought back to life in Salem on Halloween night. Their sinister plot is to steal the life essence from the town’s children so they can have eternal life. They are outwitted by a boy, Max Dennison, his young sister, Dani, and his girlfriend, Allison, and aided by a boy, Thackery Binx, who had been changed into a cat for trying to interfere with the witches centuries earlier. The teens give the witches a run for their money, and it’s nonstop wickedly enjoyable and keeps you on the edge of your seat, cheering on the youngsters in their attempt to spoil the witch’s plans.
The original film was released almost twenty years ago on July 16, 1993, and remains one of Disney’s treasured movies with a cult following that continues to grow. “Hocus Pocus” was directed flawlessly by Kenny Ortega. The film also hosts incredible performances, including the brilliant Bette Midler as Winifred Sanderson and her two sisters in crime, Sarah Jessica Parker as Sarah Sanderson, and the hilarious Kathy Najimy as Mary Sanderson. One of San Francisco’s favourite conductors, Sarah Hicks, was in fine form. She took the stage and set the mood from beginning to end, navigating SF’s best orchestra brilliantly through John Debney’s thrilling musical score. It was nonstop excitement in the house as fans cheered, laughed, and roared after every exciting musical number as the orchestra nailed each to perfection. Just wow, one of the best performances I’ve seen, and there have been plenty by this incredible group of musicians.
You could feel the energy as we exited the Halls, with fans taking their time and basking in an incredible night and another outstanding performance by the Symphony! Pre-pandemic, you would see people heading for the exits immediately before the ending to beat crowds and traffic. But in the post-pandemic era, it’s evident that people are more eager to savour every minute and show their appreciation with applause, presence, and a standing ovation, which were on total par this night—what a way to kick off the Halloween spirit.Â
The all-new “Hocus Pocus 2” film has also been released, just in time for the Halloween spirit on Disney+. So if you missed this incredible performance, then maybe grab some popcorn and enjoy a double feature of both this coming Halloween. It won’t be the same as catching it with SF’s best orchestra, but you and the family won’t be disappointed!
For more info on the SF Symphony, go to: www.sfsymphony.org
