Twin Peaks fans celebrate return of cult classic after 25 years
David Lynch-themed night will feature costume party and Twin Peaks burlesque
Vancouver fans of the creepy, cult classic Twin Peaks will be welcoming the show back to television tonight after a 25-year hiatus.
To celebrate the series' Sunday premiere, the Fox Cabaret on Main Street will be turning itself into part Roadhouse, part Black Lodge, two ubiquitous Twin Peaks locales created by director David Lynch.
"I envision it like the Roadhouse with a very surrealness of people drinking beer and having cocktails," said Michael John Unger,the host of tonight's Twin Peaks Cabaret.
Guests are encouraged to dress up for the costume contest while stuffing their faces full of pie and drinking coffee out of white mugs in an attempt to embody the show's main protagonist, Agent Cooper, who was played by Kyle MacLachlan.
Loved moody tone
Live, 'Lynch-esque' music will come courtesy of Songs from the Black Lodge, Louise Burns and a number of other performers set to recreate the unique soundscape of rural Washington state.
Unger told Stephen Quinn, host of CBC's On the Coast, that he wasn't exactly a lifetime fan of the show.
"I grew up in a very religious household so we were not allowed to watch shows of that nature," he said.
It wasn't until he attended film school that Unger became a huge David Lynch fan and he watched all of the episodes on laser disc.
"I just wore those tapes out. It was very familiar to me being set in the Pacific Northwest, the characters I loved, the mood, tone of the show really spoke to me."
Inspired filmmakers
David Lynch's early '90s series was cancelled after two seasons. Its style and aesthetic differed from other popular TV shows from the era, such as Cheers with its friendly bar, and the upbeat Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
The spooky mystery inspired a generation of filmmakers and has even been recreated in the form of an East Vancouver bar.
Recently it's gathered a new and dedicated fan base through Netflix. Part one and two of the third season will be available to stream on Showtime with 16 episodes to follow.
The return of the show has been hyped with numerous articles reliving the show's glory days and plenty of conjecture about what to expect from Lynch, who will be directing every episode and returning as his character, FBI Regional Bureau Chief Gordon Cole.
With files from CBC Radio One's On the Coast