(Now, I’m not going into detail about why I love Buffy so much. That’s a whole other, much longer post. And if you’re already biased against Buffy, I doubt an essay about witty dialogue and self-conscious humor and Buffy-themed PhD programs would change your mind.)

So how was it? Honestly, not quite as amazing as I’d hoped. The live cast didn’t add much to the experience, and therefore mostly distracted from the movie (though I suspect they haven’t done the show in a long time – since they were shut down – and should probably be congratulated for doing as well as they did). And the crowd wasn’t quite as rowdy as I’d hoped. But there were some spectacular moments.

My favorite? A hilarious pre-show music video of the Dresden Dolls’ “Coin-Operated Boy,” featuring a montage of Buffy’s relationship with Riley. I also loved the goodie bag we were all given in line, including a kazoo for playing along when Buffy sings about being in heaven, bubbles to blow during Dawn’s ballet, a monster finger puppet for singing “Grrrr.Argh.” along with the cartoon character at the end, and plastic vampire teeth. Though some of the audience-participation tips fell flat (I don’t want to scream “Hotness!” when Spike appears on screen), others were inspired. For example, yelling “Shut up, Dawn!” whenever Buffy’s whiny little sister says something stupid (which is often), and answering the questions in her brief solo song as so:

Dawn: “Does anybody even notice?”

Audience: “No!”

Dawn: “Does anybody even care?”

Audience: “No!”

There were also some fantastic impromptu responses from the show’s organizer Clinton McClung (who originated the show in New York and has been touring it around the country).

Buffy (to Giles): “What would I do without you?”

Clinton: “Make bad movies!”

We all miss Angel.

As for the audience, it was quite the mishmash: lots of geek-side-of-normal adult-types (30s? 40s?), a few hipsters, a goth or two, a couple of youngun’s (isn’t midnight past your bedtime?), and one young guy wearing a hideous blonde wig and a leather coat who kept trying to steal the spotlight from the Spike in the live cast. There were also several bunnies, including the cutest little girl in pajamas who I met in the bathroom (her friend wore a little brown dress and a cross, clearly channeling Buffy). I heard rumors of a girl dressed as Anya in the musical – red bra, red shorts, red shoes – but few other people were dressed up. (Despite my obsession with Buffy, I do not, as of yet, have a Buffy character costume. Though I’ve joked about being one half of the Tara-Willow lesbian duo with my new Buffy-loving BFF for Halloween.)

I've got a theory: it must be the cutest bunny outfit ever.

All in all, the show was totally worth the $12 most people paid to get in. As for me? I’m not so sure. For $90, I’d hoped for a bit more – both from the live cast and from the crowd. Then again, that’s less the fault of the organizers or of the audience than it is the Craigslist dude who gouged me on the ticket price (he has three kids, he said, and Christmas is coming up, or he wouldn’t have), and of course me, the girl who’d spend two weeks eating Ramen so she can watch one episode of television.

OK, friends. I’m ready for my intervention now. Well, maybe not right now. Let me see Season 2 one more time first, alright? Just one more time…And then I can totally stop. I swear.

Me (right) and my drug buddy.