James Bond fever was in full swing at Strathcona Hotel’s Distrikt nightclub long before Daniel Craig inevitably said, “Bond, James Bond” during Thursday night’s Spectre preview at the Odeon.
Before guests descended into the Strath’s subterranean hipster haven, there were telltale signs it was a swanky affair, such as the gleaming grey Jaguar and Range Rover from Carson Automotive parked outside.
There was no shortage of Bond babes, tuxedoed gents, white silk scarves, Pussy Galore jokes and guests costumed as franchise characters, with pussy-petting supervillain Ernst Stavro Blofeld the clear favourite.
“Telly Savalas played him, Mike Myers mocked him and now Christoph Waltz will attempt to duplicate my terror,” said Brent Dobbie, affecting an exaggerated eastern European accent.
Clutching a stuffed white pussycat and placing his pinky finger on his lips, Dobbie seemed more Dr. Evil than Blofeld.
The Molson Coors Brewing Co. rep’s outfit contrasted with hotel co-owner Grant Olson’s sharp tuxedo. Olson even fired a fake gun as part of his Bond impersonation during the duo’s pre-screening sketch.
“We figured we’d do good and evil and, hopefully, educate some people about Spectre,” said Dobbie, who with Olson staged the event, one of just five such Heineken-sponsored premières in Canada.
“I remember watching Goldfinger as a kid, and I loved the gadgets and the sexiness,” recalled Olson while the For Your Eyes Only theme played. “I fell in love with the character and the dynamics of the spy world.”
Guests included Corey Small, the Victoria Shamrocks player still basking in the glow of his Mann Cup win, and fiancée Lauren Lysiuk, stunning in an elegant off-the-shoulder dress.
“Any opportunity to go over and above, that’s what persuaded me to come here tonight,” Lysiuk said.
“We’re getting married in a week, so we’ve been laying low for the past few months,” Small said. “This gives us a chance to just go out and have some fun.”
Grant Olson’s brother Craig, or “Daniel Craig” as he was nicknamed, also schmoozed with guests before they were transported in luxury buses to Cineplex Odeon, where manager Pierre Gauthier and staff took over.
A pre-party highlight was an appearance by Showgirl Shenanigans, five dancers wearing gold-lamé costumes who performed to a Moby remix of James Bond theme songs.
“We’re dressed in theme as the gold girls from Goldfinger,” said Sarah Ivey before their street jazz and cabaret number began.
After the 143-minute movie ended, they playfully reappeared at the Casino Royale-themed after-party at the Sticky Wicket, where guests drank Grey Goose vodka martinis and danced the night away.
For Grant’s old high-school buddy Scott McDonald, the Bangkok-based Asian desk editor for Associated Press, the event was an unexpected diversion.
“I’m just in town on vacation. We played some golf [at Victoria Golf Club] and he said, ‘Come on down’ so I even put a suit on,” said the Oak Bay High graduate.
For many, the celebration of the 24th James Bond film was an excuse to dress up.
“I don’t usually dress up,” smiled Caran Langdeon-Wilkins. “I’m doing this under duress.”
Vintage Bond theme music and signature visuals on large screens weren’t the only flashbacks felt by some patrons, like David Billingham, or D.B. as he’s known to his friends.
“I came here in 1967 on a cross-Canada tour when [Distrikt] was the Old Forge and the Brothers Forbes were playing,” recalled the elderly Englishman, who wouldn’t be out of place in a Bond film himself. “I was on holiday, and I never really went home.”
