'Zorro' leaves its mark Sunday

NORWICH – Sunday’s performance at The Chenango County Council of the Arts is sure to leave its “mark” on Norwich.

Rick Benjamin’s Paragon Orchestra will perform the original, Spanish-flavored score to accompany the silent film classic “The Mark of Zorro” at the West Main Street theater at 3 p.m. this Sunday.

In today’s world of big budget blockbusters, CGI effects and Dolby Surround Sound, why go see a 1920s flick?

“There are a bunch of great reasons,” said Paragon’s Rick Benjamin. “First, silent cinema with live orchestra is a rare and great form of entertainment. Norwich will be the only place on earth that day where ‘Zorro’ will be seen with a live orchestra playing its original 1920 score,” he noted.

“Second,” the director said, “performing the event will be an internationally known orchestra which performs in most of America’s (and Europe’s) most famous venues (and the group’s latest CD was a 2008 Grammy Award winner). Finally, silent films really are a community activity: the audience’s reactions become part of the show. If you start cheering and yelling ‘Don’t go in there!’ at the screen in your local multiplex, you’ll get thrown out. With silent films, this kind of audience participation is not only welcome, it’s historically correct and fun.”