Not-so-cheap seats

LotR fans from Japan to Canada have been lining up to sponsor seats at Wellington’s Embassy Theatre, currently being refurbished in preparation for the world premiere of The Return of the King. 613 of the 748 seats up for grabs have already been purchased, with prices ranging up to $1,104. Rings-fever is clearly running high in Wellington. As a Toronto Star feature notes, “While Christmas trees have already gone up in the department stores, it’s a different Lord on everybody’s mind. In the capital of New Zealand the halls, streets and storefronts are decked with Lord of the Rings decorations … Christmas is going to have to work hard this year to top the LotR frenzy.”