Well, Cinema Paradiso was nice, the theater was fine, and the (adult) audience was attentive throughout (it was the long director's cut), but I was disappointed to find they were running a Blu-ray and not a regular DCP (Digital Cinema Package).
BUT...
The Blu-ray performed beautifully. I remember being told by a couple of folks on Home Theater Forum that a good Blu-ray transfer can hold its own when properly projected to a medium sized theater screen, depending on distance, of course...and it did indeed. So for the most part, all was well, because this was nevertheless a night out in an unusual but real, if not huge, theater. I can explain more tomorrow.