WE have introduced varied start times each day. It is always good to say that we have been so busy that we have queues on the stairs, but it is not a good feeling for patrons, nor is the stress on staff very good. So we have decided to spread the start times at the start of the day, as well as throughout.

There have been some unprecedented days, particularly the week before Christmas, for instance, which has been the busiest in the cinema’s history since I took over, with more than 1,500 people in one week.

We had to have five staff on to cope. With 149 seats now across our three screens we are busier than ever.

We started the varied start times last Friday and the response seems to have been that it is better from both sides of the counter.

There was only one new film for us to watch again this week, which is Wild.

Whenever I hear “wild” I always think of the Not the Nine O’clock News sketch where Pamela Stephenson introduces Professor Timothy Fielding and a guerilla called Gerald, who Professor Fielding captured in the Congo in 1968. He said that Gerald was wild when he caught him and Gerald pipes up to say “Wild? I was absolutely livid!” No, I really do think of it every time.

In this case, though, Wild is the film from the book of the life of Cheryl Strayed. Cheryl didn’t cope well with the death of her mother and went off the rails in a big way sliding into drug abuse, destructive behaviour and personal abuse.

In one moment, though, she comes across the guide to the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and buys it. The PCT is a long-distance hiking trail and bridle path along the highest portion of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges, 100 to 150 miles east of the American Pacific coast.

The trail goes from the American-Mexico border in the south to the border with Canada in the north, a distance of 2,663 miles, though the film talks about 1,000 miles.

We are used to Reese Witherspoon playing very clever parts in a lighter fashion than this. It is a really first-class performance from her in a really gritty part.

The drug and sex scenes are not gratuitous, but fairly strong, hence the 15 certificate.

There will undoubtedly be parts of the book missed by the film, which will be disappointing to those who have read her memoir.

I was caught by the story and found the film flew by. Wild is a story of someone who loses herself and follows a path taking her to where she is now and wouldn’t have arrived without doing what she had to on the way.

Unfortunately, because of our busy schedule we only have this film for one week so if you would like to see it then please come either today (Wednesday) or Thursday, as that will be our last day.

 

Films from Friday

Kingsman: The Secret Service (15) opens from Friday. Looks like fun with Colin Firth playing a Stead-like (Avengers) looking character.

Paddington (PG and number six in the top 10) is still being enjoyed by all ages.

The Theory of Everything (12A and number three in the top 10) plays for another week as it is still getting great audiences. Into The Woods (PG and number four in the top 10) is still with us for weekends. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (12A and not in the top 10) is still with us for weekends. Testament of Youth (12A) continues for another week.

Looking a little further ahead we have got The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel starting on February 27 and people are trotting in to ensure they get their favourite seats.

Fifty Shades of Grey is getting booked up earlier next month so we are optimistic that we will have some sell-out performances.

The next film from Aardman is Shaun the Sheep Movie, which will be open to book before long.

The trailer promises the usual family entertainment and humour. We are only starting Shaun the Sheep Movie at half-term (February 13).

 

Live stage productions

NT Live: Treasure Island (12A) will have an encore performance with the added bonus that the distributor has allowed us to price tickets as though it is a film, so it will be cheaper than usual.

Treasure Island Encore is on Wednesday, February 18. ROH Live production of the Opera Andrea Chenier (12A) will be beamed live tomorrow (Thursday) and has still some good seats.

The story takes place at the time of the French Revolution and is about a poet, Andrea Chenier and servant Carlo Gerard who both love Maddalena – a young aristocrat.

Maddalena loses everything in the Revolution and Andrea offers her protection, which stirs jealousy in Carlo, now a powerful official. Andrea is arrested during the Terror and Carlo condemns him, spurred by his jealousy.

Maddalena makes a desperate appeal and Carlo tries, too late, to defend Andrea but does help Maddalena join Andrea in prison. and the lovers face the guillotine together. Still some good seats available.

Next month we have RSC Live: Love’s Labour’s Lost (12A) , set in the summer of 1914. The king and his friends dedicate themselves to a life of study and take an oath to avoid the company of women for three years, but then the Princess of France and her ladies-in-waiting arrive.

In the words from Mama Mia I think that “dot, dot, dot” may be appropriate – though if you haven’t seen the film or stage show this is the part where the romance happens.

NT Live: A View From The Bridge on Thursday, March 26, is booking up nicely virtually straight from announcement.

Mark Strong is a strong performer and plays the “strong” characters – pun intended.