A BLOCKBUSTING musical is causing problems for one cinema owner.
But it’s all good for Rex owner Charles Morris, who says filmgoers can’t get enough of the latest hit Mamma Mia.
Mr Morris says he is having to turn crowds away for the first time since 2003 when feel-good comedy Calendar Girls was screened at the Elland cinema.
Other sellouts at the Rex included The Full Monty in 1997, Brassed Off in 1996 and Shirley Valentine in 1989.
To keep up with the demand the cinema has decided to lay on matinees and screen Mamma Mia for another week until August 14.
Even Hollywood’s most powerful actor Will Smith, who stars in superhero flick Hancock, has been booted off the screen to make way for the smash starring Meryl Streep, Julie Walters and Pierce Brosnan.
Mr Morris said: “Once every few years, we get a film like this. It’s a nice situation to be in, for us, but we do apologise to those who have been unable to get in.
“We are showing it for another week with two performances on August 9 and August 12 and another morning show on August 14 at 10.30am. We’ll see how we go with that and if necessary we’ll hold it another week.
“It’s a happy, feel-good film and the audience has been coming out still singing the songs. I think it is a welcome antidote to the depressing news at the moment.
“A similar thing happened with the Full Monty in 1997, just after Princess Diana died.”
