Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Napanee’s Bouler House Cinema will official open its doors Friday night for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic forced the shutdown of all non-essential businesses.
Owners Morgan Rayer and Mishelle Freitas-Rayer were busy leading up to the re-opening, ensuring all protocols were in place for a safe return.
“It is definitely different,” said Mischelle. “Like any other business in the area, we have to have everybody six feet apart. More than 50 per cent of the seats are closed in the theatre and they’re staggered so they’re six feet apart. Very much like a restaurant when they enter the theatre and are buying their ticket they have to wear a mask. Once they sit down and start eating their pop corn, they don’t have to (wear a mask).”
The games room will also re-open, but will be limited to 10 people at a time inside.
To mark the return of theatre to the community they opted for a light-hearted kids movie: The SpongeBob Movie, Sponge On The Run.
That flick is one of the few new films that haven even been released to theatres this year as many have either been delayed or released to streaming services. It’s made a trying time even more difficult as theatre owners attempt to entice patrons back to the big screen.
“It’s been a really interesting six months,” said Mischelle. “It’s been a little bit disappointing because the movie companies really haven’t put a lot of effort into helping theatres re-open. I think they too are very afraid and have significant investments in some of these movies and they don’t know if it’s worth it to put it out into theatres if people aren’t going to show up. There’s obviously that concern there.”
She credited Paramount, which distributes the animated SpongeBob, for taking the leap of faith and putting something out for the kids.
On top of all they’ve had to deal with during the shutdown, they soon discovered both their projectors had malfunctioned due to being idle.
“It was our first time doing this so we didn’t realize that when you power something down it’s got encryption in it and battery backups which we didn’t realize,” said Morgan. “It actually triggers the system shutdown and it’s a $10,000 fix.”
They were able to get one projector fixed while another it still being worked on. That means for the time being they’re limited to just one theatre.
On the bright side, they said their landlord Paul Kimmett was very understanding with them during the shutdown.
“He wants to keep the theatre up and running for the community,” said Mischelle. “He’s been really patient, he knows we can’t pay him full rent at this time. He’s helping us get back on our feet.”
Despite all the tribulations, they’re happy to be back and offering an escape from reality for those looking to be entertained for a few hours.
“We’re not there to make money,” said Morgan. “We’re basically breaking even. We do it for love. I’m a total theatre buff. I love movies, always have, it’s been a huge part of my life and my childhood. It’s for the kids, it’s for whomever the theatre buffs are, whomever the people are who like to go to and experience that cinema feeling. I know it’s probably a small group of people, it’s kind of a niche market and we’re in Napanee, which is tiny and makes it extremely difficult, but we live by it.”
For show times and upcoming titles, visit www.theatrenapanee.com.