By Cliff Radel
The Cincinnati Enquirer

NEWPORT - Kelly Donnelly and her sister, Nancy Maushart, went to an Ash Wednesday doubleheader.

First, the two nurses attended 8:30 a.m. Mass at St. Thomas Church in Fort Thomas.

THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST

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Later, during their off hours, they drove to the AMC Theatres at Newport on the Levee for the 12:30 p.m. showing of The Passion of The Christ.

"What a good way to start Lent," Nancy said. "I went to church, got my ashes and saw this movie."

In a word, she described the film as "awesome."

In a word, the theater crowd was solemn.

No one spoke, and some wiped tears while leaving the theater for the first regularly scheduled area matinee of the much-discussed Mel Gibson film covering the last 12 hours of the life of Jesus Christ.

The 350-seat theater behind the cinema complex's door No. 9 was half full. That's better than a typical Wednesday matinee turnout. But far from a sellout.

Only one of Wednesday's 11 showings at the Newport multiplex - the 7 p.m. show - was sold out. That time slot is also sold out today.

Several moviegoers at the 12:30 p.m. show were like Maushart and Donnelly. They had come from church, with ashes still on their foreheads.

Monty Kendall came from work. The Salvation Army maintenance man saw the film with four co-workers.

"It's an uplifting movie," Kendall said before going back to work in Over-the-Rhine.

"Everybody in the theater was quiet throughout."

Retired welder Jack Galliher of Independence did not have to shush anyone. No cell phones went off. No empty buckets of popcorn hit the floor. No one laughed.

"Everyone was intent on watching the movie," he said. "Let's hope the message of the film reaches a lot of people."

Donnelly said the film reaffirmed her views.

"I often tell my son, 'Christ died for your sins,' " she said. "This movie gives new meaning to those words - while reminding us that Jesus still lives."

E-mail cradel@enquirer.com