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August 24, 2010

‘Long John Cafe’ opens at Gusto Theatre Thursday

The Times-Tribune

CORBIN — By Carl Keith Greene / Staff Writer

“The Long John Cafe” finds itself at the edge of the universe and the end of the 20th century, populated by 20th century people.

The play, the first written by Gusto Theatre producer L. Henry Dowell, opens Thursday and runs through Sunday.

Dowell based it on a 1984 Gottfried Helnwein lithograph “The Boulevard of Broken Dreams” that portrays the Phillies Diner with the viewer from the outside peering into the diner where Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, James Dean and Humphrey Bogart sit, apparently as nighthawks.

But at The Long John Cafe we’ll find John Wayne, Col. Harland Sanders, Madonna, Mickey Mouse and even an Avon Lady, as well as other characters.

It’s a place where the average guy or gal can sit and have a cup of coffee and wile away the time being themselves, or someone else.

On this particular night, one that would mark the celebration of the end of the 20th century, The Long John finds cowboys, hippies, super heroes and movie stars.

As they wait for the 21st century to open, problems develop.

It seems that the evil Dr. McNastiman plans for the next century the total destruction of the icons of the past.

Dowell said the comedy was his first play he wrote. He was 17 years old.

After seeing Helnwein’s lithograph, “I thought that it would be interesting to mix all these characters from the 20th century together in one location.” And he added more characters, including McNastiman.

Over the years the play has been produced several times, but this is the first time he has directed it. “This will be my official stage debut here at Gusto in London,” he said.

He plays Dr. McNastiman, the villain, the role he had in the first production some 19 years ago.

Dowell said the young actors in the play have learned a bit of history and the popular culture of 40 years ago or more.

“We watched videos the first day of rehearsal of some of these characters and I know the kids have been working on their own as well, watching old videos and trying to figure out who people like Jackie Gleason and Marilyn Monroe were,” he explained.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday night curtains are at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

No reservations are necessary. Doors open 30 minutes prior to curtain. For more information call 864-8786.

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