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The Last Days of Cafè Cafè
A two-act play by Mario Farwell

January 14-16, 21-23 2005
Directed by Anna Blair
Original Music by Chris Gibson

            Mario Farwell’s drama looks at the lives of a group of folks down on their luck who inhabit the rundown, beachfront New SeaView Hotel in San Diego in 1984.  Mostly, they congregate at the Café Café, an independent establishment at the hotel run by Casey Canatoy.  Amidst the coffee and eggs are sundry conversations or, more precisely, a series of soliloquys from the various hangers-on.

Resmount DuFree appears slow-moving and speech-challenged but also is the resident philosopher.  Rita is a potty-mouth with a chip on her shoulder the size of Sea World, and Timothy is a rhinestone cowboy who dreams of creating his own comic strip.  Frankie is a religious fanatic haunted by private demons.  Eaton is an optimistic sort who caters to the whims of alcoholic and declining Pulitzer Prize-winning author Rebecca Wade, while recluse Hillary White has confined herself to her room for six months.  Rounding out the cast are surfer Jeffrey, building inspector Diluca and Sheila O’Brien, the building owner’s conniving representative who tells the residents that they must vacate the premises before the building makes way for some new high-rise condominiums.

Sheila’s ultimatum galvanizes the residents and Casey into action, as they join forces to defend their situation, modest though it may be.

“His [Mario Farwell] writing is part Tennessee Williams, part Lanford Wilson, with a touch of James Baldwin in the mix. Some of his language, like ‘life is a circus with too many clowns and not enough magicians’, will stay with me always.” – Chris Jackson  ExpMagazine

CAST

RESMOUNT DUFREE CASEY CANATOY RITA BOROUGHS TIMOTHY CONSTANCE FRANKIE (LARRY PORTER) EATON PACE REBECCA WADE JEFFREY WINSLOW SHEILA O'BRIEN HILLARY WHITE MICHAEL DILUCA

Archie Coleman Alan David Cindy Duggan Michael Monsey Mark Moloney Karl Brian Clark Meg McClelland David Weis Jennifer Bock Nancy Crouse Brad Slavik

"This place is the New Sea View Hotel, rundown, old, forgotten, barnacle-encrusted, shipwrecked vessel corroded and useless." Resmount DuFree (Archie Coleman) introduces the play. "I'm probably the last friend you have on Earth, beside J&B and Jack Daniels" says Eaton (Karl Brian Clark) trying to get writer Rebecca Wade (Meg McClelland) to face reality. "The sheer terror of dying alone.." Frankie finally comes out of his shell and connects with Rebecca. "Hey what is this? I'm only getting $2500.00" Rita finds that her deal with Ms. O'Brien (Jennifer Bock) is not as good as it seems. A final picture before the renovations begin.

"What's holding up my order?", asks Rita (Cindy Duggan) as the residents of New Sea View Hotel, Frankie (Mark Moloney), owner Casey (Alan David) and Tim (Michael Monsey) go through their morning routines at Cafè Cafè. On the beach, Eaton meets a new friend, Jeff (David Weis) the surfer dude. Resmount, Hillary White (Nancy Crouse), and Tim play Parcheesi "A citation for the violations" Mike Diluca (Brad Slavik) hands a citation sheet to Ms. O'Brien as he certifies that the New Sea View Hotel is habitable and the tenants can stay.