MOUNT VERNON — Patrons will be able to enjoy dinner and a show next month when the Alcove Dinner Theatre returns to Mount Vernon after an 18-month hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A cast of three will perform “Wally’s Cafe,” a comedic play that goes through what artistic director and actor Bruce Jacklin called the three stages of life: dreaming big during early adulthood, crushed dreams during middle age and, ultimately, acceptance of how life turns out.
The play unfolds in three scenes, spanning from 1940 to 1958 to 1981.
“It’s a pick-me-up, a very funny show,” Jacklin said.
“Wally’s Cafe” is the story of a New Jersey couple Wally (played by Bruce Jacklin) and Louise (played by Maureen Browning) who buy a hamburger-shaped roadside dive, which they call “Wally’s cafe,” in the California desert.
A young girl from Illinois, Janet (played by Kate Ernsberger), stops at the cafe on her way to Hollywood, where she intends to make her dreams of stardom come true. Instead Janet ends up working at the cafe, and the play follows the trio through generations.
“Wally’s Cafe” opened on Broadway in 1981, starring Rita Moreno, James Coco and Sally Struthers.
The Alcove Dinner Theatre attempted to perform “Wally’s Cafe” in fall 2020, purposefully choosing a show with a small cast to limit contact and potential virus exposure, Jacklin said.
“We had two weeks of rehearsal,” Jacklin said, but ultimately health restrictions and concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic led them to postpone.
The curtain closed on the last the Alcove Dinner Theatre run at the end of February 2020, and initial closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic began the following week, Jacklin said.
Live theater returned to Mount Vernon this past summer with MTVarts’ the Sound of Music, followed by recent performances of Frozen.
The “Wally’s Cafe” cast will begin full rehearsals next week, after Frozen shows conclude, and will rehearse four nights per week, Jacklin said.
Performances will occur Friday and Saturday nights between Oct. 29 and 30 as well as Nov. 5 through 20, with social hour beginning at 6:30 p.m., dinner served at 7 p.m. and shows following.
The audience will be limited to allow for health measures amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, capped at two thirds its usual size — 48 people compared to the typical 70-80 attendees, Jacklin said.
Dinner selections and prices can be found at the Alcove and MTVarts websites, and reservations can be made online at alcoverestaurant.com.
Knox Community Hospital proudly supports the vibrant pulse of our community by sponsoring the Life & Culture section on Knox Pages, celebrating the stories and experiences that make our region unique.