In conjunction with Jubilee festivities, alumnus John “Spud” McConnell debuted the one-man play “Earl Long in Purgatory” in Talbot Auditorium Tuesday night.
McConnell received a bachelor’s degree from Nicholls as a theater major in the fall of 1981. After performing in countless Nicholls productions, the memories of past performances appear fresh in the mind of McConnell.
“I used to do my make-up in the exact same spot for every show. Third chair from the end; that’s where I sat,” McConnell said.
McConnell continued his acting career after his graduation. He was a cast member on the television show “Roseanne” for three years, performed in over 100 film and stage productions, and made a name for himself while portraying another member of the Long family, Huey, in the off Broadway show, “Kingfish.”
His current role as Earl K. Long in “Earl Long in Purgatory” has proven successful for it’s longevity and performances in numerous venues across the state.
Due to his performance in this play as well as “Kingfish”, McConnell has been nominated to be inducted into the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame for his portrayal of the former Louisiana governors Huey and Earl Long.
Having “Earl Long in Purgatory” appear at Nicholls gives McConnell a chance to return to the acting world he once knew.
“I enjoy coming back here,” McConnell said. “I don’t get here much anymore. I had a good time when I was here, and I enjoy coming back to perform. It’s good to see old faces.”
“Earl Long in Purgatory” debuted last year at the Southern Repertory Theater in New Orleans. The play features Earl K. Long in a disoriented state, confused by his present location. His occasional sobs and recollection of the past sends this play into a world wind of Louisiana’s political past.
After short cracks about former governor Jimmy Davis and discussions of the controversy that surrounded his older brother Huey, Earl K. Long discovers that he is not in a human place anymore. With hopes of making his way to heaven despite his love for women and drinking, “Uncle Earl,” as he was called, recalls his positive efforts while in politics.
In spite of his brief stay in a mental institution, Long remembers his political, educational and integration reforms that he believes put Louisiana into a time of prosperity. He uses the audience as “angels” to give joy to the Lord in favor of Earl K. Long.
Mentions of his affair with a Bourbon Street stripper, Blaze Star, and his diagnosed bipolar disorder, does not stop Long from proclaiming his efforts to “the escalator to paradise.”
For those that have not attended “Earl Long in Purgatory,” two more shows will be performed today at 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., with a question and answer session following the evening performance.