‘The Mountaintop’ sends strong message

The Black Hills Playhouse opened its 76th season officially with the play “The Mountaintop.” Best of all the plays are now back within the confines of the Warren M. Lee Theatre.
“The Mountaintop” takes place in the Lorraine Hotel Room 306, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has just given his legendary “I’ve Been To The Mountaintop” sermon and has retired to his room the night before his assassination.
A maid, Camae, delivers his room service, though she seems to have more on her agenda than a simple meal. As their conversations progress, true intentions come to light. That’s as much of the summary as I will give you, as I don’t want to spoil the plot twists and ending of the show.
I went into this play not really knowing what to expect. And, as always, I start this review by telling you I don’t know what qualifies me to review plays (probably nothing) and I simply review them by telling you what I saw and noticed. Gene Siskel I am not.
This is a simple play in terms of the set and cast, in that it takes place on one set (which is very well done) and has only two thespians involved throughout the course of the play—Korie Tristan Prince, who plays Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Noah Michal, who plays Camae.
It took me about halfway through the play to realize there wasn’t going to be anybody else featured in the show. And really, it didn’t need additional actors. Prince and Michal carry the show just fine by themselves. I can’t imagine how much work it takes to do a 90-minute play with just two people. Kudos to them for that alone.
“The Mountaintop” does a great job of humanizing Dr. King. Like anybody, he wasn’t perfect. He was larger than life, and he was an icon, but he wasn’t perfect. You learn he has smelly feet, he smokes like a chimney, has been known to occassionally swear and drink, and the show even confronts Dr. King’s adultery. No, Dr. King wasn’t a saint, and the show addresses that. But he didn’t have to be a saint to inspire millions.
Camae challenges all of these things with Dr. King, as the two take you on a rollercoaster of emotions. One minute they are having a somber discussion about the plight of African  Americans, the next Camae is bouncing around on the bed shouting out how she would give a speech if she were Dr. King.
I thought Prince and Michal had a fun chemistry throughout the production. Each takes their turn shining in the show, and each knows when it is the other’s time to shine. When it is their turn to talk they command the stage, and when it’s not, they relinquish the spotlight to their costar. They are both capable of making you laugh, making you sad and most importantly, making you think.
I must say, I think it was a bold choice to bring this play to western South Dakota, which is staunchly Republican and has many people who could and would resist the message this show brings. The show confronts racism on several fronts, and parallels between what was happening at that time and what is still happening today are drawn. It really makes you think, especially toward the end of the play when a montage/video plays that hits on those very topics.
The civil rights movement from that time is very similar to the similar search for social justice in this day and age. We’ve made progress, but there is clearly more distance to go. This show points that out without being over the top.
If you decide to go to this show, I recommend leaving the children at home. This one is strictly for the adults, as it touches on the aforementioned adult themes, contains strong language throughout the production and also racial slurs. There is also smoking and drinking in the show, and smoke does waft around the theatre for a while, although the cigarettes are tobacco-free.
Overall I found this play to be enjoyable, with powerful dialogue and solid acting. It’s both entertaining and provactive, and delivers laughs and drama all in one package. The production is great (as it always is at the Playhouse) and this is a great way for the Playhouse to kick off its season. The only thing I was disappointed in was the lack of crowd opening night. This is one that deserves butts in the seats.
Two thumbs up from this unqualified critic. I especially liked the ending and the ending monologues, but that’s about all I can say without giving away the plot. I was entertained, and I was challenged. That’s the goal, right?