New Village Arts Closes Season with Katori Hall’s The Mountaintop
The performing and visual arts can transport a person back to a time when they were happy, to a place where nostalgia lies, or to a place they’ve never been before, and that is truly magical. In the case of New Village Arts’ last play of the season, Katori Hall’s The Mountaintop, audiences are taken back, or for the first time, to 1968 Memphis, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (DeAndre Simmons) had just delivered one of his most memorable speeches: “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop”. As he is unwinding in his room at the Lorraine Motel and waiting for his Pall Mall cigarettes, he calls room service for a cup of coffee. In comes Camae (Taylor Renee Henderson), a young and opinionated hotel staff member who is both stunned and intrigued by Dr. King. With a wild storm unfolding into snow, the night passes as the two exchange opinions, views on the world, and Camae’s true intentions.
I am a Katori Hall fan, and I had not seen The Mountaintop before—a two-hander, one act that goes full throttle. The Henderson-Simmons duo is a fiery one. The stage rhythm felt like a chess tournament with each strategic move or even a rap battle to see who could “spit” the wittiest lyrics. Durwood Murray directs the piece, creating a fast one-ping pong dynamic that is both enthralling and accompanied by uncomfortable moments. I appreciated that Hall’s writing portrays Dr. King in a human light, acknowledging his flaws. Kevane La’Marr Coleman’s costumes even included ripped socks, which made for an interesting fact, either for the play or a reenactment, and it doesn’t matter.
I have never been to the Civil Rights Museum. Still, from the pictures and videos, Christopher Scott Murillo’s set design, featuring the room where Dr. King stayed, is quite similar, if not almost identical. That adds significantly to the play’s experience, as the setting and two-person dialogue already evoke a sense of intimacy. If you are an avid reader of this platform, you know how much I love a good prop, and this production has a few. Carter Vickers‘ props are playful and fun, from a coffee cup to cigarettes and even popcorn.
Taylor Renee Henderson has a wide range of interpretations. There is no role that this woman cannot play. Camae is multilayered, and Henderson peels off each layer with a different tone. It could be angry, soft, challenging, or reassuring. DeAndre Simmons’ voice projects all the way to Handles, making the theatre vibrate.
Mashun Tucker’s lighting is a beautiful contour throughout the play, intensifying in the sizzling moments. Andre Buck Jr.’s sound and Michael Wogulis‘ projections deliver the play’s emotional core, bringing it to its full impact.
New Village Arts wrapped up the season with a powerful finale. It should not be missed. Let us continue to pass the baton.
Currently playing until June 22. For more information, please click here.
Nathan Waits is the stage manager for this production, with Becca Moore as the assistant stage manager.
