by Jody Tuso-Key: Managing Editor

Photo Credit: Greg Mooney

Allaince’s first offering of the 2024-2025 theater season is THE MOUNTAINTOP, an imagining by Katori Hall about what might have transpired in Dr. Martin Luther King Junior’s hotel room following his famous Mountaintop speech and leading up to his untimely assassination. Instead of painting MLK as a saint, the play focuses on Dr. King’s humanity and failings–an act of contrition that he shares with a woman who has come to bring him room service but proves to be much more than he expects.

The first performance of THE MOUNTAINTOP premiered in London in 2009 to great acclaim. It moved to Broadway in 2011, starring Samuel L Jackson in his Broadway debut as MLK and Angela Basset as Camae. It was written when former President Barack Obama was in the Senate and about to run for the presidency. It’s now fitting for Alliance to produce it in Dr. King’s hometown and in today’s political climate. It will resonate differently with today’s audience than that of 15 years ago. As playwright Katori Hall is quoted in Mashaun Simon’s interview found in the Alliance Encore program, “It always seems like in America we take two steps forward and 10 steps back.”

Artistic director of the Alliance Tinashe Kajese-Brown writes in her program note, “The week our rehearsal began in July 2024, our country was in the throes of a political free-fall…As we gathered in the rehearsal hall, our collective uncertainty was palpable. Yet as we stood in a circle of Asian Americans, African Americans, White Americans, Native Americans, and visitors from the Cayman Islands, holding hands and embracing each other in the rich South, we mused that maybe WE were the Mountaintop Dr. King had dreamed of.” What a beautiful sentiment!

From my own recollection, those of us who grew up in the South of my age saw racism and discrimination first-hand. My public school days in Milledgeville in the mid to late 70’s opened my eyes to just how cruel people can be. Civil rights and integration of schools was still in it’s infancy, and I saw deep divisions between the White adults who discriminated against the dark-skinned children, especially my racist bus driver. In the 80’s living in Oklahoma in high school, US race relations seemingly improved. Pop culture produced songs about unity. MTV produced videos with songs like Ebony and Ivory (Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney), We Are the World (Produced by Harry Belafonte and featuring just about every major artist of the time), and the early 90’s hit Black or White (Micheal Jackson). Jesse Jackson ran for president on the platform of ‘The Rainbow Coalition’ in 1984 and 1988, and was elected to the Senate in 1990. In Simon’s interview, Katori Hall states, “When Obama became president, history may have been made, but we were also exposed to how really racist America is.” she added, “It was almost as if people got more emboldened.”

The 90-minute one-act play opens with Rob Demery as MLK entering room 306 of the Lorraine Motel on April 4, 1968, the night of his assassination. He sends a friend out to get a pack of Pall Mall’s for him and orders room service — a cup of coffee. A knock on the door reveals Camae, a hotel maid played by Jade Payton carrying a tray with coffee. What ensues is a conversation that reveals Dr. King’s shortcomings in addition to his unparalleled contributions to our nation.

This is a beautiful and haunting production that provides twists and turns as well as hits all the highs and lows of emotion. It evokes laughter, tears, and even a personal examination of one’s own conscience. I left the theater thinking, what will the events leading up to my death look like? How have I made a difference or contributed to society? Not to make this about me, but that’s the result the play might affect among audience members.

Tinashe Kajese-Bolton, who most recently directed the premiere of The Preacher’s Wife at Alliance, Directed THE MOUNTAINTOP as well. She assembled a talented and dedicated team and the show was cast with two incredible actors.

Rob Demery as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. has Broadway, regional theater, and film and television credits. He played Dr. King in the Emmy-nominated movie Mahalia! He does an excellent job of capturing the essence of the legendary Reverend and highlights the highs and lows of MLK’s life in a convincing and seemingly effortless manner.

Jade Davis plays Camae, a fun-loving, fast-talking hotel employee who isn’t afraid to get down to the nitty-gritty and get to know MLK, warts and all. I was espcially impressed with her Memphis Accent and loved the spirit and fire she brought to the part. Jade is fairly new to the Atlanta theater scene, but I expect she will continue to wow audiences with her acting prowess. I’m hoping to see her again on stage in the future.

A special acknowledgment to the entire crew, but especially scenic designer Tony Cisek. As the set opened, my theater buddy Marsha Moore Harding commented, “It looks like a TV set,” which it did at first, but then the 3 dimensions came into view as the lighting by designer Ben Rawson began to illuminate the modest motel room. The lighting and sound (sound design by Malanie Chen Cole) worked in tandem to create an eerie thunderstorm (prepare to jump-scare) throughout the production. Without giving too much away, the projected images programmed by Colby Nordberg o Clark and amazing yet subtle set transformations during Camae’s ‘roll call’ in the show’s finale simulate the powerful life of our nation’s history flashing before our eyes.

This show is Speakeysie highly recommended! We also recommend you visit the Center for Civil Human Rights in Atlanta either before or after seeing this powerful piece of art. The show runs until September 22nd, so get your tickets before time runs out at https://www.alliancetheatre.org/production/2024-25/the-mountaintop.

Thanks for your readership and peace, love and light be with you!