“The Mountaintop”

[rating=4]I am pretty sure that the majority of Americans are familiar with Martin Luther King, Jr. and his famous “I’ve Been To The Mountaintop” sermon. In fact, over the years we have listened to countless stories of the speeches he made, and the followers that believed in him. We also are aware of the good he did for his community and those that followed him.

In Katori Hall’s play, “The Mountaintop” we are taken back to that time, but in a fictional way that takes us to the night before his assassination. It is that evening and he has gone back to his motel room to prepare for his  next sermon. It is the Lorraine Motel, room 306, Memphis, Tennessee.  The set by Kevin Rolfs is powerful in itself. It appears to be what one might expect in a cheap motel in that era. A huge room with two full size beds, a chair and a small table. There is nothing fancy about the room. It is not fitting for a man of King’s stature, but would be what he would take and works well with the story being played out by Hall.

Smoothly directed by Aaron Reese Boseman, this two person play, taking us through some pretty amazing “fiction” allows both of the actors to do their thing to the nth degree. Dr. King is played by Mikha’el Amin. There are times that he almost sounds just like the original. In particular when he preaches near the end of the story. The second player in the play is the amazing Ny’ajai Ellison as Camae, who is an employee of the hotel, on her very first day.

I don’t want to give too much away, but must tell you that Dr. King calls for room service , ordering some coffee and it is delivered by the vivacious Ms Ellison, who is quite flirtatious with the good Dr. King. We also note that he is taken by her charm and sense of humor as well as her looks and the fact that she can supply him with smokes. They keep referencing Pall Mall ( pronounce Pell Mell), but I believe that the only prop cigarettes made are with filters and this brand had NO filter. Ivy Treccani’s props were all perfect with that one exception. Being an ex Pall Mall smoker, sitting in the first row, I couldn’t help but notice.

Most of the story is these two different individuals getting to know each other, looking to see just how far this will go. During the story, we learn that she may not be a Motel employee at all. Could she be a messenger? Is she there to do him harm? He searches the room and checks the phone. He knows he has enemies!  As the evening goes on with a storm taking place outside, we learn more and more about why this young lady has come to this particular room on this particular night. Could her reasons be truth? Ms. Ellison is quite personable and her reactions are perfect.

What we learn in this fictional night is that King must be prepared to pass the baton on to those who believe in what he does. Both of these characters, who are as different as one can imagine find themselves enjoying what is in store, knowing that King’s dream will not die and that his baton will continue to be passed on so that his message will stay alive and perhaps one day, everyone will love everyone.

The tech aspects of the production are wonderful. Warren Levon’s sound allowed everyone in this intimate space to hear every word. Even during the storms and thunder, the actors projected to the last row ( congrats!). The lighting effects by Liz Cooper were also right on. Invictus Theatre Co Chicago is a six year old company that brings intimate and honest theater to its audiences. They certainly found a winner with “The Mountaintop”

The play is 100 minutes with no intermission. The theater, The Reginald Vaughn located at 1106 West Thorndale ( just east of the Red Line station) is very intimate and is first come first served for seating.

The performance schedule for this show, which runs thru March 19th is as follows:

Mondays   7 p.m.

Thursdays  7 p.m.

Fridays  7 p.m.

Saturdays  7 p.m.

Sundays  3 p.m.

Tickets are $35 (students and seniors $30) and are available at www.invictustheatrecochicago.com

The street has metered parking on both sides. There is a cute restaurant next door, Rewired, pizza and drinks. You can bring Rewired drinks into the theater. Masks are required in the Vaughn venue.

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “The Mountaintop”.