The Mountaintop
About
THE MOUNTAINTOP
by Katori Hall
April 3, 1968. Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. retires to the Lorraine Motel, desperate for a pack of smokes and a good night’s sleep after exhorting America to ‘be true to what you said on paper’. Enter Camae, an enigmatic hotel maid with a great deal of information about Doctor King’s future – and the future of the movement he champions.
“Crackles with theatricality and a humanity more moving than sainthood.”
– Newsday
THE MOUNTAINTOP
by Katori Hall
May 20 – June 11, 2022
April 3, 1968. Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. retires to the Lorraine Motel, desperate for a pack of smokes and a good night’s sleep after exhorting America to ‘be true to what you said on paper’. Enter Camae, an enigmatic hotel maid with a great deal of information about Doctor King’s future – and the future of the movement he champions.
“Crackles with theatricality and a humanity more moving than sainthood.”
– Newsday
Directed by Omari Newton.
Featuring Kwesi Ameyaw and Shayna Jones.
Set Design by Brian Ball. Costume Design by Stephanie Wong. Lighting by Jonathan Kim. Sound Design by Chengyan Boon. Projection Design by Wladimiro A. Woyno R. Properties Design by Monica Emme. Intimacy Direction by Lisa Goebel. Apprentice Direction by Samantha Forbes. Stage Management by Jenny Kim. Assistant Stage Management by Samantha Pawliuk.
AUDIENCE ADVISORY: This fantastical drama contains descriptions of police violence and hate speech, some sexual innuendo, and strong language. Down feathers will also be loose on stage during the show.
Here's what they say about the show
Tom Pickett
The insightful Direction of Katori Hall’s play The Mountaintop by Omari Newton brilliantly reveals Camae’s (Shayna Jones) clever seduction of Martin Luther King (Kwesi Ameyaw), a man with one foot in a future he envisions and the other in the destiny he must meet. Don’t miss The Mountaintop.
Norm Baugh
“Pacific Theatre aspires to delight, provoke and stimulate dialogue by producing theatre that rigorously explores the spiritual aspects of human experience.” “Our mission statement is to serve Christ in our community by creating theatre with artistic, spiritual, relational, and financial integrity.” As is usual with Pacific Theatre productions, the Mountaintop demonstrated excellence in the staging, production and level of acting it presented. It was not difficult to be drawn in to that situation in the Lorraine Motel, to feel as though these two people were actually engaging with each other and to empathize on an emotional level with what was taking place between them. My wife and I were season ticket holders for two years prior to the pandemic, and have attended the two productions that were put on this season. I can think of no production that did not show a similar level of excellence. Once again, the Mountaintop showed us that things are not as they appear on the surface - the real Martin Luther King was not only a private smoker, but regularly cheated on his wife during his travels. However, God, may also be a different being than the one we picture. “She” is portrayed as black, a lover of dirty jokes and requiring people to earn their forgiveness. Pacific Theatre productions are good at pointing out the inconsistencies between what is on the surface and what is happening just underneath. “How the World Began” was similar, exposing false motivations, catharsis without redemption and conflict that appears to be resolving, but actually remains. It presents us with a world where things are actually worse than they appear, where things are less stable and certain, and where there are no clear answers or remedies. In the end, I am unsure what the worldview is that Pacific Theatre represents. “The Mountaintop” attempts to inspire us at the end to take the torch from MLK and carry on his work to build a better world. But it is a completely secular challenge, devoid of any awareness of the need for Divine help and direction. For my money, spiritual integrity is impossible in the absence of any statement of what you affirm. Asking probing questions of others without a clear indication of your own beliefs is only cynicism, and because cynicism lacks commitment to any particular set of ideas, it lacks integrity. It has nothing to be true to. And so again, I am left wondering what Pacific Theatre stands for. I have begun to question whether there is anything in common between my own beliefs as a follower of Jesus, and someone who believes in the authority of the Bible, and those held by Pacific Theatre. I believe in the value of dialogue, reflection and of being open to questioning what I believe. I am not interested in coming to “gospel tract” productions. But meaningful dialogue is not possible in the absence of a clear understanding by both parties of what the other believes. You cannot ask questions without stating what you believe about the answers. I am not saying that each production needs to answer the questions it raises. I am saying that ultimately it is Pacific Theatre that is raising the questions, and it needs to be clear about where it stands. I need to know who is asking the questions. And, though this may sound trivial, I am tired of being f-bombed. Virtually every Pacific Theatre production contains a level of profanity that would offend many of my non-Christian friends. I do not know the purpose it is intended to serve. I don’t care. I find it gratuitous and I’m just tired of it. All this to say that I think Pacific Theatre has lost its way. I’m discouraged. In virtually every production, you have demonstrated your ability to produce excellence. There have been a couple of plays that we have particularly appreciated, including “Cherry Docs” and “The Cake” (not sure if that name is accurate). But over and over I have come away wondering how your message contributed to the message of Christ. The current production and the previous one have been particularly troubling, though there have been several others. So I think I’m done. After a few years of hopefully supporting your work, I just don’t think I’m travelling the same road as you are.
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