“The Mountaintop”
A Broadway play by Katori Hall

Review by: Venice Anderson

Some of us think about death and what our final hour will be; others contemplate what those who have died might have experienced. Playwright Katori Hall did more than just consider; she manifested her thoughts and brought a very different, yet creative and wonderful play to the stage: “The Mountaintop.”

“The Mountaintop” is a fantasy about the final hours of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. the night before he was assassinated. Samuel L. Jackson played the part of Martin Luther King, Jr.

While preparing for his speech, Mr. King was visited by the angel of death called Camae. However, she initially presented herself as a hotel room server. As the play unfolds, she revealed her true purpose to Mr. King. Throughout the play, the audience shared in the emotional battle of Mr. King trying to convince death and the creator that he is not ready to die! He gave reasons such as the important work he was doing for the people and the uniqueness of his persona that was unparalleled. He also expressed a yearning need to speak with his wife again. As he pleaded for his life, there was an air of stillness as the performance transformed into reality because the audience could relate to the idea of someone begging for his or her life. Dr. King felt he had so much more to accomplish, and he refused to die without a fight.

Angela Bassett played Camae, the beautiful angel of death. Camae was witty, very comical, and made light of things such as cursing, smoking, and drinking. For a moment, her comedy distracted the audience from her true purpose. However, she fully understood her responsibilities and did her best at helping Dr. King accept the fact that he was going to die. Angela Bassett did a remarkable job, and her monologue at the end of the play echoed right through the theatre as she bellowed the names of iconic individuals who made momentous marks throughout history.

“The Mountaintop” was unique, and the performances by the actors were superb. While not taken from the pages of history books, “The Mountaintop” still brought us to a time when the voices of men and women made changes that were seemingly impossible. Overall, the play was imaginative, inspiring, and funny.  As we continue to ponder what our final hour of death will be, let us remember to make our mark in the pages of history.