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The Mountaintop

Reviewed by Terry Morgan
Matrix Theatre Company/The Matrix Theatre
Through April 10

Although Katori Hall’s play The Mountaintop is indeed more about Martin the man than Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. the historical figure, it still ends up as a worshipful hagiography. This is somewhat unfortunate, because although there is no lack of respectful examinations of the Civil Rights Movement icon, there are few that focus on the man. That being said, the current production at the Matrix is entertaining and — bolstered by strong performances — occasionally moving.

On a stormy night in a Memphis motel room, Dr. King (Larry Bates) is feeling tired and demoralized. He calls room service for coffee, which is soon delivered by new motel employee Camae (Danielle Truitt). The two hit it off — flirting and joking, smoking and drinking, and ultimately discussing the most effective way to make the Movement more effective. A surprise revelation, however, changes the mood from casual badinage to serious soul-searching.

Bates delivers on King’s oratorical charisma, nailing the play’s concluding speech with admirable vigor. He also excels in humorous moments. A sequence wherein he simultaneously talks earnestly on the phone with his wife while roping in the maid with the phone cord exemplifies this dichotomy. Truitt is superb as Camae: blunt and funny yet also intelligent and prickly. She’s great throughout, but she impresses most in her powerful renditions of two speeches.

Director Roger Guenveur Smith gets strong work from his duo of actors, but his minimal use of a projection wall is somewhat baffling: Why introduce it to barely use it, and why use it to project images of flowers on a bed? John Iacovelli’s all white set (I’m guessing this was specified for symbolic reasons and wasn’t a design choice) is distractingly bland and empty; conversely it makes the stage at the Matrix look bigger than usual.

Hall’s writing can sometimes be florid (“Fear has become my companion, my lover…”) and a bit heavy-handed (as in moments where every crash of thunder presages King’s death in slow-motion). But overall her play is successful, particularly in comedic scenes. Although one wishes it was less of a tribute and more of a character study, most audiences will likely enjoy and appreciate it nonetheless.

The Matrix Theatre, 7657 Melrose Ave.; Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 3 p.m. & 7 p.m., Mon. 8 p.m.; through April 10. www.matrixtheatre.com. Running time: 1 hour, 30 min.