My expectations for Bradley’s latest theatre production, “The Mountaintop,” were far surpassed. Upon hearing that only two people were involved in the duration of the play, I anticipated a long, drawn out and mediocre account of Martin Luther King Jr.’s last day.
However, the performance I viewed at the Hartmann Center was both refreshing and brimming with raw talent. I was easily engaged throughout the show due to several unexpected twists and turns. It was much more than a reenactment of the night King was assassinated.
A lot of the credit for the success should be attributed to the casting. The suave nature of King, portrayed by senior Aris-Allen Roberson, was entertaining, as well as the snarky attitude from the maid, portrayed by senior Kiayla Jackson. They recreated southern accents and easily adjusted to the mindset of a person in the ‘60s.
The end of the show took a unique spin with a mix of song and poetry alongside a slideshow of the history, good and bad, which occurred since King’s untimely death. It emphasized the concept that anyone’s actions can foster change, take the baton, and run toward a brighter future.
All in all, I highly recommend viewing this hour and a half production. It was the perfect combination of entertainment and informative content that is still relevant even today.
I would also like to acknowledge the fact that one of the props was an old Scout paper and the cameo was much appreciated.
