Bonnie Gilgallon of CV Independent writes, “Congrats to [director Michael] Shaw for guiding his actors to nuanced, effective performances. The Mountaintop comes across as a true collaborative effort; Shaw is not a micromanaging director. Excellent casting comes first, and then the director clearly allows the actors to bring much of their own visions to the roles. It works beautifully here.
“Good casting is important in any production—but with a two-person play, when both characters are onstage nonstop for 90 minutes, it is crucial. Shaw chose wisely here: Johnson and DeLoach are sheer perfection. Johnson is tall, strapping and charismatic, and he possesses the booming voice needed to portray an orator like King. He portrays King as what he was—a historic leader who helped change the world, and a flawed human being. He shows off the perfect balance of bravado and insecurity.
“DeLoach owns the role of Camae. Petite, bubbly and spunky, she teases and challenges King, even suggesting that Malcolm X’s plan for societal change might have been better. One of the show’s highlights comes when Camae delivers her own speech “to the people,” looking almost childlike, standing on the bed, clad in King’s much-too-large jacket.
“Johnson and DeLoach are consummate professionals, and the chemistry between the two is palpable. They each own the stage, yet manage to share it gracefully. They draw the audience into the story; we never see them “acting.” There were several occasions on opening night when you could literally hear a pin drop; that’s when you know you’re watching a superb play.
“Thomas L. Valach painstakingly re-creates a Memphis hotel room in 1968, with lots of gold and orange that was typical of the day. Lighting designer Derrick McDaniel and sound designer Clark Dugger do a fabulous job creating a realistic rainstorm, with lots of thunder and lightning. Dugger’s video montage toward the end of the play depicting the future is magnificent.”
For the complete review, click here.