This will run in Saturday morning's High Point Enterprise
HPCT's "Smoke on the Mountain" Provides a Wonderful Time
Joseph Rosenblum
High Point Community Theatre closes out its 2008-2009 season this week-end with joyous, hand-clapping, foot-stomping performances of "Smoke on the Mountain." Set in 1938 Mt. Pleasant, NC (for the pickle jokes), "Smoke on the Mountain" consists of twenty-one gospel tunes strung together on a thin strand of narrative. It is an ensemble work, but all of the principals have opportunities to shine as they exhibit their wide range of talents.
Ken Kennedy's Burl Sanders, the leader of the musical Sanders family, displays virtuosity as both singer and guitarist. He also skillfully plays both the piano and harmonica, and his story about the beer salesman is an absolute hoot. Maggie Gallagher as his wife, Vera, adeptly plays just about every instrument on stage, from piano to bass to dulcimer to violin and banjo. She takes the lead singing part in "Blood Medley," which showcases her lovely voice. Her story about the good and bad junebugs earned many well-merited laughs. Their daughter June Sanders (Stephanie Vernon) doesn't sing (or so she says); she signs. Her signing vocabulary is far more entertaining than the conventional one. Seeing her bring in the sheaves and washing herself in the blood of the lamb is in itself worth the price of admission. She also shows skill in handling a wide range of percussion instruments from cow bell to cymbal to washboard. Her singing sister, Denise (Jane Ashley Raborn), has a wonderful voice and tells a great story about trying to become Scarlett in "Gone with the Wind." Selznik made a big mistake not casting her. John Lowe's Stanley Sanders introduces a somber note with his poignant story about his time in prison and his song "Everyone Home but Me." Thomas Gooding as Denise's twin, Dennis, sings and plays magnificently and delivers a rousing sermonette. The Reverend Mervin Oglethorpe (Travis Vernon) serves as Master of Ceremonies and humorously tries to keep his parishioners in line. He shows that he can sing with the best of them, and he performs a mean number of the squeezebox. Randy Mintz (Cousin Randy Sanders), Randy Johnson (other Cousin Randy Sanders), Andy Hunt (Cousin Andy Sanders), and Corey Johnson-Erday (Cousin Sandy Sanders) supply expert musical back-up. Bland Wade has designed a lovely and atmospheric set.
People leaving Thursday night's show repeatedly said, "I feel so happy." So, brothers and sisters, fly away to the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church (aka High Point Theatre), where you will find no more tears, no more sorrow. You'll have a wonderful time down there. Services (performances) continue through Sunday.
(Joseph Rosenblum teaches library science and literature at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.)
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