It can be difficult living with the belief that standing ovations are earned and not deserved.
However, despite all the nudges and nasty looks I have received while standing (or rather, sitting) my ground in theatres across the county, I have no regrets. As long as there are performances as strong as last evenings “The Mountaintop,” I will not be getting up for anything less.
Katori Hall’s “The Mountaintop” is a stunning play on its own merit. Featuring only two characters, the one-act is a reimagining of Dr. Martin Luther King’s last night on Earth. The script does a fantastic job of humanizing the sometimes-static image people can have of the late reverend. Moving past his dreams and his peace marches, the script instead chooses to focus on King’s personality and soul as he interacts with Camae, an illustrious hotel maid. To speak more on the narrative would be a disservice to those who are not yet familiar with it. Suffice it to say, the story behind “The Mountaintop” is riveting from start to finish.
Both of the performers featured in “The Mountaintop” are former UW Theatre students, and both are testaments to the greatness that can blossom from our humble campus. Mykel Hill plays the aging, wearied Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and, for the entirety of the show’s 90-minute run, he shares the stage with Claudine Mboligikpelani Nako as the spritely maid Camae. Together, they give a performance that blows the doors off of nearly everything the Wyoming theatre scene has seen for years.
Hill did a terrific job playing the famous civil rights leader. His energy was fluid in the best way, hitting both King’s high points of passion and his low points of exhaustion. Nako carried herself just as strongly, if not more so, while on stage. Her portrayal of Camae was truly compelling, offering the audience laughs and cries with her unadulterated authenticity.
Individually, both Hill and Nako had a fantastic presence on the stage; however, they truly elevated the nature of the performance with their fantastic chemistry. Watching the two interact was captivating from beginning to end. Never before has a performance sent shivers down my spine and bring tears to my eyes, until Tuesday’s performance.
If you are planning on seeing one show and one show only out of Wyoming, make it this one. “The Mountaintop” is one show truly worthy of a standing ovation.
