SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN HOMECOMING

Plaza Theatre Company's SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN HOMECOMING









______SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN HOMECOMING_______
Reviewed by ASSOCIATE THEATER CRITIC, Laura L. Watson, THE COLUMN


Plaza Theatre Company’s SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN HOMECOMING is a funny, touching night of wholesome entertainment that, though not everyone’s cup of tea, is a well done musical theatre production. It’s clear from this production why Plaza Theatre Company, at only three-and-a-half years old, needs to cap its season ticket holders at 1000 in the small city of Cleburne.

The Sanders family is a traveling Southern Gospel band that goes from church to church singing and giving testimony (stories) of God’s truth. HOMECOMING is the third and final story in the series as this is the family’s final show. “It's October, 1945, and the gospel-singing Sanders Family is back together again where it all started, at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, where the Reverend Oglethorpe is giving his last service. He's been called to preach in Texas, and has already bought his ten gallon hat and is ready to ride off into the sunset with his wife, June.” (taken from Plaza’s promotional material.) Add to it that June is nine months pregnant, and her mother is none-to-happy to see her daughter go while in this “delicate” condition. June’s younger brother Dennis (the boy twin) will be taking over the pulpit, Denise (the girl twin) is a working woman at the appliance store, and Ma and Pa are starting up the family farm again. The story of the family takes a backseat to the songs and testimonies that are the majority of the production.

Plaza is a small theatre in the round. The set, designed by JaceSon Barrus, is simple- the audience is the church congregation the Sanders have come to sing for. One wall has chapel windows while all the others were wood paneling to make it feel like a small country church. Pews were placed on the diagonal. The Amen Sisters were placed in the pathway of one of the entrances, and the band and pulpit were placed in a small alcove on the East wall. Stools were moved in and out of center so the actors could sit and sing in a circle, facing the audience. This COULD have been awkward staging in the round as churches are not normally in the round, but they had no sightline problems from any seat, and I was tucked away in the top corner- a place one could consider the worst seat in the house, saved only by the staging of director G. Aaron Siler. The play is set October 6, 1945. World War II has just ended and soldiers are returning home to a now very prosperous country. The costumes, designed by Tina Barrus, were period appropriate and accurate for the farming community of Chatham County, North Carolina. June is nine months pregnant, and the actress, Camille Shaw is pregnant in real life, so that made her costuming a little easier. They only had to find some extra padding to make her look nine months and a 1940’s maternity shirt. Even the band, on stage the entire performance, were costumed to match. Lighting Designer Cameron Barrus, kept the lighting simple as well, dimming for the more serious songs and full up for the loud crowd pleasers. The one lone light bulb, donated by the Amen Sisters, hung at center stage and remained on throughout the show, though it cast very little light (which was part of the joke.)

Musical Director Cheri Dee Mega was fortunate to have a cast who produced the most beautiful harmonies, many times a capella and almost always while moving or acting the sub-story plot line. SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN HOMECOMING has some of my favorite old Southern Gospel Songs, and I had to stop myself at times from singing along. In the beginning, the band overpowered the singers and the words were lost, but by the third or fourth number, it had balanced out and the singers were heard without a problem. Not everyone is a fan of old southern gospel hymns, as I am, but regardless of musical taste, one cannot help but respect the technique and blending required for this production.

Camille Shaw as the oldest sister/ Pastor’s Wife June Oglethorpe was the (nearly) silent scene stealer and over-the-top star of the evening. She has more energy than anyone on stage as she runs, jumps, dances, and does “sign language” (more like bad mime) while the family sings. June doesn’t sing with the family. “I am called to sign for the deaf, and one day someone will understand.” AND she’s really pregnant! There is a funny ongoing joke about her needing help sitting down and bending over, too. Every upbeat song had her doing crazy antics. In the song “I’m going to Canaan” she danced with a cane and in “You Can Swim” she swam around the stage in a lifejacket. She wasn’t just limited to comedy, though. Shaw signed (in real sign language) as Denise (Jill Baker) sang “Children Talk to Angels”. It was a very touching moment between sisters and mothers. June’s testimony about following God wherever He calls was truthfully and emotionally charged- and reached me on a very personal level. “Where God is, there is home.” was my favorite line of the evening and has made it onto my top ten favorite lines of all time.

Dennis, the boy twin, was sincerely and sweetly played by Andrew Guzman. Guzman is a tenor who sings like an angel. He could go to Broadway and be a real contender to play the next Phantom in “Phantom of the Opera.” Guzman also had the most touching testimony about being a Marine in WWII- which given his physical build and sympathetic nature was not quite believable. During the war, he had a buddy, Jessie Jenks, who prayed even when heckled by his fellow Marines. Jenks single handedly saved 49 of his buddies from the battlefield, over each praying “Just let me save one more, Lord.” Especially for the older crowd, but also for one teary eyed critique, it was the story that made time stand still during the show. I can recite his story word for word even now. Guzman was not left out of the comedic bits, reenacting a number from his childhood with Denise and June called “The Royal Telephone” made all the more hilarious because they’re adults running around with telephone wires, tangling up their sister June and tapping the bell strapped to her head.

G. Aaron Siler had double duty as both director and playing the father, Burl Sanders. Using his size and physical presence he established himself as the head of this multi-generational family with ease. He also has a beautiful singing voice that blended well with the family as a whole. Siler had the first testimony of the evening about loving the farm he grew up on and deciding whether or not to borrow money to buy it. Siler needs to find the levels in his monologue. It was straight through the same and a little like a recitation. He needs to find the humor in his monologue and then find the touching moments. Though not perfect, it was still very touching and resonated with our current economic times. Playing the Mother, Vera Sanders was Darcy Farrington. She was very believable as the strong matriarchy of the family. The looks she shot at the Pastor for taking her daughter away from home could have killed him and wounded anyone within six feet. Her deep alto voice was soothing and melodic. She had a hilarious meltdown during her children’s sermon that was using toy airplanes to make a point about letting God fuel our lives. Uncle Stanley only sung during the first act, leaving me to wonder if he was ever going to have any lines. JaceSon Barrus has an amazing vocal range, going from bass when harmonizing to tenor in his solos with ease. In the second act, when pressed, he makes a surprising confession and allows his story to unfold. He is a prodigal returning to the family. His story was made an allegory to the life of Saint Peter- a man who stuck his foot in his mouth a lot but had a good heart.

Denise, the girl twin, was funny but Jill Baker strained to hit those high notes at times. Her voice was soothing, though, and matched well with the rest of her family, especially her twin brother. Her tale of an overworked mother who has become a career woman with out of control twins was very reminiscent of Lynette on Desperate Housewives, even though this is set in 1945. It showed the timeless struggles of a working mother. Kyle Macy as Pastor Mervin Oglethorpe is SOOO funny in the opening as he sings way off key and is passed from family member to family member for coaching (while singing) in the different parts. He has an amazing range though the script demanded he be off key at times. For the rest of the show, except for his part in June’s testimony and when he turns the pulpit over to Dennis, he remained silent but actively listened to his fellow actors. He never once forgot he was on stage and seemed to genuinely enjoy the show he was watching- the show within the show. The Amen Sisters Maude and Myrtle were hilariously played by Priscilla Nix and Taffey Geisel. Geisel filled in just hours before curtain because the originally cast Judy Barnett had a family emergency. Geisel had performed the role in a previous SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN production for Plaza. This cast change announcement came during intermission. If they hadn’t said anything, I would have never known. The Amen Sisters got the show going by being the last minute arrivals who had to greet everyone and gossip on their way to “their” pews. They also stopped to admire “their” light bulb that they had donated to the church, which they later threaten to take with them if the pastor doesn’t straighten up. They called out members of the audience as Brother and Sister so-and-so and designated certain sides as visitors from other churches. Every church has ladies like them and these two actresses nailed the caricature perfectly. I wanted to hear more amens and commentary from them during the show, though. Amen Sisters are not content to be quiet and left out of the spotlight for very long.

As with most series, you don’t miss much if you haven’t seen the other SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN plays, but it would, I’m sure, add to the experience and storyline. I and the audience members around me agreed- SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN HOMECOMING reminds us of churches and performances we’ve been to. It’s funnier if you know how true the characters are- how very realistic the setting is. Those who’ve never been to a sing along and testimony in a small country church don’t get just how funny it is but will laugh in the moment and might even be culturally educated. Folks won’t find this kind of show in too many churches in the metroplex today. SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN HOMECOMING is preserving an old tradition for future generations to enjoy.

Plaza Theatre Company presents Connie Ray’s SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN HOMECOMING through October 23.

Performed at the Plaza Theatre Company, 111 South Main Street, Cleburne. Tickets can be purchased online at www.plaza-theatre.com or by calling 817-202-0600.

Plaza Theatre Company’s Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming at the Plaza Theatre Company, Cleburne

*REVIEWED 9-18-2010 PERFORMANCE

Reviewed by ASSOCIATE THEATER CRITIC, Laura L. Watson, THE COLUMN

Directed by G. Aaron Siler
Written by Connie Ray
Conceived by Alan Bailey
Musical Arrangements by Mike Carver
Musical Director: Cheri Dee Mega
Technical Director: Cameron Barrus
Set Design: JaceSon Barrus
Costume Design: Tina Barrus
Lighting Design: Cameron Barrus
Sound Design: G. Aaron Siler
Props Design: Milette Siler, Parker Barrus, Rebecca Schoen
Scenic Painter: JaceSon Barrus
Set Construction and Dressing: JaceSon Barrus, Cody Vernon

CAST
Pastor Mervin Oglethorpe: Kyle Macy
Father Burl Sanders: G. Aaron Siler
Mother Vera Sanders: Darcy Farrington
Uncle Stanley Sanders: JaceSon Barrus
Twin Brother Dennis Sanders: Andrew Guzman
Twin Sister Denise Sanders: Jill Baker
Sister/Pastor’s Wife June Oglethorpe: Camille Shaw
Amen Sister Maude: Priscilla Nix
Amen Sister Myrtle: Taffey Geisel*
*Last minute substitution for the originally cast Judy Barnett who had a family emergency the night of September 18.

Band:
Piano/Cousin Melva: Cheri Dee Mega
Guitar: Bill Ware
Bass: *Mike Melody
Violin- Howard Geisel (9-18-2010 performance only)
*other performances may feature Bob Gracey or J. Aaron Lett on Bass