Symbolism And Characterism In The Mountaintop By Katori Hall

In a small run-down motel room, with the sound of rain hitting the window, sits a tired man. “I’ve seen the promise land," he says. Despite including powerful words of a strong leader, the play The Mountaintop is disappointing. The play, The Mountaintop written by American playwright Katori Hall, performed at the Cleveland Playhouse, is based off what could have happened between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s Mountaintop speech and his assassination. All taking place in his Lorraine Motel room. No one will ever know what happened between the two events, but Katori Hall tells one possibility, making for an interesting watch. Dr. King will forever be remembered as a peaceful activist bringing considerable changes to America. The Mountaintop is …show more content…
King before his assassination is intriguing. The play also causes viewers to reflect on the question of, would you wish to know the date and time of your death? From the start you feel the racial tension and passion for his work. However, there are moments that deliver questionable character traits, that l would consider inconsistent. Dr. King was a Baptist pastor and a peaceful protestor. However she lost the viewers as soon as she had him swearing and referring to God as a female. This would contradict what Dr. King based his religious beliefs on. Portraying Reverend King in this way lessens his spiritual beliefs as a Reverend. However, positioning King as a regular man by having him go to the bathroom as soon as he walks in makes him relatable. Though the playwright was a miss the production team delivers an exceptional …show more content…
Edwards also has a crucial role in pulling the production together. Edwards chose to have the lights off when Dr. King first walks in, having you feel as if you were actually in the room. At the end of the production Edwards perfectly aligns the lights to form a cross. This little touch definitely did not go unnoticed by audience members. Sound designer Elisheba Ittoop, perfectly times each sound effect. As you immerse into the performance, Ittoop would add in a sound of thunder to make you jump out of your seat. The ending of the play with a projection of how America will change in the coming years, is an impeccable ending with a powerful tribute to Dr. King’s fight for equality. As you sit and watch the videos play and listen to Camae say “the baton passes on”, you cannot help but feel empowered to pick the baton up and continue to make a