Theatre REVIEW: The Mountaintop - ★★★★★

Mix Up Theatre (Stewart)
12 hours ago
2 min read

"I’m a sinner, not a saint.”

April 3, 1968. Room 306, the Lorraine Motel, Memphis. It’s Dr Martin Luther King Jnr’s last night on Earth.

Exhausted from a life on the road, hoarse from testifying day after day, all King wants is a coffee and some cigarettes.

Room service arrives in the form of Camae, a motel maid with the face of an angel who smokes, drinks, and curses like a sailor while giving King a run for his money.

This urgent production imagines the man behind the legend on the eve of his assassination. Pulling away the mask of his public façade and revealing private turmoil – the conflict of the family man and the martyr, desperate to finish what he started.

Set during the height of America’s Civil Rights Movement, Katori Hall’s Olivier award-winning play confronts life, death and the idea of legacy.

Where?

The Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh - until 21st June

Olivia (Age 13) - ★★★★★

"The Mountaintop was by far one of the greatest plays I have ever seen. The actors energy could not be matched they had enthusiasm,excitement and they put all of their emotions into the characters. The fact they did the entire play with only two actors was incredible.

The way in which they told the story in depth through writing and even the actor of Camae rapping throwing in current trends and refrences without going off topic or stopping for a breath was more than impressive, you couldn't take your eyes off them. The flow throughout was incredible there wasn't a single moment I was bored or not interested.

The set was on a slight tilt and it was unbelievable how they managed to stay upright and recite all of their lines on top of not falling and making sure the props didn't sliding until they needed them to.

I laughed,cried and even feared for what was to come next for the characters, especially when the lights changed and they started shouting it was absolutely extraordinary and filled the entire room with anticipation. There was a few sad parts and the actors poured all of their emotions into those scenes and it was heartbreakingly amazing it really made you feel for the characters. There was some swearing, flashing lights and jumpscares but overall a spectacular show. 5 stars, if you get the chance to see it I would definitely recommend."