Okay, so, I got home last night from Lagniappe Theatre’s production of Smoke On The Mountain and all I could think was, “They did it, again!” and “How blessed are we in CENLA!”
When people ask me about Alexandria, my response is, “It’s a great place to live! It is so alive with music, culture and the arts.” This is usually followed by, “And, the food is getting better and better!” (Hey! I am from NOLA, after all)
It was just another Thursday evening for me. Pretty good day at work. A little tired but, no more than usual. Headed home to sit in my chair with my little white fluffy, Idgie.
Not! As I traveled Jackson Street, into my head popped, “It’s opening night for Smoke On The Mountain.” The posters have been hanging in the church for weeks. I even announced it to the congregation last week from the pulpit. I always think (as I did for PHS’ production of Jekyll and Hyde, the week before) that I will make the Sunday matinee. More often than not, I do. I did not with Jekyll and Hyde. So, as I journeyed down Jackson Street, I thought, “Maybe I should go tonight?” Now, I assure you that I did not think this in the “I’ll just go and get it over with” kind of way. I thought about it in the “I am not too tired and I may be on Sunday” sort of way. So, I got home. I let little white fluffy out. Got back in the car and headed downtown to Coughlin-Saunders and entered into the fictitious world of the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, Rev. Oglethorpe and the fabulous Sanders family.
What an extraordinary evening of exceptional talent! Karen Burns-Schexnayder and Ross Schexnayder assembled as exemplary a cast of characters as I have ever seen. Each of them professional actors and musicians, many of whom traveled from far away cities to be a part of a great night of revival at the “Mount Pleasant Baptist Church.”
For those of you who may not know, I am not a musician. I marvel at the talents of great musicians and this cast was full of them. At first, my ears could not believe my eyes. Was the music pre-recorded? How could that be? Yet, how could these actors move so effortlessly from one instrument to another? And, what were all of those instruments? I did recognize John Lee’s bass. There was a piano, a banjo, a fiddle, a couple of guitars, a big “music squawk box” thing… Honestly, I do not even know what to call some of those instruments. Surely, all of those people could not possibly play all of those instruments! But, they did. Effortlessly. Or, so it seemed to me. And, they were exceptionally talented.
Behind the music was the acting genius of an amazing, energetic ensemble. To say that they were “Over the top!” is a gross understatement. A well-written script deserves quality acting. A well-written comedic script deserves well-timed comedic acting. Smoke On The Mountain did not disappoint. Each of the actors brought such dimension and integrity to their role. From the moment of serious Gospel witness to the absurdities of the dysfunction of the family, they were in it and so was the audience.
As I watched the show unfold, I pictured Karen Burns-Schexnayder (a/k/a June), Ross Schexnayder (a/k/a Rev. Mervin Oglethorpe), Devin Beauboeuf a/k/a Denise, one of the twins) and Andrew Ross Crowe (a/k/a Dennis, one of the twins) in a “Carol Burnett, Harvey Korman, Carol Lawrence and Tim Conway” sort of way. They each played with one another and played off of one another. Karen, Ross and Devin are local, of course. Andrew comes to the production from New York City. The other members of the cast, Rhondda Wallace (a/k/a Vera), Richard Daniel (a/k/a Burl) and Tommy Hancock (a/k/a Stanley) come to the production from other parts of the country. Truly, a gifted and amazing cast.
While they all were great, I have to say, Karen Burns, who I am growing to respect more and more as “comedic genius,” just stole the show. My favorite line: “So what if I can’t sing and none of you are deaf!” Watching Karen “sign” the hymns and play “bizarre” musical instruments “bizarrely” (I looked it up. It is a word.) kept me in stitches all night, and long after I got home. And, she’s 7 and 1/2 months pregnant! WoW! Just WoW!
Having been raised in New Orleans, I was probably raised as far away from the “Mountain” as one could be. Yet, for more than two hours last night, I found myself transported back to a time and place that I have never been. And, it was marvelous. It was truly a night of “singin’ and witnessin’.”
Smoke On The Mountain: go see it.
Indeed, CENLA, we are very blessed. We are a diverse, rich community of talent: musicians, singers, writers, artists, actors, chefs all generously and easily accessible. From Second Saturdays (downtown) and Inglewood Farms, from Spirits and Tamp and Grind, from Lagniappe Theatre, PHS, City Players, from the Alexandria Museum and the lobby of Cabrini Hospital, from one end of this community to another (and, dare I say, in every congregation and religious community), there are many rich and varied opportunities for cultural engagement. Blessed, indeed.
(Note: I am that girl. The one who laughs really loud. Often, it is a deep belly laugh. Sometimes, it is a hackle. I don’t know. I am told that it is loud. Be thankful that I am not sick because I sneeze even louder.)
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