The Banner, Vol. 38 No. 11 - April 21, 1994

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Volume XXXVJJI, Number 11
A Publication of the Students of California Baptist College
April 21,1994
Smoke on the Mountain offers a look in the mirror
By Robyn Seven
Guest Writer
This Spring's production
of Smoke on the Mountain,
presented by the drama department of California Baptist College, was performed
April 8,9 and 15,16 and offered considerable comic relief to its audiences.
Step back in time to the
United States of the year
1938, to Mt. Pleasant, North
Carolina, in particular, for an
hour and a half or so of song,
fun, and with a little thought,
a look in the mirror.
Times are hard, and the
church is a welcome refuge
from the troubles of the world,
even when those troubles
have a habit of poking their
noses right into the middle of
the goings-on, or worse, pre
empting the start of the festivities.
Pastor Oglethorpe is waiting desperately for the Sanders family to make their promised appearance in his church,
when, unknown to him their
delay is caused by an unlikely
accident resulting from the
spillage of thousands of pickles into the road upon which
their bus is driving. That is
the premise and jumping-off
point of Smoke on the Mountain, a pleasant comedy mixing a bit of farce, a dash of
satire, with broad strokes of
just plain, old-fashioned good
humor.
The characters are a well-
intentioned bunch of broadly
played just plain folks types
that give the musical its edge.
From the beginning it is easy
to believe that we are part of
the congregation anxiously
awaiting the arrival of our
evening's special guests.
Their arrival is greeted with a
mixture of relief and shock
that they have had such a narrow escape from harm. But
that doesn't phase the Sanders. They launch immediately into a round of songs,
testimonies, and outrageous
gaffes that make us alternately
laugh along with them and at
them, empathize with them
over misfortunes, clap our
hands, and finally, sing along.
Burl Sanders, the father
was played by Jeremy
Hansard who delivered a fine
performance on piano.
Jerrie Anne Fortune
played the mother, Vera
Sanders.
The twins were played by
Andrew Shirley and Lisa
Alexander. Shirley brought
his shy and awkward charac
ter to life with an hilarious
performance.
Alexander also acted wonderfully and enhanced her
performance with spectacular vocal talents.
Stanley, the uncle was
played by Phil Esquibel.
Esquible played his character with a mellow humor that
in the end turned out well.
June, the sister, was played
by Wendy Slack. Slack assumed the role of a naive,
innocent Southern girl which
elicited many laughs and
chuckles.
And a convincing Gary
Griffitts played the church
preacher, Pastor Oglethorpe
The keep-up-with-the-
Joneses Scripture-quoting
race between Pastor
Oglethorpe and Mother Vera
is a hoot, as is the little dance
number that Denise and June
The cast of Smoke on the Mountain from left to right: Andrew Shirley (Dennis Sanders), Jerrie Anne Fortune (Vera Sanders), Phil
Esquibel (Stanley Sanders), Gary Griffitts (Pastor Oglethorpe), Lisa Alexander (Denise Sanders), Jeremy Hansard (Burl Sanders), and
Wendy Slack (June Sanders). (Photo by Dale Evola)
perform that so shocks the
congregation, especially the
two little old ladies that are
the de facto management of
the church because of their
substantial donations.
But the real draws of the
play are the music and song
performed by this very talented cast. Just about every
old time favorite gospel song
is there, except Amazing
Grace. The pastor sits down
at the piano to lead us in "Rock
of Ages" while awaiting the
Sander's arrival. Every one
of the Sanders except June
and Uncle Stanley have a go
at the piano. They all freely
switch between the guitar,
bull fiddle, and ukulele. Vera
plays the flute. Dennis does
the banjo. And before the
evening is over the pastor
feels compelled to trot out his
accordion.
Everyone in the cast sings,
even little sister June once or
twice, though her job is really
signing for the deaf, of whom
there are none in the congregation. The harmony is close
and sweet. The old-time gospel hymns take on an air of
rollicking fun that is contagious. And better yet, none
of the songs seem pasted on
to the action, as is sometimes
true with musicals.
The production staff did
an excellent job as well. The
costumes were period perfect,
complementing and enhancing the cast's performance.
Yocum's direction undoubtedly brought out the best in
what already had to be a very
strong cast. All in all this was
an afternoon well spent.
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