October 27, 2005

Final weekend!

Southern bluegrass and gospel music highlight Tabard
Theatre’s Depression-era ‘Smoke on the Mountain’

By Kymberli W. Brady
Staff Writer

This weekend is the last chance to catch the popular Tabard Theatre production of “Smoke on the Mountain.”

For Director Howard Miller, Saturday Night Sings provided a much-needed and highly appreciated form of entertainment during the Depression. It was during those times that gospel-singing families would perform at one church every Saturday night, then venture to other churches each Sunday.

Audience members at the current production of Tabard Theatre’s “Smoke on the Mountain” are taken back in time to 1938, where they find themselves part of the congregation of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church at their first-ever Saturday Night sing, where Pastor Oglethorpe is determined to move his flock into the “modern world” by inviting the Singing Sanders family to join them.

“This was, after all, Appalachia,” he said. He would know, having grown up a Southern Baptist in Tennessee, he grew to love the bluegrass gospel music, even if it has its moments.

“Even though I don’t always subscribe to the beliefs of some of the lyric, the sound and spirit always puts a smile on my face.”

Judging the 90 or so smiles in the audience, the spirit moved them too, sending many Midwest and southern natives down memory lane.

“It’s so fabulous,” said Managing Artistic Director Cathy Spielberger Cassetta. “People are just as excited about this show as they were with the Taffetas and that was extraordinary for us. We had sold-out houses since the first weekend—it’s so exciting. The audiences are loving it.”

Cassetta called the recipe for bluegrass gospel music and humor “just a fun, fun time.” For others, it was more like a spending a couple of hours in a time warp.

“I really enjoyed it,” added Claudio Hobbs of Evergreen “I used to go to a church like that in New York City and the pastor was from Tennessee. It’s just like being back there again. It was a good time then, and a good time today.”

“The play is very good,” added her husband Greg. “It really brings back memories.”

“It’s super,” agreed Terry Shoup. “I grew up in a church like this and it takes me back to a fun place. It’s funny and has some great harmony—I’m singing along.”

Shoup and his wife Betsy attended all of Tabard’s performances last year and he even played the base for the Taffetas. This year, they decided to purchase season tickets and he will be returning with the Taffetas for a special holiday performance in December.

For more information, including audition and performance schedules or to purchase tickets for the final weekend performances contact the Tabard Theatre, visit www.tabardtheatre.org or call (408) 979-1231.

— Photos by Kymberli Brady