Sanders Family re-creates 1941 Christmas in theater

TRACEY D’ASTOLFO

Vindicator Correspondent

SALEM — The Sanders Family proved to be crowd pleasers when they visited Salem Community Theatre earlier this year in “Smoke on the Mountain.” The gospel-music singing family got its act together at little old Mount Pleasant Baptist Church and was an instant hit for the theater.

The whole crew has returned in a warm holiday show entitled “Sanders Family Christmas,” which opened Friday before a full house.

The bluegrass-singing Sanders clan is back at the fictional church in the mountains of North Carolina. This time, it’s Christmas Eve, 1941 — a couple of weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor and the United States’ entry into World War II.

The entire cast has returned for “Sanders Family Christmas,” and they make a joyful noise as they run through dozens of bluegrass gospel songs during a church service.

It’s a good thing. It would have been a sin to break up this cast — many of whom are actually family in real life. The opening night performance was a delight, filled with the humor, patriotism and moral values that kept the home fires burning in those troubled times.

Gary and Cheryl Kekel, who are married, play Burl and Vera Sanders, the core of the family — as well as the guitar and piano player, respectively.

Mark Frost (upright bass) plays Uncle Stanley Sanders, while the twins — Dennis and Denise — are played by Joshua Lewis and Amanda Frost. Amanda is Mark Frost’s daughter.

Connie Baer plays June Sanders, the only member of the family without musical talent.

Pastor Oglethorpe is played by Len DeRico, who is a preacher in real life, at Northeast Christian Church of Columbiana.

Connie Frost Price and Andy Cowens are Clementine and Clem, the silent musicians in the act, and Carolyn Saunders and Kari Lankford are Miss Maude and Miss Myrtle, the spinsters in the “Amen Corner.”

Mark Frost and Cheryl Kekel are the co-directors, and Gary Kekel serves as music director. The playwright is Connie Ray.

By now, each of the musical members of the Sanders Family is completely natural in their role. With their backwoods sense and mannerisms, they effortlessly re-create this loving family of simple mountain folk. Even a mislaid sombrero that slid sideways down Burl’s head, forcing him to play guitar with his head cocked, added to the down-home charm. Kekel drew laughs, turning the misstep into a plus.

Each member of the Sanders Family gets a turn to “witness” before the congregation, allowing the audience to get to know them on a personal level, including the fears of a young Dennis who is days away from heading off to war.

The Kekels are in command as both the leaders of a God-fearing family and seasoned performers, while DeRico has the caricature of the simple preacher down pat. “Electricity is one of God’s mysteries,” he declares to a congregation that can cite a verse of Scripture to prove any point.

The twins — Lewis and Amanda Frost — look the part, with their denim coveralls and wide-eyed openness. Amanda also possesses a heavenly singing voice.

Perhaps most perfectly matched to her role is Baer. It’s fun to watch her June Sanders light up as she contributes to the music with bells or whistles, or as she “signs” the lyrics to a congregation that has no deaf members. Her facial expressions are priceless in the “Cactus Christmas Tree” number.

The musical begins with the Sanders Family showing up on a cold and snowy night. The audience serves as the congregation and it didn’t have to imagine the weather, as Friday night’s temperature dipped into the teens.

The stage is transformed beautifully into the chancel of a country church.

Wooden paneling encompasses the altar area, with a pulpit and choir on either side and a beautiful back-lit stained-glass window in the center.

X“Smoke on the Mountain Part 2: A Sanders Family Christmas” will be performed at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. today; 8 p.m. Dec. 12 and 13; and 2 p.m. Dec. 14. Salem Community Theatre is at 490 E. State St., Salem. Call (330) 332-9688 for ticket information.