‘Smoke’ offers theatrical comfort food

By TRACEY D’ASTOLFO

entertainment@vindy.com

SALEM

Like an old friend you haven’t seen in a while, the Sanders family has returned in “Smoke on the Mountain: Homecoming.”

The homespun bluegrass-gospel musical opened Friday at Salem Community Theatre. It is the third and final chapter in the series and possibly the best.

Once again, the musical Sanders family is holding court at the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church. The fictional sanctuary — the same set used in the previous two shows — is a backwoods church in the rural mountains of North Carolina.

The previous installment ended with Dennis, one of the young Sanders twins, heading off to war, and June, the eldest daughter, getting married to Pastor Oglethorpe.

“Homecoming” picks up a few years later — 1945 to be exact. The war is over, and good times are returning.

The Rev. Mr. Oglethorpe and June are expecting a baby and are about to leave for a new church in Texas ... to Mrs. Sanders’ chagrin.

Dennis is about to take over as pastor of the church. And Denise has her arms full with rambunctious young twins.

Once again, the entire cast from the first two productions has returned and thankfully so. And as always, a co-star of the story is the lively music, played on stage by the talented cast. It punctuates the story with heavenly harmonies backed up by guitar, banjo, fiddle, upright bass and organ.

Mr. Oglethorpe, played by Len DeRico, once again leads the pack in his well-meaning yet bumbling “Mayberry RFD” fashion. He leads the family in a cowboy-gospel song that is one of the funniest bits.

He and every Sanders family member has the face of someone who is full of the spirit.

Perhaps none more so than Connie Baer, who plays June with childlike joy and sincerity. She is extremely pregnant and carrying very, very, very low. But it barely slows her unstoppable enthusiasm for the simple things — such as playing a cowbell — and it shows on her infectiously glowing face.

Also returning are the talented Gary Kekel and co-director Cheryl Kekel, on guitar and organ, respectively, as the father and the mother of the family. Mark Frost co-directs and plays wayward uncle Stanley Sanders, while Joshua Lewis reprises the role of Dennis.

The final chapter in the Sanders family saga is a must-see for those who’ve been following it. But newcomers need not be put off, as they are quickly brought up to speed in the first few minutes.

The performance ia a huge helping of down-home theatrical comfort food that makes for a feel-good evening.

“Smoke on the Mountain: Homecoming” will be performed at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and March 26-27; and 2 p.m. March 21 and 28. Salem Community Theatre is at 480 E. State St., Salem. Call (330) 332-9688.