A capacity crowd at Mount Sinai Baptist Church laughed and cried throughout the revival of the new production of the original play, “Somebody’s Knocking at Your Door,” on the afternoon of July 19.

Conceived and created in the early 1990s by Carroll Holland, member of Mount Sinai, the play is infused with spirituals and tells the story of a righteous and determined woman  — played by Vernettia Rawls Gibbs — who is so busy getting ready for a dinner visit from Christ that she berates seven different visitors in various states of need who stop by her home. It is only when Christ comes in the image she has of Him that she realizes her horrendous mistake. Yet, he forgives her.

The title song was performed by Linda Dickerson. The image of Christ was played by Rolland Hunter Sr., chair of the board of deacons and superintendent of the church school at Mount Sinai. He was joined by:

• Old Crippled Woman — Olivia Williams
• Beggar — William Lawrence
• Widow with children — Edna Walden
• Blind Man — Alton Holland
• Church Lady — Endora Brown
• Traveling Man — Christopher Hunter
• Recently Converted Woman — Carnell Rawls Lawrence

“Our performances are improvisational,” says Vernettia Rawls Gibbs. “The play’s subject matter is always relevant because it moves and adapts to the time in which we live.”

A special musical selection, “Oh, How Precious is the Name,” led by Gloria “Cookie” Johnson, was performed by members of Holland New Birth Choir.

From May 1993 through 2000, the play has been performed more than 75 times throughout the Hampton Roads area. This performance was a special tribute to its oldest actor, Olivia Williams, retired teacher from the now-closed Southwestern High School who has performed in every production since 1993.

Mount Sinai Baptist Church is located at 6100 Holy Neck Road in the Holland area. The Rev. William L. Lang is pastor.