Altar Boyz
Altar Boyz
Book By Kevin Del Aguila
Music and Lyrics by Gary Adler and Michael Patrick Walker
Direction and musical Direction by Steve MacKinnon
Theater Downtown, Orlando Fl
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p class=”MsoNormal”>If you can just get your Boy Band Moves down, no one will question your theology. Modestly tight jeans and a good light show will trump any details about transubstantiation or Liberation theology when the Altar Boyz storm into town. They pack a mix of hot moves, cool tunes, and the sort of feel good Christianity guaranteed to save you from unhappiness if not from eternal damnation. Each of these 5 downstage preachers comes complete with personal back story and an assigned market demographic. Lead singer Matthew (Spencer Morrow) is the tallest which makes him lead heartthrob. Mark (Brandon Allen Wood) helps with choreography and keeps a secret crush on Matthew. Luke (Adam Del Medico) spends his free time in rehab and gives the rest of the crew someone to despise with their loving kindness. Juan (Sheldon Gomabon) pulls the hot Latino shift and provides the street smart clothing. Bringing up the back is unconverted Abraham (Alexander Brown). In the new millennia, Jews don’t get to be God’s chosen any more. After all, what is Christianity without anti-Semitism?
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p class=”MsoNormal”>This jukebox review gently parodies pop theology and Christian Rock while dancing up a storm courtesy of Mr. Morrow’s great choreography. All the acting fits right into the trope of Lou Perlman’s sexual fantasy, even if there’s not a huge amount of story here. Near the end, ex-foundling Juan discovers his folks are dead, and while his reaction makes good sense, the event feels stapled onto the story to give it a little dimensionality. Keeping with the high energy rock show, the sound is loud enough to mask some of the lyrics, all of which are full of little digs at the holy and holy wannabes. Still, Altar Boyz never gets nasty, handling God and personal beliefs with kid gloves, and it’s a blast of heaven sent comedy in these dark days.
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p class=”MsoNormal”>For more information, please visit http://www.theatredowntown.net
