Altar Boyz

Critiqued by Holly Bartges

April 17, 2010

Unfortunately, only one more weekend remains to have your soul saved. Because of the thundering electricity reverberating through Littleton's Town Hall with Altar Boyz, this is a golden opportunity guaranteed you won't want to miss.

Directed by Nick Sugar, under the musical direction of David Nehls. The cast explodes with thrilled excitement. Sugar and Ken Randell conjure up the highly synchronized choreography.

Cast of Town Hall Arts Center's production of Altar Boyz.

The Altar Boyz are just finishing their Raise the Praise world tour, ending up in Littleton, Colorado. So determined to save every soul they come in contact with, they even have a Soul Sensor on their concert stage, providing accurate readings of the audience. At the beginning of the concert it reads 157 souls to save, and they aren't leaving until the sensor reads 0.

A motley five some with Matthew. Mark, Luke, Juan, and -------------Abraham. Abraham? A Jewish boy singing with a Catholic group? Where did he come from? He walks into the church one day wanting to audition. One of them questions whether it's legal for a Jewish kid to be in the church. Abraham casually comments, "I don't know. I just passed one hanging on the cross." His voice is what they need. It works, and that's all that matters.

Well-defined characterizations, eye-popping choreography, strong voices blending magnificently combine personalities oozes with intriguing stories behind the story. The 2004 award winning musical conceived by Marc Kessler and Ken Davenport, with music and lyrics by Gary Adler and Michael Patrick Walker, satirizes boy band popularity, and Christian-themed music in today's culture. Black humor snakes its way in and out of the conversation as the Boys frequently address the audience. The humor isn't funny for the sake of just being funny. It comes directly from their hearts. That's what makes it hysterical. They only vocalize what a great many think, but don't think appropriate to speak out loud. No pretense with these kids. They are on a mission, and they say what's on their mind without apology. So refreshing.

Matthew Turner, as the Leader brings Matthew to life without hesitation.

Barret Harper, a coy sensitive young man has eyes for Matthew and is adorable as Mark.

Yes, there's the street smart, bad boy who in the past has had a penchant for finding trouble. Luke maintains his street-smart ways and means, but Benjy Schirm takes Luke seriously. When he speaks, you're compelled to listen.

Ah, the Latin Lover, Juan, tickles the imagination with Randell's oozing sexuality and comedic snapshots.

Then there's the Gefilte Fish Out of Water, Abraham deliciously played by Chris Trimbolt.

Musicians, Nehls, keyboards; Mitch Samu, keyboards; Tag Worley, drums; Neil Haverstick, guitar; and Scott Smith, guitar share the on-stage spotlight. The night I was there it was Samu, Worley, and Haverstick, and they rocked with the rolling music for We Are The Altar Boyz, Rhythm In Me, Everybody Fits, Something About You, and Number 918, to name only a few. Having the musicians on stage provides an added plus to catch shared expressions, and the magic behind turning notes into music.

Linda Morkin's costume design reflects the five different personalities. Tina Anderson's set design screams, "Concert". Karalyn Star Pytel's lighting design dances with the Boyz in their excitement, story telling, and, yes, confessions.

Cast of Town Hall Arts Center's production of Altar Boyz.

Everyone has a chance to tell their story in words and music. Abraham discovers he really isn't a Gefilte Fish out of water with his song Everybody Fits.

Following the Confession Sessions song, Matthew sings Something About You creating a soul-smile.

Luke enhances his story with Body, Mind & Soul.

Juan captivates with his La Vida Eternal.

These are five happy, animated singers each with a demon or two acting as glue to their own perceptions. The demons aren't about to stay hidden. They have a voice demanding expression, and get it right there on stage in the midst of the concert. During the concert, the boys learn something, perhaps more important than what they are doing. They learn the meaning of brotherhood. They learn they really do need each other, and the differences between them are only superficial. Strange, how satire leaks serious truths. Then again, maybe that's what satire aches to do. Sometimes it succeeds. Sometimes it doesn't. In this production, with this cast, these musicians, this director, and choreographers, the truths behind the scenes streams throughout the theatre like a bright spotlight, not even Pytel could program into her lighting design. Truth can't be programmed with a flick of a switch. It either stands on its own terms or it walks silently away unnoticed.

Here a sensitive eye-rolling hesitant young man can hang with a tough street kid. A Latin lover with a daunting Cuban history can meld with ease with a Jewish kid. The timing for Altar Boyz at Littleton's Town Hall couldn't be better. In a polarized society where demons growl sneers at each other, it's good to see five very different young people look eyeball to eyeball at each other seeing the captured individual with exhilarated talent. Sometimes it takes a crisis to bring the truth to light, which is exactly what happens with these five to see beyond their own eyelids. The Soul Sensor DX-12 is only a toy with flashing lights, but their bubbled crisis isn't. We can laugh at them and with them, but there's that truth thing again.

It’s a 90-minute, no Intermission, hypered, loud music with clever lyrics, breath taking harmony. charmed kids, wowed synchronized dancing, swarmed with incredible talent while truth of human nature smiles gently from the rafters.

One more weekend. Not to be missed because it's Fun. Not to be missed because Altar Boyz is an awesome perfected masterful production. Not to be missed because it warms the heart and smiles the soul. (Maybe the Soul Sensor DX-12 isn't a toy after all.) Not to be missed because the musical musicians brush aside the inside cobwebs.

Not to be missed. Period.

Altar Boyz
Music and Lyrics by Gary Adler and Michael Patrick Walker, Book by Kevin Del Aguila; Directed and choreographed by Nick Sugar; Musical direction by David Nehls