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June 11, 2008

Austinist Reviews: Altar Boyz

Altar Boyz
Through 7/13, Wed-Sat @8pm, Sun @2:30pm
Zachary Scott Theatre Center (map)
[info]
For those Texas hipsters who didn’t grow up within the sweet, blue-state confines of free-thinking, free-wheeling Austin Proper, there's likely to be a shady past lurking in the hazy memories of one’s teenage years. It’s nothing to do with drugs or booze or shameful, hot, teenage sex—well, maybe—but chances are, years of downing PBR and listening to Liars haven’t suppressed a past full of enthusiastic youth group meetings, praise band concerts and Sunday services. That’s what growing up in Texas is about. And those memories will make Altar Boyz at Zach Scott Theatre all the funnier.

The Altar Boyz in question are a J.C.-fueled boy band. Matthew, Mark, Luke and Juan—plus Abraham, the token Jew!—dance their way into the hearts of fans with their perfectly groomed, über-manufactured selves. Their (almost) unwavering dedication to the love o’ God is riotously funny, and from the Bad Boy (a shameless Mark Christine as Luke) to the Closet Case (show-stealer Christopher Hartman as Mark) every Altar Boy is religious perfection personified. Band leader Matthew, played by Dario Nolfi, whose starry-eyed love for Jeebus captures the essence of every praise band leader ever, orchestrates the show, while Juan (Joshua Cruz, who is just short of being too sexy for the role … not a bad thing) provides even more comic relief to the already side-splitting production. And James La Rosa, as Abraham, plays his character as the cutest dancing Chosen Person this side of Mount Ararat.

Overshadowing the hilarious songs (“Church Rulez” OMG) is the phenomenal choreography, filled with jokes in its own right. Look for the point at which the arms-outstretched pose of Christ on the cross is actually incorporated into a dance move, making Altar Boyz possibly the most wonderfully blasphemous production of anything, ever. The show lags toward the end when the singing and dancing stops and the acting takes over, but don’t lose faith: the Altar Boyz bring it home with a soul-stirring finale. Hallelujah!

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Comments (3) [rss]

I hate musicals and thought this was pretty darn funny when I saw it last year at the Paramount.

 

I'm so glad I grew up in Austin.

 

that Christopher Hartman WAS a scene-stealer.

He played his role almost as if it were true...

 
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