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| L - R Michael Michael Marchak, Jason Chacon, Tyler Vess, Craig McEldowney, Photo: James Esposito |
By Joe Straw
Altar Boyz book by Kevin Del Aguila, music and lyrics by Gary Adler
& Michael Patrick Walker, conceived by Marc Kessler & Kevin Davenport
and directed by Kristin Towers-Rowles is now playing at the Chromolume Theatre
through May 11, 2014.
The Chromolume Theatre at the Attic sounds a bit confusing.
The Attic is basically the same space at 5429 Washington Boulevard. And to
reacquaint you, this space is a very small black box venue, approximately 69
seats.
You can compare The Altar Boyz to ‘N Sync, or an earlier
version The Backstreet Boys and/or New Kids on the Block, but The Altar Boyz are
fine standing on their own merits.
So let’s not make that comparison. Because where Jesus is
concerned, The Altar Boyz are the real deal, second to none in the life of
Christian Boy Bands. Word is that a
higher up has got a special place for them when things come to a harmonious end
and they enter the pearly gates. And
it’s right next to the van.
Altar Boyz is a crowd pleaser and, on this particular night,
the Christians were having the time of their lives, as are the others who ventured
out to see this nocturnal boy band fest.
Anyone who enjoys a little religion, with his or her entertainment, will
enjoy the boyz in this show.
Only there’s a slight problem, these are not really boyz,
they are men, well into their, well let’s not go there. Suffice it to say, they are not teenagers,
and life has added a few extra pounds to their teenage frames. But what they lack in youth, they’ve gained in
experience and the ability to control an audience in support their church.
I didn’t quite get where the proceeds of their performance were
going. To God? Or the van?
Truth be told, the boyz are down on their luck. Once they
commanded spaces up to the hundreds and now its come to this, a small theatre
on Washington. But that’s a challenge
they’ve come to accept, because when the night is done, they will blow the
Christian roof off of this venue.
Kevin Del Aguila’s book tells us the Boyz have to convert
their audience. Because, let’s be frank,
this group (yours included) ain’t feeling it, so says the Boyz’ soul sensor
monitor which says that 69 people just ain’t gettin’ God’s groove.
So, if it’s the telling of their story to make you come over,
then that’s what they got to do.
Be that as it may, Matthew (Craig McEldowney), Mark (Michael
Marchak), Luke (Jason Chacon), and Juan (Joey Acuna), put on a hell of a show (maybe
a bad choice of words given the theme) to convince their audience to believe. And by the end, they make it their objective
to convert all, even if it takes the last ounce of beaded sweat pouring off
their bodies and souls, to prove their point.
The Bible has a lot of stories and so do our boyz. Matthew
is a virgin, and will remain a virgin until he is married. Mark is gay and really wants Matthew to give
up this virgin thing, with him. Luke has changed his life around but still
carries his street thug mentality under his tight cap. And Juan is an orphan who wants to find his
mother and father. Abraham (Tyler Vess) is
a Jew just to add one more to their religious base.
Kristin Towers-Rowles,
the director, does a tremendous job defining the objectives of the characters
so the audience gets a clear understanding of this musical endeavor. The Music and Lyrics by Gary Adler & Michael Patrick Walker are very clever with a
slight bash on religious thought and fanaticism. There was a moment when we
seemed to head into Billy Graham territory but suddenly the show comes back to
good clean religious fun as it was meant to be. The choreography by Samantha Marie
is fun and keeps thing moving in a delightful direction. All in all, this is a
very good outing.
The Boyz lean in the direction that says that even though
were a Christian Boy Band, we’re going to give it everything we got, until God
is got.
And while we are on the subject of making life changes, I
have some thoughts.
This is a small venue and the actors/singers had mics and even
then the words did not overcome the volume of the four-piece band. Musical
director Richard Berent hasn’t found
the correct satisfying levels. Not a big
problem – fixed with only a minor adjustment. The other members of the band are
Joe Lawrence, synthesizer, John Harvey on drums and George “Drew” DeRieux on guitar.
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| L - R Jason Chacon, Michael Marchak, Craig McEldowney, Tyler Vess, Joey Acuna Photo: James Esposito |
Craig McEldowney
plays Matthew, a man who won’t give “it” up until he is married. He appears to
be the leader of the group and has a very nice solo number with a woman from
the audience that was a big Christian crowd pleaser.
Michael Marchak
is Mark, the very openly gay character on stage who would love to privately
pray with a member of the band. Marchak
fits the boy-band mold with a wide-eyed expression and the ability to sing and
dance with finesse and grace.
Jason Chacon is
Luke, the tough guy in the group who wants you to believe even if he has to
force the religion down your throat.
It’s something that the other members of the band don’t like, given
their peaceful devotion. Chacon has a very nice speaking voice but loses a
little when he sings. He has a lot of
very funny moments.
Joey Acuna plays
Juan, a man who was left on someone’s doorsteps, when he was a tiny baby. His
one dream is to find his parents, that they will come to one of his
performances, and they will lovingly reunite. So, his dream is to find his parents but when the
plan doesn’t work out, his dream becomes a physical nightmare that he must
overcome. He does this in grand style and wonderfully executed.
Tyler Vess is
Abraham and keeps the ball rolling, does a nice job, but we never really get a
sense of his character, aside from the menorah here, and the Star of David
there. Still he has a good look and a nice voice.
Other members of the cast who did not perform on this night
were Holland Noel, Kyle Shepard, Justin P. James, Charles
Martinez, and Charles Martinez.
Dance Music and Additional Arrangements by Lynne Shankel.
Other members of this crew are as follows:
Scenic Design - Daniel Ingram
Lighting Design – Craig Batory
Costume Design – Wes Jenkins
Sound Design – James Esposito
Stage Manager – Lauren J. Peters
Assistant Stage Manager – Alysha Bermudez
Press Representative – Ken Werther Publicity
Run! Run! Don't think, take a
Unitarian Universalist and let them do the religious thinking for the both of you.
FOR TICKETS:
CHROMOLUME THEATRE
AT THE ATTIC
5429 W. WASHINGTON BOULEVARD
LOS ANGELES 90016
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