The multi award winning and longest musical to play off Broadway in years, Altar Boyz, has had its highly anticipated Australian premiere to a very enthusiastic response at Sydney’s Seymour Centre.The shows premise is very basic – the Altar Boyz, a five piece boy band in their final performance of their national ‘Raise the Praise’ tour. In just over ninety minutes, we bare witness to the trials and tribulations of life in a boy band, while they try to redeem the lost godless souls of the audience.
With the early proliferation of musical outfits such as Westlife and Human Nature combined with the evangelistic organizations such as Hillsong Ministries, there is much inspiration to draw upon.
While Altar Boyz has the potential to become a clichéd product of itself, director Kate Gaul has taken everything we have come to love (and hate!) of the boy band phenomenon to present a highly entertaining and fast paced production.
Gaul has assembled a dynamic young cast includes Cameron MacDonald (Matthew) Dion Bilios (Mark) Tim Maddren (Luke) Jeremy Brennan (Juan) and Andrew Koblar (Abraham), who sing and dance their way through twelve original songs penned by Garry Adler and Michael Patrick Walker.
Robert Gavin’s musical direction and leader of the four piece band offers a driving accompaniment to the highly energetic choreography by Anthony Ginandja. While some sound issues did mar the early part of the show, these did settle down as the show progressed.
While opening night audiences can be predictably enthusiastic, if you take the show for what it is - a tongue in cheek swipe at boy bands, Altar Boyz is a fun and entertaining night out. Amen!
Altar Boyz
Everest Theatre, Seymour Centre, Sydney
Wednesday 11 June 2008. Review by Rohan Shearn.
Season plays till 2 August 2008. Bookings: (02) 9351 7940
