Altar Boyz | Guildford Grammar Theatre | Until Oct 10

★ ★ ★

Gary Adler and Michael Patrick Walker’s Off-Broadway hit ‘Altar Boyz’ parodies the boy band sensation of the nineties and noughties with a camp 90-minute performance that emulates a real pop concert. Perth boys Ryan Dawson, Zac Gower, Matt Healy, Juan Albanese and David Gray take on the roles of Matthew, Mark, Luke, Juan and Abraham in a high-camp, no-frills rendition of the critically acclaimed musical.

The show opens with the Boyz running on stage, whooping and jumping with the forceful energy that befits a cookie-cutter boy band.  The show emulates the banter of a real concert, with the band making “natural” conversation with each other and the room. A live band complements the singers and make up nearly all of the set decoration – as the Boyz must be the centre of attention for the masses of frenzied fans.

The cast filled out their roles as pop music archetypes, Juan’s exaggerated Latino character and Abraham’s Star of David adorned t-shirt making for some of the best visual gags of the show – but it was Zac Gower’s Mark who commanded the audience’s attention. Zac’s hyper-camp, oversexualised Mark had the crowd in stitches from start to finish, which is no small feat for a show without interval.

The dialogue is limited in ‘Altar Boyz’, putting the music in the driver’s seat and the boys were able to keep up the pace. At times vocals were lost as the cast had to keep up their choreography but the energy did not dwindle and the boys turned out song after song from ‘Girl You Make Me Wanna Wait’ to ‘Jesus Called Me On My Cellphone’.

This production of ‘Altar Boyz’ succeeds in meeting its brief, an energetic 90-minute concert that pokes fun at boy bands, Christian pop and mainstream American music. The choreography may need a little polish, but the cast and crew have crafted a high-camp, no-frills evening of musical theatre that’s a whole lot of fun.

Leigh Hill

Altar Boyz will be at the Guildford Grammar Auditorium on October 8th,9th & 10th at 8pm. Tickets available from www.trybooking.com