Review: 'Altar Boyz' at Stoneham Theatre (Stoneham, MA)

The Cast of Altar Boyz (2017). Photo Credit: Maggie Hall Photography.

The musical comedy ‘Altar Boyz’ was conceived by Mark Kessler and Ken Davenport and ran for over 2000 performances Off-Broadway. The book was written by Kevin Del Aguila with music and lyrics by Gary Adler and Michael Patrick Walker. The show focuses on a fictitious Christian boy band giving the last performance of their national ‘Raise the Praise’ tour. These five best friends have been singing and dancing their way around the country while sharing their faith with their audiences. ‘Altar Boyz’ cleverly and satirically pays homage to the Christian church and 1990’s boy bands in a wonderfully entertaining way.                                                                                                             

Stoneham Theatre’s production was co-directed by Tyler Rosati and Ceit Zweil with choreography by Ceit Zweil and music direction by Matthew Stern. In addition to playing the keyboard, Stern also leads the rockin’ four piece band elevated upstage. The concert-like set design was created by Jenna Lord and was further exemplified with the lighting design by Jeff Adelberg and sound design by John Stone.

The Cast of Altar Boyz (2017). Photo Credit: Maggie Hall Photography.

 One of the most important aspects to get right with this musical is the vocal power, quality and ability of the performers. Without the right vocalists, the show can literally fall flat. Thankfully Stoneham Theatre completely nailed their casting with five exceptionally talented vocalists:  Sean Mitchell Crosley as Luke, Ricardo D. Holguin as Juan, Michael Levesque as Matthew, Michael Jennings Mahoney as Mark, and Bryan Miner as Abraham. There wasn’t a weak link among them! This is the most perfectly cast musical I have seen in the last year!

From the start, the cast brings energy and fun onto the stage. Their excitement quickly grabbed a hold of the audience, who were laughing and applauding in no time. The opening number “We are the Altar Boyz” swiftly got the audience’s attention and we really felt like we were at a [insert your favorite ‘90’s boy band] concert. Upbeat musical numbers including “Rhythm in Me” and “La Vida Eternal” featured fantastic choreography that was very reminiscent of the ‘90’s boy band era. Choreographer Ceit Zweil took the abilities of the cast and mixed it with some great early hip hop, jazz and pop moves making each number fun and funky. While the whole cast may not have been extensively trained dancers, their rhythm and unification were great. They took the choreography, made it their own and looked like they were having a blast performing it.

The Cast of Altar Boyz (2017). Photo Credit: Maggie Hall Photography.

Throughout the show, their singing, especially their harmonies, were on point. Their solo numbers allowed them each to shine and further highlight their talent: be it an extensive vocal range or the ability to jump through vocal hoops during a song. The themes of faith and friendship were wonderfully represented by the dynamic cast. “I Believe” was especially poignant and powerful. The professionalism of this cast is unparalleled. Even when a technical problem arose, their performance didn’t falter and they made it work. This absolutely outstanding production fully deserved the extended standing ovation they received. Without hesitation, I would go see this again!! 

If you’re looking for a musical to see this spring, ‘Altar Boyz’ should be that musical! It’s hilarious, the voices are top notch and the dancing is excellent! You’ll leave the theatre smiling for sure! ‘Altar Boyz’ runs about 80 minutes with no intermission and plays at Stoneham Theatre, 395 Main St. Stoneham, until April 9^th. Tickets range $50- $55 Adults, $45-$50 Seniors and $20 Students (with valid ID). For tickets or more information visit www.stonehamtheatre.org or call the box office at 781-279-2200.

‘Chill’ at Merrimack Repertory Theatre (Lowell, MA)

Maria Jung, Monica Giordano, Danny Bryck, & Kim Fischer.
Photo by Meghan Moore

Now playing on the Merrimack Repertory Theatre stage is Eleanor Burgess’ funny and relatable play ‘Chill’. Directed by Megan Sandberg-Zakian and featuring four talented actors, the play takes place on two nights, ten years apart, where four high school friends learn about themselves, each other and how difficult it can be to go from being a teenager to an adult. Act one takes place in 2001 as they impatiently await their college acceptance letters and make plans for their future. Act two takes place in 2011 when the world seems much darker, life has gotten more complicated and they struggle with feeling unaccomplished. The themes of friendship, self-discovery and following your heart were prevalent and clearly portrayed by the cast.

                                                                                                                                      

The cast features Danny Bryck as Ethan, Kim Fischer as Stu, Monica Giordano as Alli, and Maria Jung as Jenn. They had great chemistry and were realistic in both ages they had to play. The well written and funny script includes many pop culture references. Each character is different and has their own quirks and personality traits that both compliment and clash with the others. All four actors were solid in their characters and understanding their relationships to each other. Act two really allowed the actors to express the emotional growth of their characters and the complicated aspects of their grown-up lives. Things have not worked out as they’ve expected and they’re not where they’d thought they’d be at this point in their lives. While they still care for each other and enjoy having fun together, the closeness they once had has diminished.

I really appreciated how each act ended strongly with a profound line or phrase. As act one draws to a close, Alli and Jenn are wishing something would happen to break through the boring lives they feel they are stuck in. Little did they know how overwhelmingly their world was about to change. Audio begins to play of the important and traumatic events that began to unfold in 2001, starting with the 9/11 terrorist attacks. As Alli and Jenn sit on the couch watching the news reports unfold on the television, their posture and expressions begin to change. Once relaxed, they are now shocked, confused, anxious and distraught. Though they weren’t speaking, Giordano and Jung’s reactions to the audio recordings were powerful. Act two ends with another poignant line from Alli who reassures Jenn that even though things haven’t gone exactly according to plan, they’ll be ok. They have each other’s backs and will continue to support one another.  

This play is real to life in all its complexity and clearly shows how confusing our relationships can be. While young adults will more closely relate to this play, its characters and the struggles they face as they try to be mature individuals, older audience members will enjoy it as well.© Running just over two hours with one intermission, ‘Chill’ plays at Merrimack Repertory Theatre, located at 50 East Merrimack Street Lowell, MA, until April 16^th, 2017.  Tickets range from $70-$26 with discounts available for groups, students, seniors, Lowell residents, and military service members. To purchase tickets or find more information visit www.mrt.org or call 978-654-4678.

Kylián/Wings of Wax at Boston Ballet (Boston, MA)

Boston Ballet’s latest production features three very different, but equally challenging and stunning ballets. From a fast, classical ballet loaded with technique, to an incredibly intricate chorographical masterpiece, to an indescribable contemporary ballet, this production has something for each audience member to enjoy. And based on their response, Friday’s audience was certainly entertained.    

Boston Ballet in George Balanchine's Donizetti Variations

© The George Balanchine Trust;

photo by Rosalie O'Connor, courtesy Boston Ballet

The production started off with Donizetti Variations with choreography by George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust and music from Gaetano Donizetti’s opera Don Sebastian (1843). This twenty-six minute ballet features classic ballet technique and lovely costumes courtesy of Miami City Ballet. It is performed by a corps of six females and three males who dance all together as well as in small groups. There were moments, while in the small groups, where their timing lacked precision. When they began the ballet, it seemed as though some had just plastered a smile on their face and they were merely going through the motions. Their facial expressions improved during the ballet and though they were energetic, they lacked the exuberance. At one point, when a few ladies were standing on the side of the stage, they appeared to have “checked out” and forgotten that whether you’re dancing or not, if you’re on stage you need to be engaged and in character.

The pas de deux of this ballet was wonderfully danced by Ji Young Chae and Irlan Silva. Their up-tempo section was crisp and clean, while their adagio was smooth, fluid and perfectly controlled. They exhibited great partnering skills and superb musicality. Chae’s solo was spirited and fun. She completely lit up the stage displaying obvious joy in her expressions and movements. It was clear she was having a blast. Silva’s solo featured high jumps and boundless energy. Their turn sequences were very well done receiving applause from the audience. Together they were lovely to watch. Later when she (Chae) danced with Samivel Evans, Lawrence Rines, and Marcus Romeo, their dancing and expressions were sweet and playful. The audience, though not overly enthusiastic, seemed to enjoy this upbeat classical ballet.

Boston Ballet in Jiří Kylián's Wings of Wax;

photo by Rosalie O'Connor, courtesy Boston Ballet

The second ballet of the evening was Jiří Kylián’s Wings of Wax, and after seeing it, it is undoubtedly one of my favorite ballets performed by the company in recent memory. The choreography was amazingly complex and meticulous and mashed classical and contemporary ballet with various modern techniques and styles. The eight dancers: Rachele Buriassi, Dusty Button, Misa Kuranaga, Dalay Parrondo, Isaac Akiba, Roddy Doble, Lasha Khozashvili, and Patrick Yocum, performed with precision and immaculate musicality. The jumps were high, the turns were fast and every step was strongly executed. One of my favorite sections was when Misa Kuranaga, Isaac Akiba and Lasha Khozashvili danced together. They moved through each other and with each other with angular sharpness and a fantastic connection. The group as a whole danced perfectly in unison. The male solos included fast jumps and turns that flew across the stage. They were able to lift their partners with ease and the females, with complete trust, were tossed, turned, lifted and dragged about the stage. Each musical variation led to new emotional explorations and characterizations. It was fascinating to watch and captivating from start to finish. The dancers fully embodied their movement, the characters they were portraying and the stories they were telling. The audience highly enjoyed this ballet giving it a standing ovation and robust applause.

Boston Ballet in Alexander Ekman's Cacti; photo by Rosalie O'Connor, courtesy of Boston Ballet

Alexander Ekman’s Cacti was the third and final ballet of the night and it was odd, amusing and unlike anything I have ever seen. I was mesmerized by not only the choreography, but the entire piece and everything it encompassed: the stunning dancers, the lighting, the string quartet on stage, the set design and of course the cacti. The movement was most often fast and intricate and varied: from following the music to following the spoken word. The duet between Dusty Button and Paul Craig featured a narration that was intended to be a conversation that took place in their heads. It was really cool and it captivated the audience who chuckled numerous times at what was being said and the movement that was paired to the narration.  While it was not clear if the audience fully understood or appreciated this ballet, it was obvious that they enjoyed it, giving the dancers and musicians a standing ovation and hearty applause.  

These three unique and beautiful ballets make for an enjoyable and entrancing two hours. © Kylián/Wings of Wax performs at the Boston Opera House (539 Washington St, Boston, MA) through April 2^nd. Tickets and more information can be found at www.bostonballet.org or by calling the Box Office at 617-695-6955.