FRONT ROW CENTRE: Altar Boyz devilishly funny

It's lively, a bit irreverent and hysterically funny. It's Altar Boyz, and you don't want to miss it.

The hit off-Broadway show making its Toronto debut in the Studio Theatre in the Toronto Centre for the Arts as the inaugural production by the city's newest professional theatre company, Angelwalk.

Offering a barbed but not mean-spirited parody of boy bands and Christian rock groups, the show places us at the final concert of the Raise the Praise tour by the Altar Boyz, five not-so-angelic Catholic guys joined by their Jewish friend to spread the gospel and save a soul...or 97.

Credit the five performers with making this production work in a smallish space. Just like the groups they are parodying, each performer has a chance to take the spotlight and really shine. Director Timothy French has worked with the talented cast to ensure that all five have their own individual styles, creating distinct personalities. Yet when they harmonize the result is sinfully heavenly.

Jeigh Madjus is very funny as the overly sensitive and sometimes quite prissy Mark, while Aidan deSalaiz nabs his share of the laughs with the clipped consonants of Spanish boy Juan. Ken Chamberland makes group leader Mark such a likable character you wonder how he ever managed to keep the band together so long. Eric Morin plays up the simmering rage of bad boy Luke, and as the group's non-Christian lyric writing friend, Abraham, Stephen Roberts shows off both his singing and dancing skills.

The dancing in particular captures the essence of the groups it seeks to parody and is appropriately spastic when needed. Tim French has apparently studied the moves and incorporated slightly exaggerated versions in his extensive choreography.

On the tech side, the sound mix at the final preview was a bit finicky, but the energetic playing of the band led by Scott Christian helped boost the energy right through the roof. The set has a purposefully high-school-level look to it

Best of all, the lyrics are full of clever turns of phrase that playfully remind us not to take anything too seriously. It may be a one-joke show, but that joke is repeatedly milked for all it is worth and before you know it, the show's over.

There's nothing at all offensive in the text, so it's a perfect show for families of all faiths. Unlike recent concerts by the Jonas Brothers, here you can enjoy the music without it being obliterated by screaming fans.

Oh, and did I mention that this show is very, very funny?

Altar Boyz plays in the studio theatre at the Toronto Centre for the Arts until Oct. 11. Performances are Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m., with 2 p.m. matinees on Sundays. Tickets are priced between $25 and $40 and are available through the theatre company's website at www.angelwalk.ca or call 416-872-1111.