I Do! I Do!
Book and Lyrics by Tom Jones
Music by Harvey Schmidt
Starring Roy Alan and Heather Alexander
Winter Park Playhouse, Winter Park FL

So many plays take a downer view on love and marriage – after all, what fun is watching to people grow old together if they don’t throw something at each other occasionally? In this Tom Jones penned look at the span of wedded life, Roy Alan (as Michael) and his real life wife Heather Alexander (as Agnes) relive a 40 year marriage in an hour or two of song and dance. The marriage starts off well enough, even if the honeymoon is bit chaste. Michael kisses Agnes’s feet on their wedding night, but neither of them seems comfortable enough to remove their overcoats. But by the third song “I Love My Wife” they’re dancing on the bed, and right after that Agnes belts out “Something has Happened” as Michael paces through “The Waiting Room.” Young lovers always figure out the details. After another 3 songs, 15 years are gone by and things are falling apart. Michael is making moves on a younger woman and Agnes is ready to storm out on her own with a hat that endangered at least three species of birds. By the end of act one, they’re singing “The Honeymoon is Over”, and we’re ready for some real legal fire works.

The really juicy stuff must have happened at intermission, and the second act focuses on reconciliation and relief that the kids are continuing the cosmic cycle. “Where are the Snows?” leads into the blunt “The Kids are Getting Married”, and “Our Cup Runneth Over” reminding us that nothing really matters but the people around us. Yes, Virginia, this show is a bit of a Hallmark card, but with really good music, not that tinny microchip synthesizer stuff. Mr. Alan can tap dance in his bare feet, Mrs. Alexander still has the biggest eyes in town, and the magical Mr. Chris Leavy leads the band, making this another just-touching-enough hit for the WPPH faithful. It’s definitely worth the babysitter fees.

For more information on Winter Park Playhouse, please visit http://www.winterparkplayhouse.org

Altar Boyz
Book By Kevin Del Aguila
Music and Lyrics by Gary Adler and Michael Patrick Walker
Direction and musical Direction by Steve MacKinnon
Theater Downtown, Orlando Fl

If you can just get your Boy Band Moves down, no one will question your theology. Modestly tight jeans and a good light show will trump any details about transubstantiation or Liberation theology when the Altar Boyz storm into town. They pack a mix of hot moves, cool tunes, and the sort of feel good Christianity guaranteed to save you from unhappiness if not from eternal damnation. Each of these 5 downstage preachers comes complete with personal back story and an assigned market demographic. Lead singer Matthew (Spencer Morrow) is the tallest which makes him lead heartthrob. Mark (Brandon Allen Wood) helps with choreography and keeps a secret crush on Matthew. Luke (Adam Del Medico) spends his free time in rehab and gives the rest of the crew someone to despise with their loving kindness. Juan (Sheldon Gomabon) pulls the hot Latino shift and provides the street smart clothing. Bringing up the back is unconverted Abraham (Alexander Brown). In the new millennia, Jews don’t get to be God’s chosen any more. After all, what is Christianity without anti-Semitism?

This jukebox review gently parodies pop theology and Christian Rock while dancing up a storm courtesy of Mr. Morrow’s great choreography. All the acting fits right into the trope of Lou Perlman’s sexual fantasy, even if there’s not a huge amount of story here. Near the end, ex-foundling Juan discovers his folks are dead, and while his reaction makes good sense, the event feels stapled onto the story to give it a little dimensionality. Keeping with the high energy rock show, the sound is loud enough to mask some of the lyrics, all of which are full of little digs at the holy and holy wannabes. Still, Altar Boyz never gets nasty, handling God and personal beliefs with kid gloves, and it’s a blast of heaven sent comedy in these dark days.

For more information, please visit http://www.theatredowntown.net