Souled Out
by Dalt Wonk
The Fourfront Theater production was co-directed by Gary Rucker and Kelly Fouchi, who also choreographed it. The talented, limber cast of five (William Bryant, Brian Falgoust, P. J. McKinnie, James St. Juniors and Keith Claverie) were pedal to the metal for the entire 90 minutes, and it was a blast. A four-piece band under the musical direction of Jefferson Turner played the show's 12 songs. The concept worked because of full-throttle performances and the drama between the group's characters. The original production — with book by Kevin Del Aguila, music and lyrics by Gary Adler and Michael Patrick Walker — won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical in 2004.
"American consumers are demanding more God than ever before," says one of the Boyz at one point. That sentiment puts us a long way from Notre Dame and Gregorian chant. We're in hip-hop territory, with excursions into Rolling Stones strutting and rousing rhythm and blues. "Jesus called me on my cell phone," is typical of their inspirations.
Of course, the Boyz face many temptations. Will they stay together as a group through thick and thin or sign lucrative individual recording contracts? These kinds of moral dilemmas could tear the harmonizers apart.
The production closed at Southern Rep but will
reopen for a run at Le Petit Theatre in May.
Spotlight Events
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Hannibal Buress @ The New Movement
1919 Burgundy St. http://www.newmovementtheater.com- Fri., June 21
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Bourbon and Burlesque (Art events)
- Sat., June 22
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Clybourne Park @ Shadowbox Theatre
2400 St. Claude Ave. http://www.theshadowboxtheatre.com- Fridays-Sundays. Continues through June 23
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Hell's Belles @ Mid-City Theatre
3540 Toulouse St. http://www.midcitytheatre.com- 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 6 p.m. Sunday, June 8-23.
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The Merry Wives of Windsor @ Tulane University
Lupin Theatre, 16 Newcomb Place- Thursdays-Sundays. Continues through June 29
- 1 going/interested
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