Choir Boy
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Cititour.com Review
In today’s political and dramatic climate, the gay coming-of-age story can feel a bit like yesterday’s news. Fortunately, the gifted playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney brings remarkable freshness, depth, and humor to the subject in his new work, Choir Boy, which is receiving a nearly flawless production at Manhattan Theatre Club’s The Studio at Stage II under Trip Cullman’s sensitive direction.
The work is set at Drew Prep, a fictional all-boys school for African-American youth, run by the hot-tempered but ultimately compassionate Headmaster Morrow (Tony Award winner Chuck Cooper in a another memorable turn). Morrow has his hands full dealing with the headstrong new choir leader, the extremely gifted, very intelligent, and highly effeminate Pharus (Jeremy Pope, making a sensational stage debut). Among other problems, the young man has already made an enemy of Morrow’s nephew Bobby (a believable Wallace Smith), a fellow student who constantly taunts Pharus with homophobic and racial slurs.
Meanwhile, Pharus’ outrageous mannerisms engender a slew of reactions in his fellow choir boys, including full-fledged acceptance from his jockish roommate Anthony (the endearing Grantham Coleman). What one is never sure of, until McCraney chooses to reveal it, is the effect that Pharus has had on the quiet, possibly tormented David (the effective Kyle Beltran), a scholarship student who wants to join the ministry.
Had McCraney limited his play simply to Pharus’ journey, even told as compellingly and bravely as it is, the work would still have impact. But McCraney adds layers to his tale, including the frequent use of sung spirituals – whose place in African-American history Pharus chooses to question in a class led by a white teacher (superbly portrayed by Austin Pendleon). The veteran professor also adds his own, valuable perspective to the issues of race relations and sexual attraction among male teenagers. Equally effective are the (one-sided) phone calls made by the boys to their parents, which add to their personal histories.
Cullman makes exemplary use of the MTC Studio space’s intimacy, as does David Zinn’s clever design, which allows for remarkably seamless transitions between scenes set in the classrooms, Pharus and Anthony’s bedroom, and the group shower area. (Yes, there is some notable male nudity, which is well incorporated into McCraney’s script).
It’s possible that gay men and women and African-Americans may have stronger reactions to the play than others, but the work is smart enough and so well-crafted that it never seems to be preaching only to the choir.
By Brian Scott Lipton
Visit the Site
http://www.nycitycenter.org/tickets/productionNew.aspx?performanceNumber=7386
Cast
Nicholas L. Ashe, Kyle Beltran, Grantham Coleman, Chuck Cooper, Austin Pendleton, Jeremy Pope, Wallace Smith
Open/Close Dates
Opening 6/18/2013
Closing 8/11/2013
Box Office
212-581-1212
Theatre Info
Manhattan Theatre Club
131 West 55th Street
New York, NY 10019
Map
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