Choir Boy
Written by Tarell Alvin McCraney
Directed by Trip Cullman
Manhattan Theatre Club
Samuel J. Friedman Theatre
January 1, 2019
Production website
💉💉💉💉 out of 5.

I loved this play, and I NEVER realized the power of gospel music in igniting passion and brining an audience in.  Choir Boy centers on the tensions in a prestigious prep school for African American boys when a flamboyantly gay youth is named leader of their celebrated gospel choir.  Essentially is a coming-of-age story for a gay student surviving and thriving in a mostly straight prep school with the strongest and most stringent of values to create “ethical black men.” 

At times the play felt like the black version of Allen Bennet’s History Boys.  To this volatile mix a VERY white teacher, played by actor Austin Pendlleton enters to teach a class in “creative thinking.”  Here the play was least successful as academic exploration of gospel music never revealed or added much to the story.  Perhaps a bit of Dead Poet’s Society was explored but did very little for me.

What worked and worked hugely was the inclusion of gospel music and dance to unleash the passion, anger, and confusion in this collection of young men.  The subtext of the show came alive so brilliantly!  You had no doubt what was going on in the minds of this small group of characters.  I only wish the plot had lived up to the reality of the gospel music.  At times, I felt I had seen this story often, with its hazing, name calling, “shade”,  obligatory shower scene, and homophobic beat down.   BUT the gospel music took this to a whole new level.

I didn’t expect to like this.  I actually went for the half price ticket, but I was so fortunate to be a part of it.  I only wish that the audience out there gives this play a chance.  It will certainly be a “take me to church” kind of night in the theatre.