Carol Rosegg "Altar Boyz" does a respectful send-up of Christian music and boy bands.

By Kate Luce Angell

Politicians and pundits regularly bemoan the polarization of American society, mourning the disappearance of common ground between religious and secular, conservative and liberal.

		'Altar Boyz' Where: PNC Broadway at Byham Theater, Downtown. When: through May 6; Tues.-Thurs. 7:30 p.m.; Fri. 8 p.m.; Sat. 2 and 8 p.m.; Sun. 1 and 6:30 p.m. Tickets: $19.50-$54.50; 412-456-6666.

They should take heart from "Altar Boyz," a musical send-up of N'Sync-style boy bands and mainstream Christianity that manages the neat trick of perfectly skewering each while paying affectionate homage to both. The show offers parody pointed enough for cultural critics but without the sharp edges that might offend religious audience members. Talk about preaching to both sides of the aisle.

With a book by Kevin Del Aguila and music and lyrics by Gary Adler and Michael Patrick Walker, The Altar Boyz are a fictitious Christian boy band on the final stop of their "Raise the Praise" tour, and they're determined to save souls through their music, with the help of their "generous sponsors at Sony."

Throughout the night, Matthew (the leader), Mark (the one in the closet), Luke (the delinquent), Juan (the Hispanic one) and Abraham (the Jewish one) reveal secrets about themselves -- and us, through audience-penned Confession Sessions -- that affect the count of the saved as tallied by the (Sony, of course) DX-12.

I admit I was an Altar Boyz convert from the moment in "We Are the Altar Boyz" when the group noted that "we don't believe in hurtin' or in hatin'/'Cause that's the kind of stuff that leads to Satan." But if that hadn't done it, this line from "Jesus Called Me on My Cellphone" would have: "No roaming charges were incurred/He told me that I should go out in the world and spread His glorious Word."

Walker and Adler's lyrics are goofily clever, but the songs also spoof a range of styles and hits. There's the Promise Keepers ballad "Girl, You Make Me Want to Wait," and the "Thriller"-style song "Number 918," which uses the spooky "Tubular Bells" riff from "The Exorcist."

The two numbers that mark the show's high points -- "Epiphany," a coming-out song (of sorts) for Ryan J. Ratliff's Mark, and the finale, "I Believe" -- also reveal the strongest vocal talent. Matthew Buckner, as leader Matthew, oozes charisma but can't hide a limited range. Jay Garcia's Juan does a convincing Ricky Martin on "La Vida Eternal" and Jesse J.P. Johnson reveals unexpected nuance in "Body, Mind and Soul." But Ratliff blows the socks off with his diva-like solo turn, and Ryan Strand's Abraham powers the final moments of "Altar Boyz," both in terms of voice and sheer good feeling.

Can campy be Christian? Is irony compatible with a state of grace? The "Altar Boyz" say yes.

"Altar Boyz" co-writer Michael Patrick Walker is a CMU alum, class of 1993, where he wrote shows for Scotch'n'Soda and was president of the group.