‘Choir Boy’ – A tour de force to phobic intolerances
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FOR ADULT, Adolescent &
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The entire cast of “Choir Boys.” Mark J. Franklin
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Based on ratings of health plans that service NYC. • MKT 18.232
Caribbean Life, Jan. 25–31, 2019 11
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OPEN ENROLLMENT ENDS JANUARY 31
The title “Choir Boy” suggests
singing and at least one
boy talented enough to chorus
required melody and lyrics.
A poster promoting the latest
Broadway play to open present
a chorale of young, Black men
marked by a singular singer
towering above a quartet.
However, after a one hour 35
minutes staging at the Manhattan
Theater Club at the
Samuel J. Friedman Theatre,
an ensemble of talented young
thespians reveal a passionate,
engaging, relatable, relevant,
coming-of-age story written by
Tarell Alvin McCraney.
McCraney is the winning
playwright that won accolades
for his scripting of “Moonlight,”
a film that won Academy
Awards and more importantly
showcased some of the pains
some adolescent Black boys
might encounter when confused
by sexual conflict.
Now making his Broadway
debut as a playwright, here
again, McCraney addresses
the issue by taking audiences
through a chorus of song and
dance references.
J. Quinton Johnson (Bobby
Marrow), Jeremy Pope (Pharus
Johnathan Young), John
Clay III (Anthony Justin “AJ”
James), Caleb Eberhardt (David
Heard), Nicholas L. Ashe (Junior
Davis) with Daniel Bellomy,
Johnathan Burke, Gerald Caesar
and Marcus Gladney comprise
the ensemble.
And with headmaster Marrow
portrayed by Chuck Cooper
and Austin Pendleton, tasked
with teaching tolerance to an
academically divided choir, the
entire cast spotlights an elite
academy where prep school
boys confront their fears, obsessions
and future ambitions.
Not unlike any prestigious
learning institution the
Charles R. Drew Preparatory
School for Boys admits promising
students – some of means,
some well-connected and some
on scholarship.
Similarly with each class,
there is often a bully, a reserved
individual, a braggart, a distinguished
pupil and once in
a while, an effeminate, closeted
youth who may or may
not strive to graduate without
creating turmoil.
Pharus is the latter.
Conspicuously animated
he is obvious and irritatingly
homosexual to at least one
chorister.
Tapped as the leader of the
choir, he is also the target
Bobby aims to shame and vilify
for being too “prissy.”
To complicate matters,
Bobby is not only a big bully
he is also the nephew of the
headmaster.
Pharus, although focused
on his goals is committed to
Christian doctrine, friendly,
outgoing and confident of his
singing talent.
Others in the choir have
other issues.
As a matter of fact each boy
bear a burden --insecurities,
abundances, brawn, homesickness,
loneliness among
them.
David carries the responsibility
of fulfilling a family mission
none before him has. That
is to graduate from an educational
institution.
AJ, Pharus’s brawny roommate
and Junior, Bobby’s yesman
contend with other adolescent
woes.
But through scenes of oncampus
revelations without
intermission, the focus is
Bobby versus Pharus.
Bobby regards Pharus as different,
“swishy” and gay.
Pharus would prefer that
Bobby resign from the choir or
better yet, disappear.
Catch You On The Inside!
Inside Life
By Vinette K. Pryce
/stars