'Altar Boyz': Psalm Enchanted Evening

Open thy heart and let "Altar Boyz" in, for lo, this silly, silly show at the Bethesda Theatre will make thee smile.

It's a guilty pleasure, this painless little musical about a heartthrob boy band rockin' in the name of the Lord. The choreography alone is a hoot, with five buff young guys raiding the dance cupboard for moves venerated by everyone from Justin Timberlake to Milli Vanilli. They leap and slide with super-rehearsed precision, beaming at the audience with a wholesome energy that would shame the most ardent Mouseketeer.

The crusading quintet devoutly fires up the crowd -- "Peace be with you, Bethesdaaaa!" -- then segues into song after song marked by a surprising blend of sweetness and subversion. It's a winning, cheerful show with just a touch of naughtiness; the creators laugh along with their showbiz archetypes while avoiding serious potshots at the church.

Make that churches, because this off-Broadway hit (with a book by Kevin Del Aguila, music and lyrics by Gary Adler and Michael Patrick Walker) is an interdenominational affair. The group -- hunky Matthew, winsome Mark, athletic Luke and the internationally appealing Juan -- is rounded out by Abraham, the Jewish kid who shows up to write lyrics.

Presumably that makes Abraham responsible for the hilarious abstinence ballad that has a chorus too good to spoil by revealing here, along with upbeat numbers about God putting rhythm in the lads and Jesus calling them via cellphone. The music is pure Top 40, played by a four-piece band (and at times poorly mixed into a wash of white noise), and the cliches are comforting. The agreeable young actors revel in their stereotypes, and they perform not only as if they grew up on music videos but also as though they still think it's the coolest form of art on the planet.

Just watch as David R. Gordon's Abraham grins with pleasure listening to his voice ascending to falsetto heaven, and as Travis Moran's Luke proudly does one-armed handstands and struts like a self-enamored hip-hop star. Jared Zirilli has the looks and the cool -- plus, in this case, the reflective spirit -- that makes his Matthew a natural frontman, while Michael Busillo brings a hint of Almodóvarian sensuality to his winking Juan.

That leaves Mark, whose not-so-hidden crush on Matthew drives the comedy almost as much as Patrick Elliot's flair for the character's loopy choreography. Christopher Gatelli's original off-Broadway dances are re-created here (so is Stafford Arima's direction), and his moves are beautifully judged rip-offs and witty inventions, especially whenever hormones and a higher calling intersect.

Oh, did we mention that the voice of God is Dan Rather's? "Hitherto shalt thy anoint thy hair with product," the voice instructs, also commanding the boys not to skew to an older demographic. The show is not inexhaustibly funny, but there are probably 70 good minutes in the 90-minute evening, so what's to forgive? It's no sin to come up a touch short, especially after spreading so much mindless joy.

Altar Boyz, book by Kevin Del Aguila, music and lyrics by Gary Adler and Michael Patrick Walker. Directed by Stafford Arima. Lighting and production design, Ray Cullom; costumes, Hillary Paul; sound, Andrew Nelson. About 90 minutes. Through Nov. 2 at the Bethesda Theatre, 7719 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda. Call 800-551-SEAT or visit http://www.bethesdatheatre.com