It’s part sitcom, part tent revival

If the Rev. Al Sharpton, Starr Jones and Bernie Mac adapted every Oprah transcript ever, the result might be “Why Did I Get Married?” Tyler Perry’s play with music speaks at full volume to the masses who made “Waiting to Exhale” a blockbuster, and the men they dragged in with them.

At Wednesday night’s Kodak Theatre opening, they all spoke in return. “Married” elicits spontaneous audience combustion worthy of a sociological study.

The clamor reaches seismic proportions whenever headliner Kelly Price unfurls her platinum-plated soul sound, which isn’t nearly often enough. Price plays Sheila, protagonist of entrepreneur Perry’s slapstick-inspirational marital treatise.

“Married” concerns an annual retreat at the cabin of salty but sweet Poppy (LeVan Davis), who is host to the connubial consciousness-raising session he previously facilitated with his late wife. Son Terry (Curtis Von), an ex-hellion, has become a devoted husband, as his fierce spouse, Diana (Donna Stewart) assures us.

Three years earlier, Terry strayed big-time. Now, Sheila’s husband, Mike (Carl Pertile), treads the same cracked ice. Mike, a broadly drawn chauvinist, berates the obese Sheila in ways that would make Dr. Phil go ballistic.

The crowd hisses and disses tag-along gold digger Trina (Chrystale Wilson), the object of Diana’s justified scorn and Sheila’s unwarranted friendship.

And they adore Troy (Cordell Moore), a gentle soul who calls his guitar Justina. Mike’s domestic agenda emerges at the Act 1 curtain, and Sheila blows an R&B; gasket. Only those who’ve never seen soap operas or sitcoms won’t guess what’s coming.

Act 2 brings the next year’s mountain encounter. Diabetic deacon Poppy, Terry and Diana just barely endure the shakily paired Mike and Trina. The much-slicked-up Troy arrives, emboldened by a good woman: Sheila. She happily brandishes her abundant life in Mikey’s face.

The cast delivers this shameless industrial show/tent revival with great conviction. Price, saddled with a fat suit, then a misguided transformation outfit, is an able comic, a decent actress and a powerhouse singer. Stewart’s snappy timing as Diana works well with Wilson’s tarty Trina. As Poppy, Davis steals the proceedings. Beverly Faulks’ truck-driving cameo deserves expanding. This could happen by losing a quarter of the jokes, a third of the exposition and half the preachments.

The lights are flashy but erratic, while the (unavoidable) mega-miking prevents immediacy. Conversely, the live band swamps solo lyrics, which, like this well-meaning, road show, must be taken on faith. Those who can’t may be asking themselves, “Why did I come to the theater?”

*

‘Why Did I Get Married?’

Where: Kodak Theatre, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood

When: Today, 3 and 8 p.m.; Sun., 3 and 7:30 p.m.

Ends: Sunday

Price: $32.50-$47.50

Contact: (213) 480-3232

Running time: 2 hours, 20 minutes