Oh, just loosen up: These boyz are divine

Sanctimonious souls may forswear “Altar Boyz” at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center. Everybody else will have a heavenly time. In its regional premiere by Musical Theatre West, the Outer Critics Circle Award-winning satire of boy bands is almost sinfully entertaining.

Conceived by Marc Kessler and Ken Davenport, “Altar Boyz” has become a pop-culture phenomenon since its 2005 off-Broadway premiere. The wafer-thin premise -- five preternaturally limber teens on the last leg of their “Raise the Praise” tour seek to save our souls tonight -- could easily fall into self-parody or worse.

Scenic designer Kevin Clowes’ rainbow-striped floor, metal cross and circular light grid hanging like a halo overhead seems ready to decimate Christian rock. However, once the title archetypes ascend amid dry ice and designer Jean-Yves Tessier’s spectacular lighting plot, to power chords from musical director John Glaudini’s superb band, it’s apparent that the real target lies elsewhere.

That would be such groups as ‘N Sync, the Backstreet Boys and every male corps ever staged by Paula Abdul. In the capable hands of director-choreographer Troy Magino and a marvelous cast, “Altar Boyz” does its spoofing in such a sweet-natured fashion that it’s all but undetectable from the real thing.

Although librettist Kevin Del Aguila gets laughs from blurred lingo (“Mary Magdalicious”) and the narrative device of an LED-lighted “Soul Sensor DX-12,” what elevates “Altar Boyz” is its score. Written by Gary Adler and Michael Patrick Walker, the songs have the toe-tapping MTV sound down cold, with many choice lyrics, as in “The Calling”: “Jesus called me on my cellphone / No roaming charges were incurred.”

The angelic-voiced ensemble has a mortal lock on this material, with enough energy to end global warming yesterday.

James Royce Edwards is a buffed, straight-faced hoot as leader Matthew, who pulls a female spectator onstage to serenade her on abstinence.

Dan Domenech combines equal parts Enrique Iglesias and David Schwimmer as foundling Juan, and Dan Pacheco brings dry yet heartfelt charm to Abraham, the sole Jew on the premises -- “Oh, I get it. No reindeer games for the chosen people.”

Tyler McGee invests homeboy Luke with astounding lunkheaded grace, bringing things to a halt with his break-dancing gymnastics.

As mincing Mark, whose love for Christ comes second to his infatuation with Matthew, the cherubic Danny Calvert steals the show, his eleventh-hour “Epiphany” a sublime shaggy-dog showstopper.

“Altar Boyz” isn’t miraculous, but it’s blissfully enjoyable, and this riotous reading should make many new converts.

*

‘Altar Boyz’

Where: Carpenter Performing Arts Center, 6200 Atherton St., Long Beach

When: 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays; April 29 only, 2 and 7 p.m.

Ends: May 6

Price: $25 to $52

Contact: (562) 856-1999, Ext. 4

Running time: 1 hour, 30 minutes