Finding the perfect birthday gift for my husband is never easy. This year is no different. What do you get a guy who never wants anything, or appears to already have everything? After some research, I decided on Choir Boy, a story written by the Oscar winning author of Moonlight, Tarell Alvin McCraney.
The show opened on Broadway at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on January 8, 2019, and is slated to close on March 10th. Since there are only a few days left, I figured now would be the best time to go.
Choir Boy is about a group of adolescent boys who attend the prestigious all male Charles R. Drew Prep School. They are on a quest of self-discovery, some of whom are struggling to overcome deep rooted personal issues.
The play starts off with Bobby, played by J. Quinton Johnson, whispering racial and homophobic slurs to throw off Jonathan Burke’s character, Pharus, as he sings the school’s prayerful anthem, “Trust and Obey.”
In addition to being the tenor, he is also the leader of the school’s choir. But, the plot later unfolds to reveal Pharus’s adversities stemming from his sexual orientation. Even though he walks with a switch and seems confident outside, we see glimpses of his insecurities.
As layers of his character become unveiled, we develop a clearer understanding of Pharus. For example, he describes how a traumatic incident from his childhood led to his refusal to get a haircut at a barbershop. Parents should be aware of what are attachment disorders and their symptoms.
That experience combined with how Bobby treats him, contributes to his struggle. Pharus uses his leadership role as a way to gain control of the situation. However, that doesn’t exactly go as planned.
As Choir Boy continues to unfold, we learn that Pharus isn’t the only student struggling with his identity.
David, played by Caleb Eberhardt, appears driven and focused. He comes from a humble background with goals of becoming a priest. But, we later learn that he’s also flawed with demons of his own.
Bobby, the anti-gay school bully reveals his own personal struggles as seen in his performance of “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child.” Despite the character’s tough exterior, it’s later revealed that attacking Pharus with derogatory epithets is his way of covering up the pain he feels as a result of his Mother’s death.
Their stories are woven together through gospel songs, dance numbers, and R&B interludes that keep the audience entertained without taking away from the seriousness of the storylines.
My husband and I walked away feeling connected to each character, especially Bobby. Despite his tough and offensive exterior it’s hard not to feel sympathy for him. The thought of losing a parent at such a young age is just awful. We can also sympathize with the pain that Pharus and David go through having once been teenagers ourselves struggling to find our own identity, though in different ways.
Growing up in a predominantly black neighborhood and attending mostly black schools, hearing the N-word was the norm. Gay slurs were also common place; often shouted in classrooms and hallways.
This same sentiment is apparent in Choir Boy. It’s been a while since we walked through high school hallways, but it doesn’t seem like the language and interactions amongst high school students has changed.
In the end, we all want the same thing. We want to freedom and acceptance.
It’s not too late to check out Choir Boy on Broadway. Here’s a link with show times and pricing information.
