Peppermint Creek Theatre Company’s performance of the musical “Altar Boyz” is an interactive event from the first moment of entering the Temple Club. At this fictional concert experience by the Christian boy band Altar Boyz, audience members have the opportunity to fill out a “Got Guilt?” form at the door. By filling out the confession card, one may “lighten your painful and humiliating burden immediately.”

I sin immediately. Realizing that I left my pen in the car, I stole a pen off the confession form table so that I could take notes for my review. Instead of leaving my card in the fishbowl, I used the form to take notes during the performance, and by the end I had quite a list of sins to confess. If only I could remember the difference between a venial and a mortal sin, I could have completed the form accurately.

The immersive, interactive nature of the show continues inside, as female fans sporting homemade shirts declaring their love for their favorite Boyz boy shop the merchandise table.

Then the Boyz take the stage and begin a 90-minute concert of giddily un-self-aware Christian-themed songs and skits with the express goal of saving the souls of the audience. An electronic device, courtesy of Sony, tracks the rate of their success throughout.

That number surely drops after a particularly hot dance solo by street-tough Luke (Joe Quick). Luke has a history of substance abuse as beefy as his arms; even the bad boy of a Christian band can bring out the need to nurture in a girl. I add to my confessionform"impure thoughts about Luke. Lots of them."

Karyn Perry’s choreography is fantastic, and even on opening night the Boyz have it down. The dance numbers require a demanding amount of athleticism, and the Boyz are able to maintain a high level of energy throughout.

Their singing is less sure, though. When singing as a group they are strong and pull off nice harmonies. As soloists some struggle, hampered further by the difficult acoustics of the venue.

Michael Zamora, as the closeted Mark who has an obvious crush on frontman Matthew (Chad DeKatch), shows the greatest strength as a soloist during his almostcoming out song “Everybody Fits.”

The oblivious Matthew shows his greatest strength is abstinence as he croons to a selected fan “Something About You.” An audience favorite, the howler concludes with “girl, you make me want to wait, at least until our wedding date, so ‘til then I’ll master … ”

Sorry, no spoilers here about how that one ends.

It’s difficult to not get pulled into the fun. Halfway through I realize that I haven’t cheered this hard for a Christian boy-band since the last time I saw U2. I also realize that on this night, I’d pick Luke over Bono. “More impure thoughts.”

I’m running out of space on my form.

“Altar Boyz” pokes fun at Christianity, boy-bands and the corporatization of music; it is a gentle poke, though. These characters are likeable, even with their carefully cultivated piety that borders on disingenuous yet never quite crosses the line. Even when most of the members are discovered to be hypocrites at the play’s climax, it is easy to forgive their selfishness as a moment of weakness and not a major character flaw.

In another director’s hands the play could have a more malicious tone. However, in looking at the history of director Chad Badgero’s selection of plays and his directorial choices, it becomes obvious that he is attracted to works that feature flawed characters who seek, and usually attain, redemption. Badgero likes art with heart.

My final sin is that I coveted the assignment to review this play. Or maybe the sin is actually that I feel no remorse for doing so.

Combine that with some residual impure thoughts, and I ponder the value of a trip to church.

Or maybe I can just hang out at the stage door and wait for Luke’s healing touch.

"Altar Boyz"

8 p.m. Feb. 4-6 and 2 p.m. Feb. 7 Temple Building, corner of Grand River and Cedar Street $15 adults, $10 students and seniors (517) 927-3016 www.peppermintcreek.org