Blasphemous, bold musical

A note of caution to the conventionally religious or homophobic or easily shocked: This is not the show for you - if the blasphemy doesn't get you, the sex will. If, however, you're interested in brave, witty new musical theater, check out Traverse Arts Project's

Coming

:

A Rock Musical of Biblical Proportions

at the Prince Music Theater's third-floor Black Box.

Erik Ransom wrote the entire show - music, lyrics, and book - and apparently did it all not just in heels but in only five days. He stars as Damian Salt, heir to the throne of Sodom and Gomorrah (and you thought only Lot survived). With neither available to rule, he chose the next-best sin city: Manhattan. He's a bisexual ultra-glam rock star of epic decadence and fame, and his S&M club Hellhole is the place to be.

Meanwhile, back in Bethlehem, Pa., Josh (Adam Hostler), a sweet Christian boy, longs to audition for American Icon so he can bring his songs of love and joy to many. He will turn out to be the Second Coming of Jesus. Once in New York, he meets Peter (Paul Del Signore), falls in love with Magda (Cindy Spitko), and eventually falls under Damian's spell.

The show raises such hefty issues as free will, the nature of sin, and the nature of God. But its attitudes toward celebrity are rather muddled, and the assumption that sex is always alcohol- and drug-fueled seems contradictory to its celebratory spirit. (Think Jesus Christ Superstar standing on its head, or Hair, indoors and downtown.)

A knockout of an opening number, "Fire and Brimstone," accompanies the entrance of four huge horse-shaped constructions - these Horsemen of the Apocalypse will eventually morph into Damian's entourage: his bodyguard War (Wade Harris), business manager Death (Ryan Townsend, who gets a chance to show off his singing voice later as the Angel), the bulimic Famine (Colleen Corcoran), and my favorite, Pestilence (Maya Tepler) who provides running media coverage ("Stay tuned for more alarmism.").

Most of the show is sung through with 21 songs; what dialogue there is is often clunky and slows things down (a big problem with a running time of nearly three hours). The production is wildly ambitious - spectacular, campy costumes (from a couturier called Bobby Fabulous), a live band, lots of projections. And if the choreography looks off-the-rack, the cast's energy makes up for it. Mark A. Dahl and Bill Egan heroically direct all this.

Presented by Traverse Arts Project

at the Black Box at Prince Music Theater, 1412 Chestnut St., through Feb. 6.

Tickets: $15-$25.

Information: www.traversetheatre.org

or 1-800-595-4849.

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