Young Jesús arrives in the world via a miracle granted to his parents Maria and José in Alpaqa Theatre Collective’s sacrilegious musical, Jeezus!
The tone is set by the many gold phalluses that decorate the set’s two church windows, as we launch into young Jesús’ plans to get close to God and his son.
Set in Peru, this naughty queer story doesn’t hold back with sex jokes from porn and masturbation to a unique way of welcoming Jesus inside.
Performers Sergio Antonio Maggiolo (Jesús) and Guido GarcÃa Lueches (Jesus and others) work well together, and Maggiolo makes his growing love for the Lord super-cute.
The songs are light, but offer some amusing lyrics and opportunities for choreography by Vivian Gabel that draws inspiration from traditional musical theatre and dance references.
As young Jesús wrestles with his growing sexuality and his religious fervour, the homophobia in his country and family is explored.
His father and mother trade slurs while the local priest is shocked into silence by the unconventional use of a crucifix.
Jeezus! covers lots of topics over an episodic structure (Genesis, The Commandments, The Last Supper, Resurrection, etc.), some sections lasting longer than others.
There is the whitewashing of Jesus for Western audiences, the intolerance of gay relationships, and the perception of immigrants as poor and inferior.
When Jesus Himself appears, he is a rather affable chap with daddy issues and a fear of Hellfire, deeply imbued with the prejudice of His father.
Alpaqa’s musical is a reflective piece behind the laughs, with the message ‘love is more powerful that God’ coming through from the start.
Peru is a conservative Catholic country, and while homosexuality is legal, it is more tolerated than celebrated. Jeezus! takes the view that the ‘sin’ and the ‘sinner’ as viewed by the Church are both to be accepted in the name of love.
Co-creator and director Laura Killeen manages all this, plus a musician (the marvellous Tom Cagnoni), with style and irreverence.
A bit of audience participation teases out initial laughs, and if you don’t mind the blasphemy, you will have a fun night out at Jeezus!
3.5 stars.
Jeezus! continues at the New Diorama until 9 May 2026 – details here.
Photo credit: Alex Brenner