Every seat in the small, damp theater is full. Everyone waits anxiously for the production to begin. Smoke fills the room as a beat pounds suddenly, the bass shaking the seats. Even from the back row, the expressions of the actors are clearly seen.

The music flows from the DJ booth behind the performers. Suddenly, two men wearing ties break out into a rap. The other five people on stage, wearing baggy khaki pants and white shirts, break dance in unison.

"J.O.B. The Hip-Hopera," playing at the Stella Adler Theatre in Hollywood, is a riveting, creative production. A modern take on the Bible, it follows MC Cain, MC Abel, Job and President J. Hoover in a remake of the Old Testament. The stories are remixed in a contemporary way, taking place in the corporate setting of Hoover Records.

Written by and starring the rap duo Jerome Sable and Eli Batalion, the two alternately perform all of the characters' parts. Joined by R&B diva Nikkema Taylor, DJ Creativity and ensemble members Shawn Beck-Gifford, Ervin Abina, Ameenah Kaplan, Marissa Labog, Naomi Rhoads and Aimée Zannoni, the cast is unstoppable.

The lyrics are fast-paced and energetic, and Sable and Batalion pour their hearts out. Sweating profusely, they bark their raps back and forth. Whether playing Job, MC Cain, MC Able, J. Hoover or even Hoover's niece, the two personify each character in such a way that audience members are never confused.

The dance crew also embodies various characters, each with his or her own specific voice and actions. It seems as though it would be confusing, as each dancer switches in a heartbeat to a new character, but it is not. They take on the role so quickly and so flawlessly that the audience always knows who each person is.

With the help of choreographer Hassan Christopher, the ensemble break dances around Sable and Batalion, shouting out a few lines here and there. Their dancing is amazing, and they are all extremely talented.

This ensemble features LMU student Shawn Beck-Gifford, the only male in the dance group. A dance major with a focus in performance, Shawn's presentation reveals his study of this subject. He flows with the music and pops with the beat, his body movements altering from slow-motion to speedy in an instant.

At points, the play is absolutely hilarious. When Sable or Batalion play Hoover's niece, they are too funny. She sings a song about her motto of never giving up, trying to motivate Job to apologize to Hoover and get his job back. Every time they rotate, each of the men had the audience cracking up. She always stands holding an invisible purse, and her high-pitched vocals combined with the lyrics of her motto make her one of the most endearing characters.

The characterization is great, but the stage props are a little confusing. Trying to discern what purpose the large metal boxes serve is difficult to understand. The actors use the bars as a mixing table, a mailroom desk and mailbox, and other things. The play is so quick and frenetic, however, that it is understandable that they cannot switch props fast enough to accommodate the pace of the music. Nevertheless, they are sometimes distracting.

Although I found it difficult to compare the allegory to the Bible stories it represents, it didn't matter. It was so entertaining that all I was concerned with was the dancing, rapping and mixing.

DJ Creativity mixes the beats well, with each song flowing into the next. Many of the songs were unknown, but some of the features included beats from 50 Cent, Naughty By Nature, Ja Rule and Coolio. The passionate rapping, combined with these familiar beats, pulled the audience in. Everyone was nodding their heads, tapping their legs and having a good time.

Nikeema Taylor's voice crooned from behind the "HOOVER" sign, adding a beautiful melody to the rapping. Her beautiful vocals play a large part in the harmony of the group. Whenever she chimed in, I was almost singing along.

Directed by Stefan Novinski, this play is worth every penny. It is fun, powerful and lively. Don't miss the informal intermission, during which the audience is asked to interact with the actors in creating better lighting. You'll want to join in on the fun.

"J.O.B. The Hip-Hopera" runs through Nov. 27 at the Stella Adler Theatre in Hollywood.

Grade: B+