REVIEW | THE BOOK OF MORMON
Everyone I know who has been lucky enough to see The Book of Mormon raves about how good it is. In January when I travelled to Melbourne, I finally got to witness this latter day event for myself and I can safely say I have been converted. Button up that white shirt and knot that black tie, because I am ready to go door-to-door and say, “Hello, my name is Elder Storme and I would like to tell you about the best musical in existence!”
The Book of Mormon is a comedy musical written by the creators of South Park (Trey Parker and Matt Stone), and one of the writers of the musical Avenue Q (Robert Lopez). With a grand total of nine illustrious Tony awards, it has enjoyed enormous worldwide success. The musical follows two earnest young Mormons on their first mission to Uganda, where their faith is tested and the villagers question how a religion will solve their real problems like AIDS, famine and a murderous warlord bent on genital mutilation.
The commentary about religion in The Book of Mormon is clever and witty. For example, one of the main characters, Elder Cunningham, is constantly admonished for making up outrageous stories and embellishing parts of scripture. However, ultimately these fake stories are exactly what draw the villagers to Mormonism, with the joke being that religion is already made up. This point is emphasised in the song “All American Prophet”, where Elder Price describes the discovery of the golden plates of scripture by Joseph Smith and how an angel tells him not to let anyone see proof of the religion under any circumstances in a mockery of logic. Awkwardly funny lingering touches between male characters and a comical fear of gay thoughts are also sprinkled throughout the musical, perfectly illustrated in “Turn It Off!”, a song about suppressing your feelings and darkest fears.
The Book of Mormon is also a tongue in cheek examination of the approach, historical and current, that Western missionaries have when it comes to Africa and converting “uncivilised” people. You cannot fail to laugh at a troupe of white characters singing “We are Africa”, oblivious to their presumptuousness.
Comedy can often be the hardest genre to act, but the cast of The Book of Mormon pulled it off flawlessly. My favourite performances were from Ryan Bondy, Nyk Bielak and Rowan Witt. Ryan Bondy plays the slightly full-of-himself Elder Price determined to be the most successful Mormon ever, stuck with Nyk Bielak’s bumbling and loud character Elder Cunningham. While Elder Price’s confidence falters as the musical unfolds and Elder Cunningham finds his purpose, the dynamic between the two main characters is consistently endearing and comical. Both actors do a great job of displaying their character’s development. Another standout has to be Rowan Witt as the flamboyant and closeted Elder McKinley, who nailed his part in “Turn It Off!” Don’t worry, Rowan, with musical chops like that, I’m sure you’re in a lot of people’s dreams.
If I ever got the opportunity to watch this musical again, I would do it in a Heavenly Father heartbeat. Irreverent, hilarious and cheeky, The Book of Mormon is an intelligent satirical musical for those who love to laugh so hard it hurts.
10/10
