The Book of Mormon is an uproarious production that is both thoughtful and bawdy.
It’s the story of two Mormon recruiters, fresh out of elder training and full of sunshine until they find they’ve been designated to Africa to recruit lost souls to the teachings of Joseph Smith and to a lesser extent, Jesus Christ (of Latter-day Saints).
After coming to grips with the placement, the unlikely pair board their plane and mentally mount up for their journey. Hilarity ensues while the Mormon religion, and in some ways religion as a whole, is jabbed, poked and prodded.
It’s a little more vulgar than it is…well, anything else, but as a religious person, I found it to be less of a direct indictment on religion as I did a funny play about religion. You know, you have to be able to take a joke and all that.
The biggest names associated with this production are those of South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. But the list of accredited contributors certainly doesn’t stop there. Robert Lopez is the co-creator of the long-running hit musical comedy, Avenue Q and shares the triple bill at the top of The Book of Mormon. Together, these three assembled an incredible team both on and off the stage.
The musical is choreographed by Tony Award-winner Casey Nicholaw (Monty Python’s Spamalot, The Drowsy Chaperone) and is directed by Nicholaw and Parker.
The play is cast perfectly. The leads are Candace Quarrels, Ryan Bondy and Cody Jamison Strand, but Strand really drives the creation. He’s up to no good and you know it from the very start, but he’s the kind of screw-up you can’t help but root for. Ultimately, his good intentions provide the backbone to the play, but every performance is stellar.
As an audience member, you care about the characters within minutes of them stepping on stage. Their journey, while predictable, is extremely entertaining and will find you with your hand over your mouth as often as it will slapping your knee.
Tickets, while scarce, can be found for the remainder of the run at the Historic Tennessee Theatre at https://www.tennesseetheatre.com
THE BOOK OF MORMON is the winner of nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score (Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, Matt Stone), Best Book (Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, Matt Stone), Best Direction (Casey Nicholaw, Trey Parker), Best Featured Actress (Nikki M. James), Best Scenic Design (Scott Pask), Best Lighting Design (Brian MacDevitt), Best Sound Design (Brian Ronan) and Best Orchestrations (Larry Hochman, Stephen Oremus); the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical; five Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical, the 2011 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album; four Outer Critics Circle Awards, including Best Musical, and the Drama League Award for Best Musical.
THE BOOK OF MORMON features set design by Scott Pask, costume design by Ann Roth, lighting design by Brian MacDevitt and sound design by Brian Ronan. Orchestrations are by Larry Hochman and Stephen Oremus. Music direction and vocal arrangements are by Stephen Oremus.
The Original Broadway Cast Recording for THE BOOK OF MORMON, winner of the 2011 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, is available on Ghostlight Records.
