This is not your grandmother’s musical. Full of shameless profanity and politically incorrect references, I would expect nothing less from the creators of South Park.
Elder Price dreams of being sent from the Missionary Training Centre of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to spread God’s word in Orlando, but instead he is paired with the clingy, awkward Elder Cunningham and sent to Uganda. Cunningham desperately tries to become best friends, but Price just feels ripped off.
In Uganda, they meet a village of people struggling with AIDS, famine, war, and General Butt Fucking Naked, who threatens to cut off all the women’s clitorises. Nabulungi, a bright-eyed, curious girl, wins Elder Cunningham’s heart and she dreams of going to Salt Lake City where the Mormons found happiness. She “texts” everyone using her newfound typewriter to spread the word about the prosperity that the Mormon faith can bring them.
Elder Cunningham can’t remember Nabulungi’s name, so as the show goes on he calls her a series of names that become further removed from reality including Neutrogena, Neosporin, and Nelly Furtado. The two share a hilarious song, “Baptize Me,” full of sexual innuendo as Elder Price confesses that it’s his first time.
For South Park fans, there are subtle references to the show including crab people in the Spooky Mormon Hell Dream scene, and Jesus saying “you guys” in a voice that sounds just like Cartman’s. The humour is in true Stone and Parker style, but coordinated into hilarious songs with the help of Avenue Q composer Robert Lopez and choreographed into sharp dance sequences.
Elder Price decides to abandon Uganda and his mission companion (a huge sin in the Mormon rule book), leaving Elder Cunningham to teach the villagers the story of the Mormons all by himself. The only problem is he’s never actually read the Book of Mormon, but he has a vivid imagination and manages to come up with an exciting story involving fuck frogs, AIDS, and plenty of Star Wars references. One of the best scenes is when the Ugandans act out what they’ve learned in front of the Mission President.
There is so much hilarity packed into this show, and every song is witty, edgy, and borderline offensive. And that’s what makes this show so spectacular. I never would have thought I’d see a Broadway musical featuring a song (“Hasa Diga Eebowai”) where the cast screams “Fuck you God in the cunt.”
All the performances were superb, but I think Nabulungi (Alexandra Ncube) stood out with her divine voice, while A. J. Holmes played Elder Cunningham with just the right combination of idiocy and charm. There are so many notable characters, but one of my favourites is a man who interrupts musical numbers to remind everyone that even though they might be happier with this newfound religion, he still has maggots in his scrotum.
This show is sure to lift your spirits — unless of course you are opposed to profuse profanity or political incorrectness. One message we can all take away from the show comes in the wise words of Elder Cunningham’s mother: whenever you’re feeling down, just remember that “Tomorrow is a latter day.”
The Book of Mormon is presented by Broadway Across Canada at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre from April 7 – 12. Shows are almost sold out, but there is a nightly pre-show lottery making a limited number of tickets available at $25 each. Entries will be accepted two and a half hours prior to the 8 p.m. show with the winners announced at 6 p.m. in the plaza courtyard.
