The best part about The Book of Mormon is that you go into it knowing you’re going to be offended. In fact, if you aren’t offended, you’re doing it wrong. In this The Book of Mormon Review, we’ll tell you what to expect—and not to expect—from this hit musical.
We had the opportunity to see The Book of Mormon at the Keller Auditorium as part of the Broadway in Portland National Tour this week. I haven’t stopped laughing since last night. I’ve had the soundtrack for years, so I knew the music and was familiar with the premise of the show. That said, I was definitely not quite prepared for what was waiting when I settled into my seat for Act 1.
Knowing that Robert Lopez is one of the co-creators of the show, and knowing Avenue Q as well as I do, I KNEW, what I was getting into. Sort of. But Sweet Baby Jesus. I can’t even. I haven’t laughed out loud like this in I can’t tell you how long. Probably since Avenue Q. Also, the juxtaposition of knowing Lopez is a composer for the songs featured in the Disney animated film Frozen. Dying.
What to Expect from The Book of Mormon
Full on Shenanagins. The leads Connor Pierson (Elder Cunningham) and Kevin Clay (Elder Price) are fantastic. And honestly, Connor Pierson steals the show. He reminds me a little of Josh Gad. The Cunningham/Price relationship reminds me a little of LeFou/Gaston from Beauty and the Beast.
You will laugh.
You will be offended. If you can’t handle the F-word (in large quantities), don’t even bother showing up.
This show is raunchy. It’s outrageously offensive.
If you can’t handle poking fun at world issues, this may not be the show for you.
What Not to Expect from The Book of Mormon
If you expected to learn something about religion (other than not believing in anything blindly), this isn’t for you.
Plan to bring young kids? Don’t. I wouldn’t bring anyone under the age of 14 or 15 (and even that is pushing it unless you have kids that are very analytical and you have lots of conversations about the world in your house).
About The Book of Mormon
Tickets will be available online at www.BroadwayInPortland.com or at Portland’5 Box Office: 800-273-1530 and at all TicketsWest locations. The show runs through January 28, 2018.
THE BOOK OF MORMON features book, music and lyrics by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone. Parker and Stone are the four-time Emmy Award-winning creators of the landmark animated series, “South Park.” Tony Award-winner Lopez is co-creator of the long-running hit musical comedy, Avenue Q. 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 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.
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