Written by: Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone
Directed by Casey Nicholaw and Trey Parker
Who would have thought that the creators of the critically acclaimed and inappropriately funny TV show ‘South Park’ would have a Tony award winning hit on Broadway one day?
The Book of Mormon is a satire that follows two young Mormon missionaries on a trip of a lifetime… They have been groomed for this important day. The one in which they are sent to a completely different continent. Here they will be expected to ring people’s doorbells and convert and enlighten groups of new devout followers.
However the two main characters Elder Price (the divine Gavin Creel) and Elder Cunningham (the hilarious Christopher John O’Neil) find themselves not quite connecting with the community they have been sent to ‘save’ in Uganda. As Elder Price puts it “…What do we do? There are no doorbells here…”
The characters they meet are more interested in ridding and shielding themselves of aids, famine, poverty, and fear rather than sitting down and listening about the an American prophet and the Church of Latter Day Saints.
The Musical flowed beautifully; the song and dance numbers had the audience in fits of laughter and awe. The amount of talent in that cast is terrifying! Alexandra Ncube who plays Nabulungi has an amazingly powerful voice, she is one gifted lady. In fact the entire cast was brilliant-and Christopher John O’Neil’s comedic timing is part of what makes the play so comical and grounding. The extremes and the exaggeration’s remind us how ridiculous the world is at times.
I am so glad Evenko has decided to bring great musicals like Book of Mormon to Montreal. The show was not only entertaining but surprisingly poignant- In the sense that it touched on very serious issues that the majority of us turn a blind eye to. For instance Africa is not ‘just like the Lion King…’ Not every child/ adult in the world is lucky enough to have a roof over their head, education and three meals a day. Let alone the freedom to roam outside their home without the fear of being murdered or butchered.
The Musical smartly utilized current and disturbing issues such as rape- the idea that men can rid themselves of Aids if they have sex with a virgin, female circumcision and fear mongering war lards.
Without giving too much away about the play, I will say that the story is surprisingly enlightening and the ending is more than fulfilling. I also approve of all the sacrilegious distasteful and crude language. Those who feel it was too much are most likely not in touch with reality. The songs are catchy, fun and the set was one of the most beautiful I have seen in a long time. Scenic Designer Scott Pask deserves a whole bunch of praise for a job well done. The transition of scenes were amazingly smooth too, everything just flowed beautifully together. It felt as if we were watching a film.
My favorite number would have to be Hasa Diga Eebowai, It was shocking and fun and wrong and I loved every minute of it.
I recommend this to anyone with a sense of humor, a brain and the appreciation for satire.
The show is running at Sir Wilfred-Pelletier (Place-des-Arts.)December 2nd-7th Get your tickets while you can, the show will most likely be sold out soon.
Abby Elizabeth
