Now into its tenth year, Book of Mormon shows absolutely no signs of slowing down. Still playing to packed houses at the Prince Of Wales Theatre in London, the musical from the minds of South Park’s Trey Parker and Matt Stone is still one of the most creatively brilliant and most shocking musicals you will find in the West End since Avenue Q (Which Robert Lopez, the third part of the creative team with Parker and Stone, also just so happened to co-create Avenue Q).
The Book of Mormon follows two Latter-day Saints missionaries, Elder Price and Cunningham as they attempt to preach the faith of the Church to the inhabitants of a remote Ugandan village. The pair are challenged by the lack of interest from the locals, who are distracted by the local warlord.
Simply put The Book of Mormon is like a musical version of Cards Against Humanity. Outrageously hilarious, totally irreverent, blasphemous at best and downright brilliant. Despite it being so many years on since it originally opened the cast can end up living in the shadow of Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells who so brilliantly created the roles. However the London cast led by Don Simpson, Conner Peirson and Aviva Tulley is nothing short of majestic.
The show isn’t going to be for everyone, the easily offended or particularly religious should probably give it a wide berth. Depending on the individual’s sense of humour. The jokes come thick and fast, becoming more or less more vulgar as the acts I and II continue. However, much like Parker and Stone’s South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut, the intricacy of the music and the clever use of style and words in all the music makes this very, very clever also. For example, the hugely offensive “Hasa Diga Eebowai” (We will let you look it up yourselves) is played to a similar tune of Hakuna Matata, which is hugely catchy and great fun to sing and hum along to, until the meaning of the phrase is discovered.
Then there are the show’s visuals, if you thought some of the music was offensive, Parker and Stone have more for you! Pushing the boundaries about as far as possible these days, the show isn’t just foul mouthed, but graphic in its particular blend of humour, that as previously mentioned, won’t be for everyone.
The cast are terrific, Don Simpson and Conner Peirson as the Elder Price and Cunnigham, don’t miss a beat or note. Both are adorable to the point you’d probably want to take them home to meet your parents (Just don’t let them sing any of the show tunes). But it’s Aviva Tulley as Nabulungi (Or National Train Strike as Elder Cunningham unleashes on an unsuspecting audience and cast, bringing the house down) who is simply amazing to the point, she even eclipses Nikki M. James original portrayal of the character. Steven Webb deserves as special mention as Elder McKinley, steals the show with brilliant mannerisms, emoting and sheer audacity of his performance that it’s worth returning just to watch him all over again.
The Book of Mormon may not be for everyone, however it IS the funniest show in the West Since Avenue Q. Especially in the times in which we now live, its message of hope and faith has never been more timely. A joyous experience that will have you humming the tunes for days. Majestic.
