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BrumHour saw The Book of Mormon the invite of The Alexandra.
By Dave Massey x.com/BrumHour and bsky.app/profile/brumhour.com
This production contains very strong language and inferred violence.
Review: The Book of Mormon at The Alexandra
⭐⭐⭐⭐Brilliantly chaotic
Directed by Casey Nicholaw and Trey Parker, book by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, Music and lyrics by Trey Parker, Matt Stone and Robert Lopez.
Set in the early 2010’s, The Book of Mormon is about young members of Latter Day Saints, who are posted to Uganda for two years as missionaries. Elder Price finds himself paired with Elder Cunningham, who has a tendency to lie when under pressure and this spirals quickly out of control.
Packed with vibrant songs and Broadway choreography, The Book of Mormon is not for the easily shocked as it makes jokes about very very serious subjects; with full-on jazz hands and stage lighting. I’d seen this touring production in early 2020 and knowing full well what I was seeing this time didn’t make it any less impactful.
There are very random cameos from Darth Vader, Genghis Khan and many others in fever dream sequences which are the staple of Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s South Park.
I enjoyed a lot about this, the songs, the music and the performances but the tone does leave me wondering what real experience it was drawn from. It very much feels like it was written by someone who hasn’t been to Africa at all.
My favourite moment is when the people of the village put on their own show to demonstrate their understanding of Elder Cunningham’s teachings. Total chaos and the audience reaction is a delight to hear.
Sam Glen is excellent as Cunningham, the unexpected lead character, and Adam Bailey subverts our expectations of his character throughout from wishful leader to angry bystander. Nyah Nish has scene vocals as Nabulungi.
There are only a few tickets left for this December run of the The Book of Mormon which is at The Alexandra until 28th December. Book tickets here: atgtickets.com/shows/the-book-of-mormon/the-alexandra-theatre-birmingham.
