The Book Of Mormon Not For The Easily Offended?

I came to see this show in having been told to expect to be shocked and offended, but who could be offended by the ten clean cut American boys who opened the show ringing all our bells and proceeded to try to sell us into their religion of Mormonism in a slickly choreographed musical number. They set the seal for the show as they are paired off to spread the word worldwide.

Our ‘heroes’ Elders Price and Cunningham (Adam Bailey and Sam Glen) being the final pair chosen. Price, as the leading student of the year, believes he is destined for greater things and convinces Cunningham, the bottom student who gets everything wrong, to just watch, learn and back him up. Their mission is to convert and baptise the people of rural Uganda. They soon realise that is not the idyllic home of ‘The Lion King’. Finding the villagers there are in danger from a lawless band of armed thugs. Will they ‘Man Up’, stay and fight for their new friends or run away?

Written by Trey Parker, Matt Stone (both of South Park fame) and Robert Lopez (Avenue Q and Frozen) this musical is definitely not for anyone who is easily offended, but from the packed audience reaction it was obvious very few, if any of us, fell into that camp. Choreography by Casey Nicholaw ranges from full on Broadway camp tap numbers to African dances. And the direction by Trey Parker and Casey Nicholaw is faultless.

Musically Danny Belton directs a nine strong band who provide an amazing backing for the company. Whilst I was aware of some of the songs in the show, having heard them on the radio, there are others that were new to me and are definitely winners. Such as ‘Sal Tlay Ka Siti’ (Salt Lake City) sung by Nabalungi (Nyah Nish) is hauntingly beautiful, whilst ‘Hasa Diga Eebowai’ sung by the Ugandan villagers is joyous and full of fun, African rhythms and dancing, until they translate!

The winner of nine Tony Awards, currently grossing over $800 million and 12th in the longest running shows on Broadway (over 5,000 performances) make it easily one of the most successful musicals of all time.

Outrageous, and definitely aimed to shock, covering issues such as HIV/AIDS, famine, female genital mutilation and child molestation, despite this the show is packed full of laughs with two chorus lines, one of Americans and one of African villagers, delivering unforgettable musical numbers, both vocally and choreographically. The revelation that the villagers knew all along that the stories that the missionaries told them were metaphors rather than the truth leads to an ending that sees peace return to the village. But there is a message amongst the irreverence, pride comes before a fall.

The Book of Mormon Braford Alhambra until Sat 23rd November