Reviewed by Beth at Nottingham’s Theatre Royal
Tickets were gifted in return for an honest review.
The Mormons are in town! Following its immense West End and Broadway success, The Book Of Mormon is back on another smash-hit UK tour and has arrived in Nottingham this June. If you’re after a night of unfiltered laughter, upbeat music and belly-aching comedy, then this is the ticket you need this summer.
The Book of Mormon is a musical adult comedy that has been running on the West End since 2013. The show, created by the writers of South Park Trey Parker and Matt Stone as well as Avenue Q creator Robert Lopez, follows a young troupe of Mormon men on their first ever mission in Uganda. It has reached the critical heights of Tony, Olivier and even Grammy awards and is much-loved within the musical theatre community. Whether you’re a first-timer, though, or an avid fan, this latest UK tour will be sure not to disappoint. But be warned; the comedy in this show features adult and at times dark and controversial comedy so proceed with caution… this is not a show for the faint of heart.
The show begins with the absolutely iconic opening number, Hello!, which sets the tone for the night perfectly with its clever comic timing and happy demeanour. We first meet our protagonists, Elder Price and Elder Cunningham, when they are paired together for their first mission. Price, played by outstanding talent Adam Bailey, is an upbeat and self-righteous young Mormon man, dreaming of being sent on mission in Orlando, Florida. He is paired with Elder Cunningham, played by the insanely talented Sam Glen, who is a more bumbling, loveable character who is desperate for friendship and an instant irritant to Price. In You and Me (But Mostly Me), the dynamic for their friendship is set as the pair learn that they will be travelling to Uganda on mission together, much to Price’s despair.
When the pair arrive in Uganda, they quickly realise that the people there are not ready to receive God’s word in the way that they’d hoped. Disease is rife and there is an overwhelming, frightening military presence. In Hasa Diga Eebowai, we learn about the local people’s frustration with God with shocking but hilarious lyrics. Try not to get this song stuck in your head; it’s harder than you’d think! We then meet the other Mormons already on mission in Uganda, and learn of their own
struggles and experiences with the Mormon mission. Turn it off is a personal highlight of the show for me, with its wonderful tap dance break and glittery waistcoats, and Tom Bales makes the perfect Elder McKinley! Once again, the lyrics provide dark humour in a way that may take your breath away.
As the show continues, we see our Mormon friends aim to convert and baptise the local people, with the locals becoming more and more intuited about their message. One such person with a particular interest is Nabulungi, played sweetly by Nyah Nish. She befriends Elder Cunningham, who in Baptize Me gets his own personal first!
So many of the songs of this show provide stand out moments for many different reasons. Spooky Mormon Hell Dream is perhaps the number I have spoken about the most times since seeing a show ever, but I will let you witness it for yourselves to understand why. I Believe is the show’s I want song; a perfect ballad with an uplifting albeit perhaps misguided message from Elder Price. But the show’s true comic smash-hits can be found in its lesser known music such as I am Africa and Joseph Smith American Moses which relate the Ugandans’ mis understanding of Cunningham’s Mormon ‘teachings’. They guarantee to have audience members literally crying
with laughter and gasping again and again. This show’s writing strikes the perfect note in providing radical fun whilst sending up issues like the white saviour complex and religious ideology. At the same time, it is a show full of heart and with an uplifting ending.
with laughter and gasping again and again. This show’s writing strikes the perfect note in providing radical fun whilst sending up issues like the white saviour complex and religious ideology. At the same time, it is a show full of heart and with an uplifting ending.
Having been a fan of the show for years in London, I was intrigued to see how this show would transfer but I needn’t have worried. This cast bring absolute West-End quality to the nation, with no weak link and stellar performances from everyone involved.The Book of Mormon may be a well-established fan favourite, but this current UK tour promises a fresh-take and a fantastic rendition of this musical comedy.
Don’t take it from me; say Hello! to the cast yourself and get yourself a ticket while you can; they’re selling fast!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Book of Mormon plays at Nottingham’s Theatre Royal until June 28th before continuing on it’s UK tour. Tickets are available from https://trch.co.uk/whats-on/the-book-of-mormon
Post a Comment