The Book of Mormon: Heavenly?

I have seen many a musical in my life, from The Lion King, to Mamma Mia to Wicked, but as anyone who knows me will tell you, I’m really more of a comedy person. Stand up shows, cartoons, movies, plays – if it’s funny, I’ll watch it. My comedy heroes are Trey Parker and Matt Stone, creators of South Park, and of course, The Book of Mormon, which they wrote alongside Robert Lopez, one of the creators of Avenue Q. The musical took America by storm back in March 2011, winning nine Tony awards and a Grammy for ‘Best Musical Theatre Album’. It came to the UK in March this year, when the show set a record for the biggest day of sales in West End and Broadway history, and so when the opportunity arose to go and see it, I couldn’t possibly resist. How could I turn down the chance to see how the work my two favourite writers transformed onstage? So while I have seen many musicals, I can safely say there have been none that I have been so excited for as this.

With such high expectations, I wondered if I wouldn’t be a little bit disappointed. The Book of Mormon was inspired by a similarly-themed episode of South Park entitled ‘All about Mormons’, one of my favourite instalments of the show. The episode stands out for me as a classic because it bears all the hallmarks of Parker and Stone’s comedic genius – yes, it makes fun, yes it’s a bit insulting, and yes, it’s probably a massive exaggeration of the truth about the issue at hand. The long and short of it is, however, that the family in the episode are happy, close, and incredibly giving, and ultimately, their church is what gives them such a happy life. It’s that dose of heart on top of the jokes that makes South Park great, and it’s what I really wanted to see from The Book of Mormon.

During the conceptual stages of the musical, Parker, Stone and Lopez actually visited Salt Lake City (the capital of Utah and the base of the Church of Latter Day Saints) to interview current and ex- Mormon missionaries to discuss their experiences. Perhaps it’s that ethos of going the extra mile that makes the play so relatable. The play centres around the story of two young Mormons, Elder Price and Elder Cunningham, who are about to go on their mission overseas as a rite of passage to become true Mormons. Elder Price is a confident, outgoing man with an unfaltering belief in his religion, and set ideas about what he wants to do (mostly go to Orlando), whilst Elder Cunningham is a bit meek, a bit unsure, and a pathological liar. The two get paired up as mission companions, much to Elder Price’s disappointment, and find that their destination is not quite as salubrious as Price’s dream. The pair are sent to convert the residents of a poverty-stricken village in Northern Uganda, which is under the iron rule of an evil warlord. They arrive only to have their bags stolen by the warlord’s henchmen and their confidence understandably crushed as the locals great them with the fabulous number, ‘Hasa Diga Eebowai’ (google it).

Throughout, the soundtrack is absolutely fantastic, and the plot is at times surprisingly touching (a fact which might not surprise the South Park veterans among you), producing a comedy that cuts close to the bone while still managing to warm your heart. It’s just as controversial and un-pc as you’d expect from Parker and Stone, so it’s probably not the best play to go and see with grandparents or small children in tow. However, if you’re a fan of their previous work, The Book of Mormon will not disappoint.

As with all of Parker and Stone’s successful works, there’s a good and solid point to the story, and a conclusion to be made. For the sake of spoilers (and maybe for the sake of not offending anyone), I’ll let you decide what the point of The Book of Mormon is. Reviews for the show may be mixed, but I’ll say this much: it is the best musical I have ever seen, and I would go again in a heartbeat.

The Book of Mormon is currently playing at The Prince of Wales Theatre, London and is booking until February 2014. You can enter a lottery draw to buy £20 tickets in person at the Box Office two and a half hours before every performance.