The Book of MormonCapitol Theatre 7:00 pm
As I’m on my way to Sydney's Capitol Theatre for the new Australian production of The Book of Mormon, my friend tells me it’s the very first musical a lot of people see. Created by South Park duo Trey Parker and Matt Stone (with Robert Lopez), the show’s reputation for extremely irreverent jabs at religion draws a non-traditional theatre crowd. What I now realise my friend didn’t mean was, “it’s often the first musical kids see”. When I say the musical is extremely irreverent, I mean it. The humour is crass, verging on grotesque (some things I wouldn’t dare repeat). So it’s probably questionable that I’ve brought along my 13-year-old son with me. That said, he loves it.
Some of the humour is classic teen boy (i.e. a regular exclamation from one of the Ugandan characters that he has “maggots in my scrotum”). Very South Park. My son laughs loudly with the rest of the audience – and when the jokes go too far, he cringes, glancing around with a “should I be laughing at this?” look. Although the shock value is high, it’s nice seeing a Gen Alpha-ite who’s been raised on Youtube and other screen-based entertainment bopping along in his seat to the song and dance of a stage show.
What’s the premise of The Book of Mormon?
The Book of Mormon tells the story of two young Mormon missionaries sent to a small village in Uganda. Although the story centres on Mormonism, Parker and Stone have been known to refer to the show as an “atheist’s love letter to religion” – a wink and a jab at organised faith more broadly. As I watch, I realise that in many ways, musical theatre and religion are natural bedfellows. The traits of the Mormon characters may be dialled up to satirical extremes, but the costumes, emotive storytelling and inherent theatricality of religion lend themselves to performance – one where belief and suspension of disbelief go hand in hand.
Despite only premiering in 2011, The Book of Mormon has won nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical. In its Sydney rendition, this Australian crew of Mormons (all in crisp, matching short-sleeved white shirts and black ties) commit fully, turning up the camp to Broadway heights as they sing, dance and missionary their hearts out.
Who else is involved?
The Australian cast stars Sean Johnston (he’s played Danny in Grease, Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys and Link Larkin in Hairspray) as the charmingly self-important Elder Price; Nick Cox (Beauty and the Beast) as geeky, show-stealing Elder Cunningham; and Paris Leveque, who has made an impressive professional debut as Nabulungi. The production is co-directed by Trey Parker, with the award-winning Casey Nicholaw (who also led the choreography). The aforementioned Robert Lopez co-wrote the songs for Disney’s Frozen, and the playful set design comes courtesy of Tony Award winner Scott Pask.
Highlight of The Book of Mormon Sydney
Watching the Ugandan villagers stage a wildly reinterpreted version of “the story of Joseph Smith” (founder of Mormonism) is a joyfully unhinged high point. It’s a musical within a musical, bursting with colour, chaos and big laughs.
Who will like The Book of Mormon Sydney?
You need not be a musical theatre nut, but you need to be cool with explicit language, challenging themes and “did they really just say that?” humour. Bring your 13-year-old at your own discretion.
The Book of Mormon at the Capitol Theatre is produced in Australia by Important Musicals and Jones Theatrical Group. It’s on now, get tickets here.
