It has taken “only” three years for a tour of The Book of Mormon to reach Milwaukee. The tour, now in Milwaukee, started December 2012 in Chicago. The production ran an impressive 10 months before moving to its next stop. While in Chicago, the show broke all box-office records for that particular theater. Alas, it is one of the liabilities of Milwaukee’s proximity to Chicago that shows which have an extended run in the Windy City rarely come straight north to Milwaukee. The Book of Mormon is the latest to follow this trend.
Mormon, winner of nine Tony Awards, opened on Broadway at the Eugene O’Neill Theater in 2011. As of this writing, it still has an open run.
As most readers know by now, the show’s creators remained true to their “South Park” origins, including a good dose of sophomoric humor. The show contains plenty of zingers aimed at a wide variety of targets, including Jews, nerds, Jesus and those who created the Mormon faith. Since the show was written by three young guys, one also finds numerous references to “Star Trek,” “Star Wars” and “The Hobbit.”
The show also relentlessly spoofs other musicals. Since the storyline about Mormon missionaries is eventually set in Uganda, there are numerous veiled references (and some blatant ones) to The Lion King. And a second-act representation of the Mormon’s history by African natives is solidly rooted in the version of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” presented in The King and I.
The mish-mashed plot is too complicated for further explanation, so this is where it ends.
Turning to the cast, the high-spirited actors do a tremendous job mixing dialogue with jokes and choreography. On press night, however, the actor who plays the key role of Elder Price (David Larson) had to be substituted at intermission. This slightly deflated some of the show’s energy. His companion in the African missionary project, Elder Cunningham, more than made up for the cast swap. Unlike Elder Price, who appears as a bright, arrogant whiz kid, Cunningham is basically the exact opposite. He is an overweight, underachieving nerd who hasn’t even bothered to read the Book of Mormon. Seeing him come “out of his shell” during the course of the show is one of the best things about this Book of Mormon. For all its intentional goofiness, the show does tackle weighty material, such as the poverty, fear, and horrendous living conditions the missionaries find in Africa, and the country’s practice of female circumcision. It also brings to light the question of faith, as seen by the poor Ugandans as well as in Elder Price. In the case of Price, this comes up when he confesses his disappointment at not being sent on a missionary trip to his wished-for destination, Orlando, Fla.
In addition to the two main missionaries, the cast also includes a contingent of other Mormons on the same quest. They are all fine, as are the actors who play Ugandans. Cody Jamison Strand, who also played the part of Elder Cunningham on Broadway, is worth the price of admission all by himself. His surprisingly agile moves and facial expressions may be well-honed over time, but he presents them in a way that appears entirely fresh in each performance.
Two other noteworthy actors play the blood-thirsty Ugandan General (David Aron Damane) and the tribe’s leader, Mafala (James Vincent Meredith).
On the distaff side, a truly amazing performance is delivered by newcomer Candace Quarrels as Nabulungi. She’s a young, energetic performer with a powerhouse voice who convincingly presents herself as the chief’s sweet and obedient daughter. The “baptism scene,” in which Nabulungi asks Elder Cunningham to make her an “official” Mormon, is funny, touching and a bit racy.
Production values for this tour are high, with lavish sets, costumes and props. The orchestra – a mix of the tour’s band and local musicians – consistently provides a polished sound.
In sum, The Book of Mormon is most likely to be enjoyed by those who love musicals, as well as science fiction/fantasy lovers and fans of politically incorrect humor. It’s a clever “take” on a rarely touched topic – religion. And it’s nice to note its riffs on other musicals, TV shows and films.
