The controversial musical The Book of Mormon by the creators of South Park is one of the biggest hits Broadway has seen in years, winning over critics and audiences alike. The combination of edgy content and raw star power from the young cast has made this show a nine-time Tony award winner.
Vogue magazine called the show “the filthiest, most offensive, and – surprise – sweetest thing you’ll see on Broadway this year, and quite possible the funniest musical ever.” The New York Post reported that audience members were “sore from laughing”. It praised the score, calling it “tuneful and very funny,” and added that “the show has heart.”
So what is the Book of Mormon all about?
The Book of Mormon is a religious satire musical with a book, lyrics, and music by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, and Matt Stone. Best known for creating the animated comedy South Park, Parker and Stone co-created the music with Lopez, who co-wrote and co-composed Avenue Q. The show lampoons organized religion and traditional musical theatre, reflecting the creators’ lifelong fascination with Mormonism and musicals.
The Book of Mormon tells the story of two young Mormon missionaries sent to a remote village in northern Uganda, where a brutal warlord is threatening the local population. Naive and optimistic, the two missionaries try to share their scriptures—which only one of them knows very well—but have trouble connecting with the locals, who are worried about famine, poverty, and AIDS.
The Musical has already received four awards winning Best Musical, and has been called the best musical of the century.
From the creative minds that have given us South Park, the Book of Mormon gives us two Mormon missionaries on a quest in deep Uganda. This highly acclaimed production is a bit on the adult side in terms of language, but it has taken the theater world by storm for its unique, incredibly funny story.
