Newcastle Theatre Royal – until Saturday 9 July 2022
5*****
Written by the South Park team of Trey Parker and Matt Stone with Avenue Q’s Robert Lopez, The Book Of Mormon finally said “Hello” to Newcastle Theatre Royal after the pandemic delayed the original tour.
I’m not sure how much of a recruiting tool this show is, but the Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints has embraced this show. In the back of the programme was a full scale colour, glossy advert for the Church and outside after the show, some very young and eager Missionaries were leafleting and to my excitement giving away an actual Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon follows two contrasting young Mormon missionaries – the confident, self-absorbed Elder Price, and the bumbling, insecure Elder Cunningham – who complete their training at the Missionary Training Centre and are sent to preach the Mormon religion in a remote Ugandan village. Robert Colvin is in sensational winning form as the smug Elder Price. He sings with style and warmth and his comic timing is excellent. Connor Peirson is wonderful, in every way, as the nerdy Elder Cunningham who converts an African tribe to his own mish-mash of the Mormon story and references from Star Wars, Star Trek and Lord of the Rings with impressive results.
On arriving they are quickly introduced to the oppressed locals, brutal conditions and fellow US missionaries who have so far failed to baptise a single member of a community more concerned with battling AIDS and famine, and appeasing the local warlord (General Butt-F**king Naked – the hysterical Thomas Vernal, especially at the end when he becomes Elder Butt-F**king Naked) who seems intent on mutilating the locals.
Jordan Lee Davies positively shines as the tortured Elder McKinley, struggling to repress his inner self, he advises to “Turn it Off”. The singing and terrific dancing of the Elders is brilliantly funny. They are all an absolute joy to watch. Aviva Tulley is fabulous as the innocent Nabulungi (although Elder Cunningham gets her name wrong every time – my favourite was Nigel Farage) and Ewan Cummins is sensational as her protective but cynical father, bringing the house down with the impressively foul-mouthed Hasa Diga Eebowai. However it is Tre-Copeland Williams who steals every scene as the village Doctor who has maggots in his scrotum
This award winning production has outstanding choreography by Casey Nicholaw – the tap dancing Elders was inspired. Stephen Oremus gives musical supervision to the lyrics and music of Parker, Stone and Lopez. Including the brilliant I Believe, Making it Up Again, You and Me (But Mostly Me) and Tomorrow is a Latter Day. The live band (Phil James, Amy Heggart, George Millard, Adam Linsley, Rachel Allen, Mathias Dons, Bret Vanderburg and Paul Gregory) lead by Colm O’Regan are fantastic. Scott Pask’s scenic design and Ann Roth’s costumes compliment the perfection of this show.
Yes, this show is offensive, the liberal use of swear words, poking fun at religion, Aids and poverty is probably not for the easily offended. But it’s incredibly funny and one of the best musical scores around. In Newcastle until 9 July, get a ticket while you can