The Book of Mormon

[Darrell KSR]

Saw this play tonight. It is not for everyone, but man, it is irreverently hysterical, especially the second act. Great voices as well.

Playing here Tuesday through Sunday, and could not go any night (or either matinee) except during the Tennessee game. It was worth it, although I sweated a bit when I turned off my phone with the score 44-40. Was relieved at intermission that Kentucky won comfortably, which made me enjoy the 2nd act even that much more.

Language is very explicit, it is probably blasphemous all over the place, but man, was it funny.

[dan_bgblue]

I chose it as a subject for a college humanities class. Read the entire thing twice. Interesting reading if one was as ignorant of Mormonism as I was.

[CGWildcat]

I sort of want to see this play. My ex wife and both kids are Mormon. Lots to say but I'll keep it to myself, but I bet the play is good!

[Darrell KSR]

Go see the play if

* you enjoy Broadway musicals. It's a musical. I love them, but others don't. Just don't forget that at its base.

* you are not easily offended (or maybe moderately offended).

It is explicit, a little raunchy at times, irreverent, and blasphemous on occasion. It would offend some people I go to church with. Doesn't offend me. It is so over the top I don't see how anyone should take it seriously, but maybe I'm just not sensitive enough to that kind of thing.

I am not their ideal audience member. I like SouthPark, but I don't like Jackass, the movie. I like lowbrow good humor fine, but it has to be good--and this was. I loved this play. I've been to see maybe 100 plays in my life, and this is way up at the top. The 2nd act had me laughing out loud during the play, something I have never done before.

As far as the Mormons are concerned, I was very impressed with how they are handling it--very smart, IMHO. They bought a full page ad in the program, and said something like, now you've seen the play, how about learning what it is really about?

Also, they had several Mormons outside greeting playgoers as they exited (coincidentally, not far from the stage door where "groupies"--including my daughters, when they go--get autographs from the cast members). They asked how we enjoyed the play, and invited us to a free copy of the Book of Mormon, giving one to all who would accept it. Very, very smart.

As I said, I viewed it as so much of a parody it could not be offensive. But if you would be offended, for example, by seeing Jesus call a Mormon a D***, then the play would not appeal to you. And there's many more examples like that one.

My mother-in-law saw it last year. It would offend her, but bless her heart, I think a lot of the zingers went right over her head. For people here, you'd catch all of it.

[CitizenBBN]

Darrell, I think you are probably well within their target. Matt and Trey have taken lots of shots at what they consider low brow humor without wit or a second layer. From Jackass to Family Guy, they've gone after that stuff as much as anything else. They rightly see South Park as using low brow humor as a medium, not as the end product. They do all the bathroom humor, a kind of humor I actually don't like, but do it as part of something broader that is more thoughtful (most of the time). It's bold to compare it to Shakespeare, but there is a duality there that is similar. The Bard knew he had to entertain the illiterate masses as well as the nobility, so he wrote plays that made great thought provoking points but put in lower brow stuff here and there to keep everyone entertained. I think the balance is way different, but the idea is similar.

I'd like to see it. I agree 100% the Mormon community has handled it brilliantly, by embracing it as a comedy and nothing more, and in fact using it to their advantage where possible.

Curious, have you seen Avenue Q? That's another fairly irreverent musical that I've seen parts of, wonder how they compare on the "offensive scale". I'm sure Book of Mormon is more outrageous in its style and language overall.

[CGWildcat]

I do really enjoy broadway shows! Don't tell. Im very sensitive living out here as you all know, but I do have Citizen on my Facebook listed as a friend, so really, how sensitive can I actually be.

[Darrell KSR]

Curious, have you seen Avenue Q? That's another fairly irreverent musical that I've seen parts of, wonder how they compare on the "offensive scale". I'm sure Book of Mormon is more outrageous in its style and language overall.

When it was here, I was out of town for part of it and couldn't make it when I returned, so no. I have seen some of it here or there, and coincidentally, UAB is performing it in April, and I may go see their production if I have a chance.

[PedroDaGr8]

Curious, have you seen Avenue Q? That's another fairly irreverent musical that I've seen parts of, wonder how they compare on the "offensive scale". I'm sure Book of Mormon is more outrageous in its style and language overall.

The Internet Is For Porn Needless to say NSFW.

[CitizenBBN]

The Internet Is For Porn Needless to say NSFW.

That's the first part of it I saw, hilarious.