The Book Of Mormon: outrageous humour with a knowing smile

-


The first time you see The Book Of Mormon you end up doing that strange meercat impression, constantly looking up to see if everyone around you is laughing.


The jokes are so brutal and near the knuckle you find yourself pausing before working out of it’s okay to find them funny. Of course it is.


We may live a weird world of folk being cancelled for hurty words, but the beauty of humour is that it can - and should - be robust. You have the right to be offended while everyone else rolls about the flooring laughing.


On so many levels, The Book Of Mormon should spark walk outs galore, but, strangely, it doesn’t.

The jokes, stereotypes, language and songs all hit you straight between the eyes, but when it’s served up with a knowing smile and more than a bit of style, it takes on a life of its own.


Seven years in the making, this musical is a bona fide smash hit - one that carries a mighty shock on first viewing, but then still gets you on return visits to the theatre, and there were plenty at a packed press night at the Playhouse for their third, fourth or more visits.


While most folk think it’s just a satire about the Mormons, it’s not. They’re the vehicle that lets them basically kick all prophets and religions and, at its heart, its about friendship and finding your who way in this weird wee world.


Its subject matters are gobsmacking, but given the show comes from the creators of South Parks and Avenue Q that shouldn't shock its audiences.


Genital mutilation, Aids, cancer, murder, and rape - then they take it down a notch or two in a show packers with brilliant showstoppers where the lyrics are just as razor sharp.


The most outrageous thing about The Book Of Mormon is just how much fun it is - it has you laughing at lines then double checking whether it’s okay to laugh at them.


This was my third time seeing it. Loved every second of it.


It is packed with great performances - Adam Bailey and Sam Glen as Elders Price and Cunningham respectively were superb. Outrageous,  funny, and brilliantly staged, it doesn’t so much cross a line as rip it into shreds, draw a new line and rip that one up, and keep going until no taboo topic has been left untouched.


Sure you can find something to take offence at, and pick your moment to storm out. Strangely, no-one does. Maybe we all just love a musical with a bit of bite to it.


> Cast Pic: Paul Coltas


> The Book Of Mormon is at the Playhouse Theatre, Edinburgh until Saturday, November 2. Tickets at https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/the-book-of-mormon/edinburgh-playhouse/





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bruce Springsteen, Sunderland: It's raining ...

-
Image
Where this gig rates on Springsteen’s tour is entirely subjective, but it will go down as one of the wettest, if not THE wettest ... A summer’s night in Sunderland saw the heavens open and the poncho sellers make a quick buck as they huddled in bus stops on the road leading to the rather mis-named Stadium Of Light which was shrouded in low cloud. It made Manchester 2016 feel like nothing more than a light shower, so all credit fo Springsteen and the E Street Band - and their tech team - for turning in a superb 28-song, near  three hour show in the most challenging of conditions. Any time you thought the rain had eased, you only had to look to the lights to see it swirling round the stage and the stadium. Instruments were soaked, and the close ups on the giant screens showed just how wet things really were up there. While the band donned jackets and scarves, Springsteen strolled out dressed as if it was just another day; waistcoat, tie and shirt, took one look at the rainfall and op...
Read more

Bruce Springsteen, Wembley (Part One): A perfect set, an utterly magical gig

-
Image
The list of superlatives to describe a Springsteen gig has been used up. We need to invent new words. If Cardiff was a mesmerising UK tour opener, then the first night in London, which marks his departure from these shores, surpassed it in every possible way. A flawless set delivered with such energy and intensity he didn’t actually pause to formally say hello to the crowd. The Boss had business to attend to - a jaw-dropping, highlight reel show of 31 songs over three and a quarter hours. It’s incredible to think this came on the cusp of the 50th anniversary of his first ever UK gigs - modest affairs at the Hammersmith Odeon which entered Springsteen folklore as he bristled against the hype surrounding the release of Born To Run, and famously tore down a poster from the front of the venue declaring “finally London is ready for Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band." London was more than ready for this first of two Wembley gigs. Standing on the pitch, I’d forgotten just how vast ...
Read more

From Asbury Park to Boucher Park ...

-
Image
  A near ten-hour flight separates Asbury Park, NJ, and Boucher Park, Belfast, but the difference between them is much, much wider. On one hand you have the mesmerising imagery of boardwalks, carnivals and the Stone Pony, on the other, a park that is basically grass and gravel, next to a generic industrial estate and retail park that could be Anywhere, UK. Belfast’s Boucher Park is as far removed from rock ‘n’ roll as you can imagine - only the moving canvas of Springsteen t-shirts gave away the fact something extraordinary was happening close to the tile warehouses and garden furniture outlets. The stop–start early queue which snaked to the gates led to a wristband which led to the front of the stage with tantalising snippets from the end of the soundcheck carrying over the fencing. I’ve never had the urge to do ‘the pit’ or rollcall - turns out you didn’t really need to do either in Belfast as the wristband got me to within half a dozen rows at the front.I suspect I could have go...
Read more