Book of Mormon enlightens at Fox Theatre

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Kat Shambaugh

The Book of Mormon vs. the musical. As the musical satirizes Mormonism, it pulls from real beliefs stated in the holy book.

Kat Shambaugh, Features editor

On its second US tour since its Broadway premiere in 2011, The Book of Mormon hit the Fox Theatre in Atlanta from January 12 to January 24. The satirical show, written by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, and Matt Stone of South Park and Frozen, chronicles the story of two nineteen-year-old Mormons on a mission in Uganda. Littered with jokes toeing the line between funny and offensive, but still true to the belief, The Book of Mormon entertains with catchy musical numbers and impressive choreography.

A proud fan displays a Book of Mormon and the standard Mormon dress for proselytizing.
Kat Shambaugh
A proud fan displays a Book of Mormon and the standard Mormon dress for proselytizing.

The musical opens with Elder Price (played by Ryan Bondy in the tour cast) teaching other Mormons how to proselytize by traveling door-to-door. He meets another young man, Elder Cunningham (Chad Burris), who epitomizes the role of awkward teen and stands as a habitual liar. The two missionaries travel to Uganda and the local villagers welcome them, sharing all of the daily terrors they experience. The missionaries and villagers in Uganda face various threats as they try to spread their religion, with a number of comical errors that lead to a (fairly) happy ending.

The music, full of puns and jokes, presents an addicting take on Mormonism and the culture of Uganda. The original Broadway recording won a Grammy award for Best Musical Theater Album, and reached number three on the Billboard charts. Furthermore, the choreography and cast energy skyrocketed beginning with the opening number, making every audience member want to stand up and dance along. The lighting, including a rock show spectacle and a well-placed disco ball, added to the effect.

While not a family-rated show, The Book of Mormon does a fantastic job of blending humor and belief, always funny but never cruel. Parker, Lopez, and Stone ridicule Mormonism, but they do not dismiss it completely. Through musical numbers like “I Believe” and “Tomorrow is a Latter Day,” the audience learns that though various aspects of the religion seem odd to laymen, the source of faith gives its followers purpose that can inspire the rest of the world.