Featured Image: Paul Coltas

Award-winning musical comedy The Book of Mormon returns to Manchester as it continues its UK tour. Created by South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and with songs written by Bobby Lopez, whose songs are featured in Disney’s Frozen and Avenue Q, the musical has been running for over a decade and continues to make good on its promise to leave audiences with “a belly full of laughter.”

Nicknamed ‘God’s favourite musical’, the play follows the story of two Mormon missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints: Elder Price (Adam Bailey) and Elder Cunningham (Sam Glen). Training to become missionaries, their purpose in life is to spread the word of Christ around the world.

The show opens with a captivating performance of ‘Hello’, as the theatre is lit up with a disco ball and the characters are introduced to the audience as they mock the quirky and upbeat attitude of Mormon missionaries. ‘Hello’ gives a brief background of the main Mormons, Elder Price and Elder Cunningham, and their missions placements.

When Elder Price finds out his place of mission and companion, he is filled with disappointment. Still he is determined to make the most of the experience, as it is his life’s ambition. On the other hand, Elder Cunningham is excited to be paired with Elder Price and become his friend.

Elder Price and Cunningham are sent to a remote village in Uganda, Africa. Uganda is portrayed through the white man’s gaze, as a primitive way of life. In the play, Uganda is plagued by disease, misogynistic views, and overrun by a General who mutilates girls and murders for pleasure. These dark elements set the tone for the play’s use of dark humour.

The cast performs a humorous parody of The Lion King hit ‘Hakuna Matata’ as they sing ‘Hasa Diga Eebowai’. This comical performance is truly a spectacle as the cast swarms the stage and performs elaborate African dances with shining lights. When things don’t go right in Uganda, the locals look to the sky with their hands in the air and chant ‘Hasa Diga Eebowai.’ The elders join in on the comedic, upbeat performance. Throughout the song, Elder Price grows curious about the meaning behind the saying, and a local, Mafala Hatimbi (Kirk Patterson), informs him it means “Fuck you, God”, leaving the elders mortified and the audience erupting in laughter at the irony of the situation, highlighting the irreverent humour that defines the musical.

Elder Price hopes to convert the villagers to the way of Christ. However, he is met with a few challenges much to the delight of the audience. Meanwhile, Elder Cunningham becomes enthralled with Mafala’s daughter, Nabulungi played by Nyah Nish.

Stealing the show, Elder Cunningham brings comedic relief as he can’t seem to pronounce Nabulungi’s name. He goes as far as calling her ‘Neutrogena’, ‘Nicki Minaj’, and even ‘Nigel Farage’, leaving the audience in a fit of laughter.

After meeting the other missionaries who have been sent to Uganda and making no progress on their conversion mission, Elder Price’s faith dwindles. The play takes an interesting turn when, ready to give up on the Ugandans and return to America, he has a dream where he’s in “Spooky Mormon Hell”. This musical performance is strange yet amusing, as the stage is lit up in dazzling hues of red, with Hitler, Genghis Khan, Jeffrey Dahmer, and even OJ Simpson making guest appearances.

Nabulungi decides she is fed up with living in fear because she is a woman, deciding she wants to live a better life and escape to the place of the Mormons, Salt Lake City. She reaches out to Elder Cunningham, saying she wants to become a Mormon and help him convert the other villagers. Elder Cunningham’s conversion methods stray from tradition as he comedically incorporates pop culture and false information to appeal to the villagers, making them believe the founder of the Mormon religion, Joseph Smith, experienced their exact struggles. 

Elder Price returns to Uganda after his ‘Spooky Mormon Dream’, as Elder Cunningham manages to convert the Ugandans to Mormonism, promising them a better life. The play ends with ‘Hello’, but this time, the Ugandans are the missionaries on their way to spread the word of God.

Despite the controversial topics throughout the show, the play highlights that even though belief is a crazy thing, it creates hope and inevitably brings forth a temporary good. This musical comedy promises comedic relief, tied in with some dark humour, and a heartwarming message of belief and faith.

Catch The Book of Mormon at the Palace Theatre, Monday 30th September – Saturday 5th October, 2024. For more from Palace Theatre Manchester visit manchestertheatres.com/whats-on/palace-theatre_manchester