Review: THE BOOK OF MORMON Delights Hershey Theatre

Jeopardy answer: THE BOOK OF MORMON. Jeopardy question: What's religiously based, satirical, riotously funny, offensive as... hell... and that you're about as likely to see on Broadway as HAMILTON? Fortunately, THE BOOK OF MORMON is on tour, giving you an actual chance to see the show without killing someone for their ticket. It's currently at Hershey Theatre, where it's playing through the 27th, and where an ambulance is always parked outside, this time just in case you do die laughing.

If you have possibly missed its existence, THE BOOK OF MORMON, by SOUTH PARK creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, and by Robert Lopez, is its own musical theatre phenomenon that's not HAMILTON; opening in 2011, and walking away with nine Tonys, it's still one of the most sought-after tickets on Broadway - deservedly so. Like HAMILTON it's rooted in American culture, particularly in one of America's two most influential home-grown religious denomination, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, better known as, of course, the Mormon Church. (The other is Christian Science, which lacks missionaries and therefore a comic plot device.) It's been so great a phenomenon that the Mormon Church has taken out ads in programs telling the public, "you've seen the show, now read the book."

Is it offensive to Mormons? Really, no more than any religiously themed musical comedy is to whatever group is being featured - there are liberties taken with belief, but no actual insult to the church itself. It might be slightly more offensive, to some, in its portrayal of African villages, since it's based in the humor to be found in naïve new Mormon missionaries landing in Uganda, a country they don't know, and that the writers don't know very well either. If you're uncomfortable with SOUTH PARK, or with foul language, however, you probably won't be comfortable here, and you won't want your children to see it. Otherwise, it's possibly the funniest thing you have ever seen.

tour cast features Gabe Gibbs and Cody Jamison Strand as newly minted Elder Price and Elder Cunningham, the former a would-be super-missionary, the latter a lovable couch potato whose idea of alien places isn't other continents but other planets, and for whom Mr. Spock is more recognizable than the angel Moroni. They arrive in Uganda ill-suited for conversion, one too strong in his approach, one too unknowledgeable about his faith and too possessed of a vivid imagination. When they're tossed in with the current crop of dysfunctional young missionaries, the results are close to disastrous, except when they're not. (It is, after all, a musical comedy.) Just don't ask Cunningham about frogs.

In the process they learn about themselves, about the meaning of faith, and the role of imagination. They take on everyone from skeptical villagers to the mission President and a slightly deranged terrorist general, and, in true musical comedy fashion, succeed brilliantly in something they weren't trying to do in the first place.

Gibbs comes across quite believably as the super-believing, super-achieving young recruit with an Achilles heel and a dire fear of "spooky Mormon Hell," for which, enjoy the "Spooky Mormon Hell Dream" sequence of Act Two. Strand, a wonderful dancer, gives "Man Up!" a terrific dance routine as well as some fine singing. But the best of this show is really its ensemble numbers, uniting missionaries and villagers in huge dance and song delights for the audience, "Spooky Mormon Hell Dream" only one of them.

Other outstanding ensemble numbers include the early "Hasa Diga Eebowai" by the villagers, "I Am Africa," by the missionaries, and the joint "Tomorrow is a Latter Day," a wonderful eleven o'clock piece. And then there's "Joseph Smith American Moses," presented by the villagers as a surprise for the Mormon mission president, which can be described only as "must be seen to be believed," in which the villagers dance and sing the teachings of the Church as they understand them from Elder Cunningham. Don't be surprised when the starship Enterprise becomes part of their faith. And do not under any circumstances ask about the frog.

Aside from the leads, worthy of note is Candace Quarles as Nabulungi, the young woman who is the first in the village to become Mormon; she's possessed of a strong voice and some equally strong acting talent. Daxton Bloomquist is Elder McKinley, whose "Turn It Off" explains his thoughts on how to deal with internal conflict about Mormon belief in the modern world and especially in his life. Sterling Jarvis plays Nabulungi's father, Mafala Hatimbi, as strongly as Quarles plays her role.

It's a big show with equally big heart, and a big message about faith, not just about Mormons. You're likely to leave the theatre wanting to hug the next Mormon missionary you meet. Just don't ask him about the frog.

At Hershey Theatre through the 27th, and possibly the best thing you're likely to have seen this year. This is old-fashioned musical comedy, with big jokes, big visuals, big routines, and the predictable set piece numbers brought back to life, just like Kenny, by SOUTH PARK's creative team. One can only hope that someday they'll give us that musical on Scientology.

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