Wacky, Irreverent “Book of Mormon” Charms at Broward Center
By Skip Sheffield
What a wacky, irreverent, dirty and ultimately wonderful
musical “The Book of Mormon” is. Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone of
“South Park” and Robert Lopez of “Avenue Q,” it continues through Feb. 7 at
Broward Center for the Arts.
This is the third production of “Book of Mormon” I’ve seen.
I feel it is the best. The singing, dancing and joke delivery are near perfect.
The script has been revised and tweaked in each subsequent touring company.
There is a new visual comedy bit at the very end that makes for a perfect
finale. I won’t give it away except to say it involves Arnold Cunningham (Chad
Burris), the shyer, less handsome “elder” who discovers he is a lot more
charismatic than he ever knew.
“Book of Mormon” is a satirical comedy aimed mostly at the
peculiarities of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Ladder-Day Saints. Original
church prophet Angel Moroni (Daxon Bloomquist) is an easy target. Supposedly
back in 362 A.D. God spoke to him directly and he engraved God’s instructions
on golden plates. The plates were buried in Upstate New York for safe-keeping.
There they remained until 1823, when they were discovered by Joseph Smith.
Smith allegedly translated the information into a book that became the Book of
Mormon. The church was formally opened in 1830 in New York. Smith was murdered
by an angry mob in 1844 and church leadership was taken over by Brigham Young
from 1844 until his death in 1877. All these characters are played for laughs,
including Jesus Christ. One of the oddest claims of the church is that Jesus
appeared to Moroni in the USA after his resurrection.
Ryan Price is requisitely handsome and charming as the
outgoing Elder Kevin Price. How can a 19-year-old boy be an “elder?” Never
mind.
Chubby Chad Burris is the scene-stealer as Elder Arnold Cunningham,
a guy who “makes things up,” but finds a way to communicate with the Ugandans,
where Price and Cunningham had been dispatched as missionaries. Among the natives
Arnold charms is Nabulungi (Candace Quarrels), daughter of the local Chief. The
most colorful character is a brutal, Idi Amin-style General we shall just call
BFN, powerfully played by David Aaron Damane.
There is a big production number on the African song “Hasa
Diga Eebowai” with a big punchline when the meaning is revealed.
“Book of Mormon” is the kind of show you can discover new
things on every viewing. It is no accident it won a whopping nine Tony Awards,
including Best Musical. If you don’t mind some foul language or pointed satire
at rigid religious ideas, you should enjoy it as much as I.
Tickets are $40-$150 at TicketMaster or the box office Call
954-462-0222 or go to www.browardcenter.org.
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