The Book of Mormon
Theatre Royal, Glasgow
16 November 2022
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
No one needs another review of The Book of Mormon, so I'll keep this brief.
It's Fantastic!
I first saw The Book of Mormon on Broadway in 2016. It was a very special birthday present and it remains the only show I've ever seen on Broadway. So I'm spoiled because I saw Nic Roleau play Elder Price and he was magnificent.
I then saw it for a second time at the Sunderland Empire just before Covid brought this UK tour to a halt. Now, finally The Book of Mormon has arrived in Glasgow for the first time and it was definitely worth the wait!!
This production is every bit as good as the one I saw on Broadway. And it's no wonder the 3 week run has completely sold out. The people of Glasgow have good taste.
In The Book of Mormon we join two young elders as they leave the safety of The Church of the Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City, Utah, and embark on their first mission to Uganda. The locals are not as welcoming as the white saviours had hoped! They are poor, depressed, short tempered, battling with Aids, a crazy General and the local wildlife. They have no time for God. Hilarity ensues!
There is not a dud song in the whole show. From the opening number 'Hello' the trademark wit from Parker & Stone is evident. The musical numbers are epic and there are more than a few showstoppers. The delightfully stagey 'Turn it off' will forever be a crowd pleaser. 'Man Up' is comic genius and 'Spooky Mormon Hell Dream' is a surreal musical theatre joy.
The cast on a whole are excellent but there are a few real stand out performances:
Conner Peirson is hands down the best Elder Cunningham I have seen. Every movement, every facial expression was perfect. Give him all the awards! Jordan Lee Davies is divine as tortured soul Elder McKinley (& others). He is so painfully funny, an extraordinary performer - I could watch him all day. Aviva Tulley has a beautiful voice and makes for a gorgeous Nabulungi.
The Book of Mormon is wickedly funny, outrageous, and definitely not for the easily offended! It's unbelievable what they get away with. But it's the complete package and one of the best shows I've ever seen.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
[Review first posted on Instagram 18 November 2022]
The Book of Mormon (musical) review, UK Tour, Glasgow 2022
📸 Find Lisa in the Theatre on Instagram