Wizard on Broadway part 3 -- Book of Mormon Review
September 18th, 2011 at 8:47:45 AM
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This was originally going to be one long post, but it ran so long I'm going to break it into three pieces. Here is part three on the musical The Book of Mormon.
The Book of Mormon is a musical comedy by the creators of South Park. It has a lot of similarities to their episode All About Mormons, which another forum member linked to the thread Let me say something nice about religion, for once.
The musical opens in missionary training as the trainees rehearse their opening doorbell pitch and then are assigned partners and locations for their missions. In Odd Couple style, the high-strung and ambitious Elder Price is matched with obnoxious and sloppy Elder Cunningham. Then they are assigned a mission in Uganda. The missionaries already there have had no success at all, but maybe some new blood will stir things up. That is about as far as I should go without giving away too much.
Much like the South Park episode, they cut away to scenes from the life of Joseph Smith various times, as they explain the basics of the faith. So, at the least, you'll learn something. The musical buff I think will notice many jokes parodying other musicals, especially the Lion King.
To get the review -- I LOVED IT!!! I was enjoying myself from beginning to end. It was bitterly funny and most of the musical numbers were the simple upbeat melody-driven kinds that I like. If you have any chance to see the original New York production going on now, by all means, try to do so. I can't imagine anyone else in the two main roles. Not that the entire case wasn't fantastic. The moral of the whole story is nothing that hasn't been said before by skeptics, but it does it in a very humorous and witty manner.
I think any review will issue a warning that the material can get heavy at times. At one point somebody was shot in the head, although they turned off the lights momentarily for that part. There are lots of references to everything from female circumcision, to maggot-infested testicles, to having sex with babies. I would use great discretion before taking kids under the age of 16 or so, depending on their maturity level. Don't let that get you down. It is still an entertaining and happy show overall.
The Book of Mormon is a musical comedy by the creators of South Park. It has a lot of similarities to their episode All About Mormons, which another forum member linked to the thread Let me say something nice about religion, for once.
The musical opens in missionary training as the trainees rehearse their opening doorbell pitch and then are assigned partners and locations for their missions. In Odd Couple style, the high-strung and ambitious Elder Price is matched with obnoxious and sloppy Elder Cunningham. Then they are assigned a mission in Uganda. The missionaries already there have had no success at all, but maybe some new blood will stir things up. That is about as far as I should go without giving away too much.
Much like the South Park episode, they cut away to scenes from the life of Joseph Smith various times, as they explain the basics of the faith. So, at the least, you'll learn something. The musical buff I think will notice many jokes parodying other musicals, especially the Lion King.
To get the review -- I LOVED IT!!! I was enjoying myself from beginning to end. It was bitterly funny and most of the musical numbers were the simple upbeat melody-driven kinds that I like. If you have any chance to see the original New York production going on now, by all means, try to do so. I can't imagine anyone else in the two main roles. Not that the entire case wasn't fantastic. The moral of the whole story is nothing that hasn't been said before by skeptics, but it does it in a very humorous and witty manner.
I think any review will issue a warning that the material can get heavy at times. At one point somebody was shot in the head, although they turned off the lights momentarily for that part. There are lots of references to everything from female circumcision, to maggot-infested testicles, to having sex with babies. I would use great discretion before taking kids under the age of 16 or so, depending on their maturity level. Don't let that get you down. It is still an entertaining and happy show overall.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
September 18th, 2011 at 2:26:35 PM
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Thanks for the review. Already it is being called the best musical of the century. I hope to get a chance to see it, but the hype doens't seem to be close to dying down.
"Dice, verily, are armed with goads and driving-hooks, deceiving and tormenting, causing grievous woe." -Rig Veda 10.34.4
September 18th, 2011 at 2:37:22 PM
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Quote: teddysThanks for the review. Already it is being called the best musical of the century. I hope to get a chance to see it, but the hype doens't seem to be close to dying down.
People love laughing at other peoples religions,
and the Mormon's have always been easy targets.
When the play first came out, the Mormons were
overly critical of it. Now that its a hit and they know
they can't stop it, the official line from Salt Lake is:
"The production may attempt to entertain audiences
for an evening, but the Book of Mormon as a volume
of scripture will change people’s lives forever by
bringing them closer to Christ."
The key word is 'attempt'. Some Mormons hate it
and some love it. The rest of us just like laughing at
them, they are a comical religion, after all..
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
September 18th, 2011 at 4:15:56 PM
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Woo hoo! I'm THOROUGHLY glad you got the chance to see Book of Mormon. As a musical theater snob, I will say that BOM is one of the smartest scores out there. I'm afraid that it may become a pedestrian musical (a la Rent, Wicked, Phantom), but the music really reaches different levels for different people. Wizard enjoyed it because of its simple and fun tunes and lyrics; I, on the other hand, appreciate it's complex choral structure and how nearly every song pays homage to Broadway shows before it. It's also the first book musical in a long time that is based on a completely original idea, as opposed to being based on a movie or, well I guess that's about what all musicals are based on these days.
Andy, excuse me, Andrew Rannells was a performer in Omaha, Nebraska, where I originally hail from. I did not know him personally, but he was in a lot of community theater productions in the area. It's nice to see a local boy get such a big part (although I remember him having pitch problems, something he had on the Tony broadcast as well).
I have not had the chance to see the show, but intend to at the first opportunity. As the Wizard mentioned, it IS NOT FOR EVERYBODY!!! But if you can get past the language and tough situations (all of which, sadly, exist in Africa), it's an inspiring show. And the music is HILARIOUS!!!
Andy, excuse me, Andrew Rannells was a performer in Omaha, Nebraska, where I originally hail from. I did not know him personally, but he was in a lot of community theater productions in the area. It's nice to see a local boy get such a big part (although I remember him having pitch problems, something he had on the Tony broadcast as well).
I have not had the chance to see the show, but intend to at the first opportunity. As the Wizard mentioned, it IS NOT FOR EVERYBODY!!! But if you can get past the language and tough situations (all of which, sadly, exist in Africa), it's an inspiring show. And the music is HILARIOUS!!!
"One out of every four people are [morons]"- Kyle, South Park
September 18th, 2011 at 5:15:34 PM
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Tiltpoul, I owe you a lot of thanks, as your recommendation in the this post strongly motivated me to see it. Maybe I would have seen it anyway, but without your stamp of approval I might not have tried so hard to get a ticket, which I needed to do.
Since you are familiar with the music, do you think the opening number was based on the The Telephone Hour from Bye Bye Birdie? With many of the numbers I felt that I heard something similar somewhere in the past, but just couldn't place it. I'd love to see a song by song commentary about where influences may have been drawn from.
Andrew Rannells was magnificent. As I mentioned in the thread linked to above, I've spent hours chatting with Mormon missionaries, and the actor does a brilliant job at capturing the nice, yet cocky, attitude they usually seem to have. I was hoping to meet some of the cast after the show, but the friend I went with was dying to get outside for a smoke. In the off chance you ever run into him, please express my praise.
Since you are familiar with the music, do you think the opening number was based on the The Telephone Hour from Bye Bye Birdie? With many of the numbers I felt that I heard something similar somewhere in the past, but just couldn't place it. I'd love to see a song by song commentary about where influences may have been drawn from.
Andrew Rannells was magnificent. As I mentioned in the thread linked to above, I've spent hours chatting with Mormon missionaries, and the actor does a brilliant job at capturing the nice, yet cocky, attitude they usually seem to have. I was hoping to meet some of the cast after the show, but the friend I went with was dying to get outside for a smoke. In the off chance you ever run into him, please express my praise.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
September 18th, 2011 at 5:18:09 PM
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Quote: WizardTiltpoul, I owe you a lot of thanks, as your recommendation in the this post strongly motivated me to see it.
Don Imus is always raving about BOM, but his
sports guy is a strict Xtion and won't see it because
he heard there is something offensive in the very
first scene.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
September 18th, 2011 at 5:59:22 PM
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Quote: WizardTiltpoul, I owe you a lot of thanks, as your recommendation in the this post strongly motivated me to see it. Maybe I would have seen it anyway, but without your stamp of approval I might not have tried so hard to get a ticket, which I needed to do.
Since you are familiar with the music, do you think the opening number was based on the The Telephone Hour from Bye Bye Birdie? With many of the numbers I felt that I heard something similar somewhere in the past, but just couldn't place it. I'd love to see a song by song commentary about where influences may have been drawn from.
I will give you a rundown of every song and the homage it pays tribute to... None of these are really "parodies" but there are definitely hints of songs.
1) Hello! - "Company (The opening number), COMPANY (Sondheim) *I could see where you get Telephone Hour, but that's more of a call/answer song, as opposed to a multiple line, multiple happening song.
2) Two By Two - The tags "Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints" is remeniscient of tags found in 50s and 60s musicals.
3) You And Me (But Mostly Me) - "Defying Gravity", WICKED (Schwartz)
4) Hasa Diga Eebowai - Combination of "We Dance," ONCE ON THIS ISLAND (Flaherty/Ahrens) and "Hakuna Matata" LION KING
5) Turn It Off - No number specifically, but a combination of large performance numbers of the 1940s (like Blow, Gabriel Blow)
6) I Am Here For You - Not sure...
7) All-American Prophet - JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR/JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING... (Lloyd Webber)
8) Sal Tlay Ka Siti - "Somewhere That's Green/Part of Their World" - LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS/LITTLE MERMAID (Menken)
9) Man Up - No number specifically, but brings up all the other themes, commonly found in musicals of 1970s and 80s Rock musical
10) Making Things Up Again - I've never been able to place this one... Incidentally, one of my favorites in the show
11) Spooky Mormon Hell Dream - The choral structure follows Opera choruses, found in FAUST among others
12) I Believe - Power ballad, like "Corner of the Sky" PIPPIN (Schwartz) *See my commentary in a following post*
13) Baptize Me - Power duet, similar to "Suddenly, Seymour" (Menken) or "Without Love" HAIRSPRAY (Shaimann)
14) I Am Africa - An anthem song, I can't think of one while I'm scrolling through the iPod... it will come to me, watch for edit
15) Joseph Smith, American Moses - This takes African tribal music and makes it SUPER inappropriate
16) Tomorrow Is A Latter Day - A traditional closer, meant to have you dance out like "You Can't Stop the Beat" HAIRSPRAY... these are not found in as many older musicals, but are now common in the movie musical concept
Of course, when needing to type these out, I go blank. I'll ask my dad and will edit later. My musical block went up, and when I relax, I'll be fine.
Quote: WizardAndrew Rannells was magnificent. As I mentioned in the thread linked to above, I've spent hours chatting with Mormon missionaries, and the actor does a brilliant job at capturing the nice, yet cocky, attitude they usually seem to have. I was hoping to meet some of the cast after the show, but the friend I went with was dying to get outside for a smoke. In the off chance you ever run into him, please express my praise.
I don't know him personally; I know a LOT of people who worked with him in Omaha, and I'm sure I saw him in some shows in Omaha. But that would have been years ago... we are a few years apart, so we probably have mutual acquaintances. It seems like that would be a good part for him.
"One out of every four people are [morons]"- Kyle, South Park
September 18th, 2011 at 6:09:24 PM
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Quote: Tiltpoul
12) I Believe - Power ballad, like "Corner of the Sky" PIPPIN (Schwartz) *See my commentary in a following post*
I don't really care for this song. I want a power ballad to have lyrics that support the beat of the tune. The lines in the C-line of the chorus tend to be a bit forced. I know this is for laughs, but for this song, I don't need the laughs. I want it to be a song about a Mormon who TRULY believes in some of the crazy things... but I don't need to know the crazy things at that particular moment. My dad and I have argued about this a lot, but to me, the impact is just not there.
He doesn't like Spooky Mormon Hell Dream, which is one of my favorites, simply because of the choral structure. He likes Baptize Me, which I'm not wild about. We both love the opener, and most of the First Act.
"One out of every four people are [morons]"- Kyle, South Park
September 18th, 2011 at 6:34:31 PM
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I'm upset that there is no audio or video of the play on the official website. The interview with the daily show is pretty funny and says a lot about the production.
September 18th, 2011 at 6:39:31 PM
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From BOM:
I Believe - Andrew Rannells
Turn It Off
Two by Two
I Believe - Andrew Rannells
Turn It Off
Two by Two
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
September 18th, 2011 at 10:25:56 PM
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After listening to the lyrics to half a dozen
songs, what they've done is lampoon the
religion by highlighting the quirky and nuttier
aspects of it. Some of them are quite sad
and destructive, like turning off your emotions
and burying them, instead of dealing with it.
This leads to suicides quite often, and worse,
people 'going postal' sometimes.
The songs are very funny, but then I've always
thought the whole religion to be bonkers.
songs, what they've done is lampoon the
religion by highlighting the quirky and nuttier
aspects of it. Some of them are quite sad
and destructive, like turning off your emotions
and burying them, instead of dealing with it.
This leads to suicides quite often, and worse,
people 'going postal' sometimes.
The songs are very funny, but then I've always
thought the whole religion to be bonkers.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
October 11th, 2012 at 1:20:42 PM
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Quote: EvenBobAfter listening to the lyrics to half a dozen songs, what they've done is lampoon the religion by highlighting the quirky and nuttier aspects of it.
- I must be completely devout, I can not have one shred of doubt.
- I believe ancient Jews built boats and sailed to American.
- I believe God has a plan for all of us ... involves me getting my own planet
- I am a Mormon, dang it, a Mormon just believes
- I believe that in 1978 God changed his mind about black people
- I believe that God is on a planet called Kolob
- I believe that Jesus has his own planet as well
-
I believe that the Garden of Eden was in Jackson County Missouri.
Considering how much they research, I have to believe that the lines in the song are based on something in real life. Does anyone know where they came from?
A friend of mine became a Greek Orthodox Priest. At seminary he told me that there was a reason that if you put all the "pieces of the true cross from relics together" you would have enough wood to build a hundred crosses. The reason was that the wood was shown to be organic, although it grew very slowly. After 2000 years it had multiplied a hundred fold.
Since he was a very intelligent man, I always wondered why he had to believe absolutely every story in order to maintain his faith. It doesn't seem logical that you can't pick and choose from some of the more unbelievable concepts. I think you could have faith without necessarily believing that Methuselah literally lived until he was nearly a thousand years old.
October 11th, 2012 at 1:27:44 PM
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All 100% correct if you believe Mormon cosmology/theology/alternative history.Quote: pacomartin
- I must be completely devout, I can not have one shred of doubt.
- I believe ancient Jews built boats and sailed to American.
- I believe God has a plan for all of us ... involves me getting my own planet
- I am a Mormon, dang it, a Mormon just believes
- I believe that in 1978 God changed his mind about black people
- I believe that God is on a planet called Kolob
- I believe that Jesus has his own planet as well
- I believe that the Garden of Eden was in Jackson County Missouri.
"Dice, verily, are armed with goads and driving-hooks, deceiving and tormenting, causing grievous woe." -Rig Veda 10.34.4
October 11th, 2012 at 1:51:12 PM
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Here's a start.
http://dwindlinginunbelief.blogspot.com/2011/06/mormon-just-believes.html?m=1
http://dwindlinginunbelief.blogspot.com/2011/06/mormon-just-believes.html?m=1
“Man Babes” #AxelFabulous
October 12th, 2012 at 7:54:44 AM
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I have tickets to see Book of Mormon in Seattle in January. i'm expecting to bust a gut.
October 12th, 2012 at 12:24:24 PM
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Hasa Diga Ebowai!
Vote for Nobody 2020!
October 12th, 2012 at 12:35:12 PM
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Excuse me sir, you really shouldn't be saying that. Thing's are not always as bad as they seem.
October 12th, 2012 at 1:54:47 PM
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I saw B.O.M. about a month back at the Pantages in Los Angeles. Several groups of people walked out after the "F*** You God!" number. I was told by an usher that this happens just about every show.
I was underwhelmed, but maybe I was not the right person to judge. I came in with a bias. I listen to channel 72 almost every day on Sirius FM (the Broadway channel). I have the CD for B.O.M. and knew the songs quite well before going to the performance. I watched everything I could in advance on Youtube before going. Because of that, almost nothing was a surprise.
B.O.M. came off as a bunch of weak bathroom humor with overly clever songs. Many of the South Park plots are more compelling (e.g. the Scientology episode). After a while, the main character is just annoying. The dramatic idea that the fool becomes the prophet dates back centuries in theater (e.g. King Lear). The point that religion is just a bunch of made up stuff to keep people from confronting their existential meaninglessness, well, that one dates back a few years as well.
There was nothing current about this musical. There was very little that made it today's message. There was almost nothing about it that was uplifting (like Les Mis) or unequivocally dark (like Sweeney Todd). B.O.M. to me is on the same level as Spamalot. Slapstick and gross. I enjoyed B.O.M. the same way I used to enjoy watching a Jerry Lewis movie as a kid. The fool embarrassing the establishment plot.
I'm not saying you shouldn't see B.O.M. But, it's never going to make it to "classic" status. Not even close.
I was underwhelmed, but maybe I was not the right person to judge. I came in with a bias. I listen to channel 72 almost every day on Sirius FM (the Broadway channel). I have the CD for B.O.M. and knew the songs quite well before going to the performance. I watched everything I could in advance on Youtube before going. Because of that, almost nothing was a surprise.
B.O.M. came off as a bunch of weak bathroom humor with overly clever songs. Many of the South Park plots are more compelling (e.g. the Scientology episode). After a while, the main character is just annoying. The dramatic idea that the fool becomes the prophet dates back centuries in theater (e.g. King Lear). The point that religion is just a bunch of made up stuff to keep people from confronting their existential meaninglessness, well, that one dates back a few years as well.
There was nothing current about this musical. There was very little that made it today's message. There was almost nothing about it that was uplifting (like Les Mis) or unequivocally dark (like Sweeney Todd). B.O.M. to me is on the same level as Spamalot. Slapstick and gross. I enjoyed B.O.M. the same way I used to enjoy watching a Jerry Lewis movie as a kid. The fool embarrassing the establishment plot.
I'm not saying you shouldn't see B.O.M. But, it's never going to make it to "classic" status. Not even close.
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October 12th, 2012 at 3:19:51 PM
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What are your thoughts on the upcoming Les Mis movie? I saw a mini-documentary for it before Resident Evil. Looks to be a pretty big-time cast.Quote: teliotThere was almost nothing about it that was uplifting (like Les Mis) or unequivocally dark (like Sweeney Todd).
"Dice, verily, are armed with goads and driving-hooks, deceiving and tormenting, causing grievous woe." -Rig Veda 10.34.4
October 12th, 2012 at 3:54:30 PM
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I believe I saw the same mini-documentary. It highlighted the way the vocals were produced for the movie. The preview showed that the songs were sung live during the scenes rather than recorded in a studio and lip synced. I can't wait to see how that looks. Beginning with "Chicago" there have been a number of musicals made movie. Most have been entirely forgettable. Dream Girls (with the exception of one song). Momma Mia. Moulin Rouge. Sweeney Todd. I am hopeful that Les Mis will break through the mediocrity barrier.Quote: teddysWhat are your thoughts on the upcoming Les Mis movie? I saw a mini-documentary for it before Resident Evil. Looks to be a pretty big-time cast.
Based on early information, there are 3 Oscar contenders right now: The Master, Argo and Les Mis. I saw "The Master" and can hardly believe it wasn't universally panned.
Climate Casino: https://climatecasino.net/climate-casino/
October 12th, 2012 at 4:22:18 PM
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Quote: teliotThe preview showed that the songs were sung live during the scenes rather than recorded in a studio and lip synced. I can't wait to see how that looks..
I doubt very much that the final cut of the movie will not "blend" in some other vocals. I think that they will keep the spirit of the technique, but there is too much at stake not to blend in some other sounds. The singing while they are acting is only to the piano. The intention is to add the full orchestra later.
That said, at least they are trying to give it more realism. As one of the most popular musicals of all time, there is a lot riding on this movie. The advantage of the story is it set to a vivid realistic novel, which gives them a lot more to work with. I am surprised at how relatively weak the book is to most musicals.
For every successful movie version of a musical (like Chicago), there are half a dozen mediocre film adaptations of very popular musicals. Given the huge number of people who have seen Phantom of the Opera on stage, ( 130 million people in 145 cities in 27 countries by 2011), the 8 million movie tickets sold domestically and possibly three times as many overseas seems ridiculously small in comparison.
The nonmusical Les Miserables made 14 years ago with Liam Neeson, Geoffrey Rush, Uma Thurman, and Claire Danes sold only 3 million tickets.
October 12th, 2012 at 5:50:33 PM
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I am hoping for a Miss Saigon movie soon....
October 13th, 2012 at 4:13:52 PM
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Quote: pacomartinFor every successful movie version of a musical (like Chicago), there are half a dozen mediocre film adaptations of very popular musicals. Given the huge number of people who have seen Phantom of the Opera on stage, ( 130 million people in 145 cities in 27 countries by 2011), the 8 million movie tickets sold domestically and possibly three times as many overseas seems ridiculously small in comparison.
Phantom of the Opera is a stage musical that doesn't translate well to film. Most musicals do not translate well to the screen, even if the source material is from a movie (i.e. The Producers). Chicago and Hairspray, two of the more successful movie musicals in recent years, had significant changes made before the screen translation. Even in "ancient" history, Cabaret, Sound of Music and others had changes in the screen treatment.
Sweeney Todd is one of my favorite musicals, and while the movie is forgettable, it is a surprisingly good adaptation that isn't a direct filming of the movie. I think Les Mis will get a similar treatment, so hardcore fans will not care for it much.
"One out of every four people are [morons]"- Kyle, South Park
October 13th, 2012 at 4:23:19 PM
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I have confidence Les Mis will be a good film. It will be nice to see the musical on something other than a turntable.
October 13th, 2012 at 6:57:37 PM
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Quote: teliotI was underwhelmed, but maybe I was not the right person to judge. I came in with a bias. I listen to channel 72 almost every day on Sirius FM (the Broadway channel). I have the CD for B.O.M. and knew the songs quite well before going to the performance. I watched everything I could in advance on Youtube before going. Because of that, almost nothing was a surprise.
Sounds like you made every effort to spoil it for yourself. I imagine that works better for more complex less comedic venues.
There's no secret. Just know what you're talking about before you open your mouth.
October 14th, 2012 at 1:05:51 PM
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I haven't seen "The Master" (yet?) but Paul T. Anderson is very weird director. He made "There Will Be Blood," which was excellent and one of my all-time faves, and his first film was "Hard Eight," an underrated classic that every gambler should watch, but he's also made some solipistic crud like "Magnolia" (only liked the trivia scene with the kid) and "Punch Drunk Love" (awful).Quote: teliotBased on early information, there are 3 Oscar contenders right now: The Master, Argo and Les Mis. I saw "The Master" and can hardly believe it wasn't universally panned.
What about Cloud Atlas? Any Oscar buzz on that one, or is it getting "Heaven's Gate" advance press?
"Dice, verily, are armed with goads and driving-hooks, deceiving and tormenting, causing grievous woe." -Rig Veda 10.34.4
October 14th, 2012 at 8:22:10 PM
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Quote: teddysPaul T. Anderson ...also made some solipistic crud like "Magnolia" (only liked the trivia scene with the kid) and "Punch Drunk Love" (awful).
What about Cloud Atlas? Any Oscar buzz on that one, or is it getting "Heaven's Gate" advance press?
I actually took two years of philosophy, but I still had to look up solipsism.
Critics seem deeply divided on "Cloud Atlas". I'm betting nominations, but only technical awards.
