REVIEW: “The Book of Mormon”, Theatre Royal, Glasgow

Kenny Smith enjoys The Book of Mormon at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow.

THE Book of Mormon is one of those shows you’ll see advertised on the Tube in London, and hear people rave about.

Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the minds behind adult cartoon smash South Park, and Frozen composer Robert Lopez, this is a production with no sacred cows. Indeed, if there were cows in it, they’d no doubt be slaughtered in front of the audience, slices up into steaks, and barbecued before the crowd’s eyes.

Cards on the table – I’m  a huge fan of South Park, and have been since it first launched (not just because I share a first name with one of the regulars. I, however, have less of a tendency to die than him), so I was always going to love this show.

Simple summing up – two newly-graduated elders from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saint are sent to preach to the inhabitants of a Ugandan mission, and try to convert them to their faith. They, however, have little interest, more concerned with AIDS, famine, female genital mutilation, and the oncoming danger from a militant general. They’re more interested in singing their song Hasa Diga Eebowai (it’s very rude). It had me struggling to breathe, as I was laughing so much, and the tears were rolling down my face.

Elder Kevin Price begins to lose his faith, whilst his colleague, the socially-awkward Elder Arnold Cunningham, befriends a village girl Nabulungi (whose name he never quite gets right, dubbing her Nutella, Nicki Minaj, and Nicola Sturgeon, amongst many other things). Desperate to impress her, he distorts the teachings of Mormon, and adds in his own references – including frogs that can cure AIDS, Darth Vader, and Boba Fett, amongst others – to impress. Before long, the whole village is converted, which impresses church leaders in America.

Elder Price has a trip to Mormon Hell (another outstanding number, brilliantly realised on stage – it’s very much a regular South Park trope – a trip to Hell with Satan and his minions, including Hitler and Jeffrey Dahmer), before the villagers put on an incredible number, telling the story of Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Again, I was struggling to breathe as I was laughing so much.

If you’re someone who likes a cynical look at life and religion, this is very much the show for you. All taboos are absolutely addressed head-on, in an over-the-top manner.

Oh, and I bought a cuddly frog on my way out.

The Book of Mormon is at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow until Saturday 26 November.

Plus, read more news and reviews on Scottish Field’s culture pages, including Grant Dickie’s review of The Book of Mormon in Edinburgh.