The Book of Mormon

The makers of South Park are famous (infamous?) for their willingness to poke fun at absolutely anything and everything. Hailing from Colorado, it is hardly any surprise that their gaze should settle upon the Mormon faith. In musical format, they poke fun at Mormonism but likewise show Mormons to be good and decent people.

The story opens with a musical number where young men in white shirts with black slacks and ties practice going door to door and telling about “a book that will change your life.” Elder Price and Elder Cunningham, two 19 year-olds, are paired and sent to Uganda. Kevin Price is very ambitious and was the top student in the class. He had hoped to be sent to Orlando, Florida, and certainly didn’t expect to be matched with the worst student, Arnold Cunningham. Arnold is a habitual liar – but in a good-natured sort of way – and generally an outcast; he had prayed to be partnered with Elder Price.

The pair arrives in a Ugandan village where they are immediately robbed of their luggage. They meet the villagers who have no hope and a very negative view of God. Ugandans lead a difficult life and they don’t see how a book is going to help. One of the best lines occurred here when the chief tells Elder Price that missionaries come regularly and achieve nothing. Price replies that it didn’t work because those were Christian missionaries.

Among the villagers is Nabulungi, the chief’s daughter, who shows some interest in what Elder Price has to say. However, by the time she convinces the village to listen to what he has to say, he has fled the scene in hopes of getting a transfer to Orlando and it is up to Arnold Cunningham to explain Mormonism; he has not read the Book of Mormon.

There are spots in the play where the foundation of Mormonism is explained, giving a brief outline of the religion. Two tribes had found their way to North America and prospered for many centuries though they fought one and other. Jesus had come to preach to them. Their civilization collapsed in the 5th Century though Mormon – a prophet of the Nephites – had recorded their history on golden plates that he entrusted to his son, Moroni, who buried them. Joseph Smith was told by Moroni (now an angel) to dig up the gold plates which were “conveniently” buried in his backyard. Joseph Smith translated the plates and thus Mormonism was born. Joseph Smith led his followers to the west, establishing colonies in Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois. However, many proved hostile to Mormons and Joseph Smith was shot to death, passing leadership to Brigham Young. Young led the Mormons to Utah, where they have flourished.

Though he hasn’t read the book, Arnold knows the basic outline. And yet, in order to spice it up and retain his audience, he changes some of the events and adds characters. Yes, somehow Darth Vader, Yoda, and hobbits are incorporated into the Mormon theology. All of his stories are customized to the specific problems of the Ugandans, such as AIDS, famine, female circumcision, and warlords. It proves popular and he converts the village to his brand of Mormonism. Church leaders, impressed by such success, come to discover how he did it.

 

The songs are generally very good. Elder Price’s had a great one where he declares that he and Arnold would achieve great things but it was going to be “Mostly Me.” Arnold had a song when he baptizes Nabulungi which had strong sexual connotations that made it funny on account of its awkwardness/inappropriateness. Nabulungi sang of her desire to go to the distant paradise of “Salt Lake City.” There is even a Hakuna Matata clone titled Hasa Diga Eebowai, though it doesn’t mean “no worries for the rest of your life.”

Another funny running gag was Arnold’s inability to remember Nabulungi’s name. He never uses the same wrong name twice; I particularly liked Neosporin, Neutrogena, and Nala (that is Simba’s girlfriend in The Lion King).

The biggest drawback of the show is the profanity and some of the puerile humor (Stone and Parker just can’t resist a poop joke). However, it is entertaining to see the shock value that has on the Mormon characters and thus provides a stark contrast between Mormon and non-Mormon. Unlike in some of their other work, the profanity actually has a useful purpose here.

Of particular interest, there was an ad in the Playbill from the Mormon Church that stated “The Book is always better.” That is awesome. It speaks volumes and further reflects well on Mormons. I look forward to a similar ad in the musical version of “The Koran.”