BIRMINGHAM’S Alexandra Theatre certainly offers something different this Yuletide from the panto-mania and carol concerts usually seen at this time of year.
Its ‘offering’ comes in the form of ‘The Book of Mormon’ which runs at the venue until December 28.
I had never seen this show before and it is not for the easily-offended.
But, in its defence, this production is pretty indiscriminative – yes, it does mock and ridicule religion and the Mormon movement, but it also mocks and ridicules almost everything else. And there lies its attraction. No subject is off-limits – it sometimes takes stereotyping to new levels.
If you cannot have a laugh at subjects usually considered serious, stay at home or book yourself in to watch a panto or traditional Christmas production.
The show is delivered by a highly talented cast – they need to be able to sing, dance and deliver comedic lines and will – and this one does just that. They were faultless.
The story centres on prodigy Elder Price and hapless Elder Cunningham who get tasked with journeying to Uganda to convert the locals to The Book of Mormon.
Things do not turn out as they seem and we get an unlikely hero.
It is hard to pick out the top performers in this show as everyone literally plays their part.
Adam Price as the ‘it’s all about me’ Elder Price is excellent, as is Sam Glen as ‘compulsive liar’ Cunningham. They work so well together on stage and you feel an affitinty with both of them and the positions they find themselves in. Both are also wonderful in their delivery, whether it is in their comedy timing, solo performances on their respective songs and with the dance moves.
Nyah Nish as Nabulungi is also stunning on the stage. Again you feel for her and her ‘people’ wanting out of the hand they have been dealt. She gave the most impressive vocal performances of the night – she was pitch-perfect.
Musical highlights included Cunnignham’s ‘Man Up’ and Price’s ‘You and Me (But Mostly Me)’.
The rest of the cast were also faultless – Tom Bales (Moroni / Elder McKinley), Will Barratt (Price’s dad, prophet Joseph Smith and the Mission President) and others.
Kirk Patterson also got plenty of laughs as Mafala Hatimbi and his biggest issue of having ‘maggots in his scrotum’ – that shows you the level we are at with this production. It is not for the faint-hearted.
The set was also impressive, switching from an airport to hell, the Mormon’s base and haven and even Hell.
All in all, this show had people roaring and crying with laughter but – if we are going to be honest – it is not that festive.
If you want a regular Christmas, book a panto or a family fun extravaganza (there’s plenty of them about at this time of the year), if you want something different and a fantastically good non-PC, not easily-offended laugh and a bit of a Micky-take, book this now. You will not be disappointed.
The Book of Mormon runs at Birmingham’s Alexandra Theatre until December 28.
Click here for times, tickets and more information.
https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/the-book-of-mormon/the-alexandra-theatre-birmingham/
