Although by no means do I wish to ever trade in my memories of seeing The Book of Mormon for the first time – the first weekend of its Australian premiere in front-row seats with some of the biggest superfans I could ever imagine – I must admit I wish I could capture those moments again. It features the comedy stylings of South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone – meaning what they can get away with (still tastefully) is hard for any other writer to match – and the music, book and lyrics by the duo with Robert Lopez (Avenue Q) are a match made in heaven. More than half a decade since the inaugural national tour, Jones Theatrical Group has brought the musical out Down Under once again. And after requiring an encore season during its first run in ANZ, audiences can once again follow the story of Mormon missionaries Elder Price and Elder Cunningham as they face the trials, tribulations, and heartwarming moments on their mission to Uganda. But does it match the highs of the first national tour? And is there enough to warrant seeing the production again if you have already seen it? Read on to find out!
The Book of Mormon follows two young missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: the aspirational yet egotistical Elder Kevin Price and the pop-culture-loving space cadet Elder Arnold Cunningham. Freshly trained and improbably paired, much to the chagrin of the former, the duo is sent on a mission to Uganda, where they arrive in a decrepit village suffering under a fearsome warlord, an HIV/AIDS outbreak, and famine, among other hardships. Can the pair overcome their differences and succeed in their mission? The story that unfolds is far from what the upbeat opening number “Hello!” might lead you to expect, and though the tone darkens quickly, the show never stops leaving you chuckling in your seat and wanting more.
If it is your first time, you could very well be like I was, in almost painful fits of laughter many times throughout the two-and-a-half-hour runtime, as the absurd juxtaposes with clever comedic writing and a backdrop that, in all frankness, is harrowing to think about. The opening night audience I was along for the ride with this week definitely reflected that perspective. Yet for those returning, I found the span between national tours proved to be a perfect sweet spot. While there are only a few completely new inclusions – a particular mention being a fresh, timely inclusion in “Spooky Mormon Hell Dream” – the familiar material hits well a second, third or – in my case – sixth time around with that break.
What is a musical without its music? The Book of Mormon’s soundtrack continues to earn its reputation as being both musically and comedically competent. There is a huge amount of variety on offer, from the pre-interval anthem “Man Up”, which remains one of my favourites, best described as a rock equivalent of Les Misérables’ “One Day More”. You also have the genuinely beautiful “Sal Tlay Ka Siti” and the gleefully shocking “Hasa Diga Eebowai“, an upbeat number that says the unsayable with a grin, and is an exemplar of what The Book of Mormon can present, which few other musicals could do. Every song has something to like about it, whether it’s the comedy-laden lyrics, the antics of the characters delivering them, or a surprise scene change that lands like a punchline. And even after multiple visits, the score hasn’t lost an ounce of its sparkle: the jokes still hit, and the melodies still lodge themselves in your head for days.
What we have discussed so far has been the foundational structure of The Book of Mormon. What about its new Australian cast? Filling the shoes of Elder Price is local-born Sean Johnston, who captures the egotistical, proud spirit of his character perfectly and draws well on his history in musical theatre to make the more traditional lead work nicely. Then you have Nick Cox as Elder Cunningham. With the role originally played on Broadway by the iconic Josh Gad, it’s always felt like other actors have stayed pretty true to his interpretation. Cox broke from that mould just a little bit. His performance wasn’t just a delight to watch; it felt genuinely natural – as if he wasn’t so much acting as playing, letting himself shine in the role. He was easily my favourite Elder Cunningham, and I plan on booking tickets to see him again.
The rest of the principal cast in the Australian tour of The Book of Mormon is also of a high calibre. Paris Leveque shines as Nabulungi, while Luke Habercht delivers a fun performance as fabulous Elder McKinley. One of my main disappointments involved Bert Labonté in the role of Mafala Hatimbi – though not because he gave a bad performance – far from it. Rather, I found myself enjoying his vocals in ‘Hasa Diga Eebowai‘ so much that I wished the character had another number later in the show. Instead, Mafala drifts into the background in the second act. Furthermore, every lyric landed crisp and clear. It did not have the issue seen in some other musicals, where there is an imbalance between the vocals and the music audio levels. I have noticed this factor has been consistent with the few productions I have seen so far in QPAC’s new Glasshouse Theatre compared to the Lyric Theatre. But either way, flawless to the ears!
That covers the cast – but what about the stagecraft holding The Book of Mormon all together? The production elements of this tour are polished to a shine. Scott Pask’s set frames the entire evening within a temple-spired proscenium before whisking us from the squeaky-clean world of the missionaries to the dust and rust of the Ugandan village where most of the show takes place. Brian MacDevitt’s lighting is just as enjoyable, from the impromptu rock-concert treatment of ‘Man Up‘ and the lurid reds and fog drenching ‘Spooky Mormon Hell Dream‘ are just two of many moments where the lighting does discreet yet powerful heavy lifting.
This brings me back to where we began. I opened this review confessing I wished I could capture my first The Book of Mormon experience all over again – and while nothing will ever quite match that front-row weekend, this tour comes closer than I thought possible, with Cox’s Cunningham even handing me something entirely new to treasure. So, to answer my own questions: yes, it matches the highs of the first national tour, and yes, it is more than worth seeing again if you are pondering another ticket. What Jones Theatrical Group has brought to the stage a near flawlessly delivered production of one of the funniest musicals ever written. Whether you are a returning superfan or a curious newcomer, *ding dong*, the missionaries are at your door. Let them in.
Final Score for The Book of Mormon’s Australian National Tour
We would like to acknowledge Jones Theatrical Group and Jessica Bendell Publicity for tickets to attend the opening night performance of The Book of Mormon. Ticketing information for the Brisbane and upcoming Perth and Adelaide seasons of The Book of Mormon can be found on the production’s official website.
