Thursday, March 31, 2011
Mormons Try to Relish the Broadway Big Time, Even When It Brings a Cringe
NYTimes.com: "The house lights came up and it was intermission at “The Book of Mormon,” the new Broadway musical about a pair of innocent young Mormon missionaries sent to Uganda to spread the faith. John Dehlin, a graduate student who flew in from Utah to see the show with a group of Mormons from around the country, was still riveted to his theater seat, having flashbacks.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
7 comments:
I remember hearing something by Parker and Stone about why they decided to use satire. Satire shocks and offends people but there's value, in being offended you are examining what you believe in. If you are not offended by anything, what do you cherish true?
While I don't think this is the real reason for their comedy there's some truth to it. The audience member who found it assuring that a spoof on Mormon Church was on Broadway has a point. Though I don't think the Mormon Church is widely accepted in America, parody is pop culture. Not that odd to see Mormon Church okay with this.
The different responses the show has received from the Mormon community according to the article is pretty fascinating. As I walked in expecting to see a show that will display the Mormon beliefs with only ridicule and nothing else (like the South Park episode), I was surprised by how toned down it was. And *spoiler alert* how the Ugandan converts interpreted the story simply as a metaphor to live a better life was touching. And I do respect the Mormons who go in to see the show with an open view.
I think its great that the Mormon community is being so ok with this show. I think that its a real credit to them and honestly their maturity that they can accept this show. One goer says it best with, “and when you want to be a mainstream religion you open yourself up to mainstream criticism." I think thats incredibly smart to turn it into something more positive, even though it isnt really negative. I feel like the Church itself was completely professional in advising its following to turn the other cheek. I am interested how the sun of this show will go, and I hope that it continues to get the same support from its viewers.
I think it's great that Mormons are proving their strength and intelligence by braving the storm and refusing to have protests over all the scrutiny and mocking they consistently receive.It is also interesting that they compared their struggles with the Catholic Church, an establishment that is for some reason taken more seriously. With this musical, I agree that now that they are becoming more maintstream, they are willing to accept the mainstream criticism they must also take along the way.
When I first heard that this project was headed for Broadway I was fearful that it wouldn't survive and it would be offensive akin to the previous work of Matt Stone and Trey Parker. When I saw the show over spring break that was not the case, it was bak-handedly complimentary to the Mormon church and sent a positive message which I did not expect it all. I feel like this is good for the longevity of the show and I'm surprised that mormons are okay with it.
I also find it great that the Mormon Church and its members are taking this so well. They must admit that the musical does have some truth to it, considering the way it "hit close to home" for an ex-missionary. So, why wouldn't they just use it as a means to publicize for their own good? It makes sense. They are being smart in taking this opportunity, and are presenting themselves in a positive light. They could be doing the very opposite and staging ugly protests, but where would that get them? I think we could all look at this as an example of how to gracefully take criticism--and the fact that's it okay to let people poke fun at you. The show seems to be written with no malicious intent, and I think that the reaction of the Mormon Church is highly appropriate, and very tactful.
I like how they saw it as Mormonism is finally taken seriously enough to not be taken seriously at all. It's reached the mainstream just as christianity and Judaism and can now be mocked just the same. That's actually one of the things that allows South Park to get away with their jokes, equal mockery. I ran into a cop while in NYC over spring break and when I told him I was seeing Book of Mormon that night he warned me that they were expecting riots and protests and that cops were always standing by prepared for anything that might spark around that show. But there was no negativity anywhere near the show. I even spoke to a mormon fellow who said the general mindset of the mormons was to just laugh it off. I respected that a lot and was glad he could enjoy the show too.
Post a Comment