It’s the rare musical that can shock and offend, yet leave you with a silly smile on your face. Throw in tales of faith, some rock-solid show tunes plus razzle dazzle choreography, and there’s ample reason to open the door to “The Book of Mormon.”
Thursday, February 23, 2017
Stage review: 'Book of Mormon' continues mission to entertain
It’s the rare musical that can shock and offend, yet leave you with a silly smile on your face. Throw in tales of faith, some rock-solid show tunes plus razzle dazzle choreography, and there’s ample reason to open the door to “The Book of Mormon.”
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Love reading about the success of Book of Mormon in Pittsburgh. In sound class yesterday we actually met the A2 for the show and got his perspective and stories from working on the show. One of the things which surprised me the most was that he was only given three weeks to learn the show, and the more we talked the more complicated his job appeared to be. We watched a video of the mixer before him during "Spooky Mormon Hell Dream" and followed along in the marked script and the speed of the song and his hands on the board was mesmerizing. We also learned that it is his job to manage the frequencies of the microphones with the local frequencies in use by TV stations, police, taxis, etc. It goes to show that tours run into really unique problems compared to Broadway shows, and that the crew and cast changes throughout the chaos.
I was drawn to this article after having the A2 for this production having had just come in on Thursday to talk to us about his work on the show and to tell us the insights and difficulties that come with working in the audio and sound department on a touring production. We were able to see things like the script he uses with the process for how he takes notes and writes cues out for the show, along with a video that showed someone mixing one of the most difficult musical numbers in the show. The amount of precision and dexterity that was executed was beyond comprehension. I feel like when it comes to more comedic or light hearted shows people forget the intensity that still goes into making it run every night. This article makes me more curious to learn more about what working on a touring production is like, and how the lifestyle of the jobs differentiate because of the implications of being on a touring production vs staying in one house for the duration of a run.
Like Taylor, I also read this article because of meeting the A2 on the show in our sound stagecraft class yesterday. Watching the videos of the A1 mix the show and seeing the mixing script was an amazing experience. I never realized how involved of a process mixing a show is. It truly looked as if the A1 was playing an instrument. I also loved seeing all of the microphone rigs that have been used over the course of the run. Also, hearing about how mic channels and how it changes in each different city gave me a better understanding of how sound technology works. I’m thrilled that people are still enjoying Book of Mormon. It great that even its third time in a city, it attracts people to see the show and engages them. This speaks to how amazing of a show it is, that people are still going and loving it.
I was also in sound stagecraft class when Jeff came in to talk about being an A2 on Book of Mormon. Like Katherine mentioned, he had an impressively short amount of time to join the show, but it was really cool to hear about the process: practicing at home, then just watching the A1 during the show, then starting on simpler songs and adding more songs until he reached Spooky Mormon Hell Dream and Hello, which he said were the hardest. It was also really interesting to hear him talk about the dynamic he has with the designer he normally works with and the A1 who he originally worked with on Book of Mormon. I was surprised that he has paints and markers in his tool kit to disguise microphones. It seems like an obvious thing, but I guess I always assumed that the costume designer has to deal with that if it bothered them. He was a great guest speaker.
I love Book of Mormon, but this article confused me a little. I couldn't decide if it was a summary of the plot, a marketing tool, or a critical review. It seemed very "This show is great and everyone should see it!" without much justification. I do think the point that the audiences really know what they're getting into now as opposed to perhaps the first or second time is a good one. I remember a year or so ago when my Grandmother mentioned that she thought she would like to go see it, met with a series of "that is definitely not a good idea"s from the rest of our family. I think now it is less of a shock or controversial factor and much more just pure funny entertainment, which might explain the tone and contents of this article, though there is definitely some R-rated not suitable for all audience members.
I am seeing the Book of Mormon tonight! I am so so excited. I haven't seen this show in a while and it's one of my favorites, so I was very excited to see that the tour would be stopping in Pittsburgh. I think the Book of Mormon gets a bad reputation, which is something I babbled on about in my last Book of Mormon comment, and is something I'll babble about again today. Yes this show has some content that may be offensive to some audiences. However, while this show pokes fun at religion, it is at its core a celebration of religion. (SPOILER) In the end, what brings the people of Uganda together is religion. Maybe the religion is completely made up and kind of ridiculous, it gives them all hope and joy to live another day because they believe in a better tomorrow. While they were previously living in despair and hopelessness, this made up religion gives them a reason to live with care and compassion. I am so so excited to see this show again, because it's a show that means a lot to me.
One of the things that surprised me the most when I saw Book of Mormon for the first time was that on the whole they're much more respectful of the Church of Latter Day Saints than I thought that they would be. Obviously nothing written by the creators of South Park is going to contain at least some offensive material, but I personally thought that it wasn't as outrageous towards them as I assumed it would be based on their past work. In fact, at one performance I saw the Church of Latter Day Saints was outside handing out pamphlets after the show. At a regional performance of Oliver that I saw once they took at an add in the playbill that read "You've seen the musical, now come see what it's really about". The Book of Mormon is overall just a really fun show that actually has a pretty heart warming story underneath its crude exterior. I wish I could see it while it's here in Pittsburgh again, but I'll be in tech or performances.
I wrote a comment last week about how much I love Book of Mormon and that comment still stands, but what I didn't realize when I wrote that last week that a fiend of mine had just joined the tour that was visiting Pittsburgh! His name is PJ and he is the new elder Mckinnley in the tour (check him out he got very good reviews, he's a star) and I met him this summer he was an actor in the show that I worked on at the New York Musical Festival and I could tell you pretty quick that there was something special about him, mostly because of his performance, but in his treatment of other people as well. I am so excited about this mostly for him, but also because I am realizing, as many of my friends are, that we are starting to build networks, and using them to help us. One of the reasons I chose to go to Carnegie Mellon was because I wanted that worldwide brand and network, and using the name does get you that, but there something pretty amazing about having that connection without using CMU and just relying on my work to do the job for me. Anyway, Book of Mormon is fantastic and the cast is fantastic.
I love book of mormon! I saw it twice with school of drama alumni Denee Benton as Nabalungi in the national tour in Florida. It was amazing. The only issues i have had with seeing this show (both on broadway and on tour) is that the show gets tired. I know this is kind of a contrast to what the article has to say but it's the way I feel! When I initially saw it in 2012 the choreography was sharp and pristine the jokes were quick and well thought out. In later years you can tell the show's energy has died down a bit. I've had similar experiences with wicked. I mean its so hard to keep something fresh when you're doing the same show 8 times a week and now you're considered a "long running" show. I can't imagine how the actors/managers of phantom feel. The book of mormon is a show that is so wildly offensive that its kind of funny. Is that bad to say? I find myself laughing not only at the jokes but at my level of discomfort in the audience. With that being said, EVERYONE should go and see it- just maybe not with your mom.
This is another hilariously funny show that has me laughing from curtain to curtain. This show deserved every award it got! I have seen it 3 times and I would see it again. I am just impressed it was able to be obscene and informative at the same time. I didn’t know much about the Mormon beliefs but after seeing the show I think i have a veg understanding of some of the more unconventional parts of the religion. My favorite line from the show is the bit about ‘in 1979 god changed his mind about black people,~BLACK PEOPLE~” I had no idea that was a real thing that happen. This show never gets old and I’d go watch it again right now if i could. I hope the writers of this show come out with another show soon. I think they’d do well.
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