Thursday, August 8, 2019

review - THE BOOK OF MORMON - National Tour: ASU Gammage

the cast
photo by by Julieta Cervantes
highlights from local critics reviews - (click link at bottom of each review to read complete review)

Click here for more information on this production that runs through August 11.

"Still running on Broadway after opening in 2011, when it won nine Tony Awards including Best Musical, The Book of Mormon has spawned two national tours and productions in London, Australia and Europe. The touring production arrives at the ASU Gammage for the third time with a top-notch cast of performers who excel. With a very funny book and several showstopping numbers, The Book of Mormon may be filled with "F" bombs and crude language as it mocks and satirizes organized religion, but underneath it is a sweet story about finding your purpose and helping others....Trey Parker, Matt Stone and Robert Lopez crafted a very adult show filled with plenty of vulgarity, similar to what Parker and Stone are known for as the creators of the successful "South Park" TV series and which Lopez as one of the co-creators of Avenue Q has experience with. Even though it may mock Mormons, the show in an odd way also celebrates religion, friendship, and believing in your fellow man. The tour is incredibly well cast with spotless direction by Parker and Casey Nicholaw that blends together seamlessly Nicholaw's experience of directing numerous shows on Broadway and Parker's playful sense of juvenile humor. ..The leads do an exceptional job of providing portrayals that are fresh and original. Liam Tobin is appropriately self-centered as the handsome, charming, over-achieving Elder Price, who thinks everything is about him...As Elder Cunningham, standby Jonathan Sangster, who has performed locally in Flagstaff and the Phoenix area in the past, delivers an exceptional performance of this nerdy slacker who, it turns out, has an imaginative personality and often makes things up. ...Alyah Chanelle Scott projects the perfect blend of naïveté and warmth as Nabulungi, the daughter of the leader of the village in Uganda where Elder Price and Elder Cunningham are sent.... an extremely enjoyable musical with a huge amount of heart and, with a top-notch cast who get big laughs, the touring production proves to be a funny, touching and memorable show that will leave you with a big smile on your face. It might even tug at your heart, as while it basically mocks all religions, it does so with a huge dose of sincerity......... " -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

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