Critical Review at Hennepin Arts

Amidst today’s rampant socio-political controversies, The Book of Mormon is perhaps the most strangely relevant tale of them all. This bold and satirical musical, from the creators of South Park and Avenue Q (Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, and Matt Stone), arrived at the Orpheum Theatre in Minnesota on December 10, 2024. It follows two Mormon missionaries—“Elder Price” (Sam McLellan) and his goofy “sidekick” “Elder Cunningham” (Diego Enrico, blending the styles of Jack Black and Josh Gad) on their journey to a small Ugandan village. Whatever vision you’re picturing, grab it, crumple it up, and toss it out the window, I can assure you that you’re thoroughly mistaken. Instead of whimsical comedy focused solely on the Mormon pair’s antics, audiences get far more than they likely bargained for, finding the plot surrounded by biblical style vignettes of Mormon mythology and the classic vulgarity and flamboyantly unadultered songs and language. The show is raw, unfiltered, and bold, yet it’s ...

What do you get when you mix Broadway, religion, and irreverence? The Book of Mormon . Created by Trey Parker, Matt Stone, and Robert Lopez, the musical blends fearless humor with heartfelt moments for an unforgettable experience. From the first notes of "Hello!", the audience was hooked, following Elder Price and Elder Cunningham on their mission to Uganda. The story mixes fish-out-of-water comedy with surprising emotional depth, but its reliance on shock value and stereotypes sometimes undercuts its themes of faith and personal growth. While the irreverence often pushes boundaries, the 2020 revision added updates to address cultural sensitivities, offering a more thoughtful approach without losing the show’s signature humor. With the revisions, the show remains a must-see, with much to love despite a few missteps. Sam McLellan’s Elder Price brought charm and charisma to the stage. His performance of “I Believe” had the crowd laughing and cheering, but also cringing during t...

“Prologue” - Nick Cartell as Jean Valjean in Les Misérables . Photo: Matthew Murphy & Evan Zimmeran While wandering through the Orpheum crowd on the opening night of Les Misérables , I stood for a moment and listened. Friends reminisced about the first time they saw the show. Parents told their children how it made them fall in love with theater decades ago. I couldn’t help but smile at how generations connected over this timeless story of resilience. One of the most acclaimed musicals in the world, Les Miz needs no introduction. Directed by Laurence Connor and James Powell, the North American Broadway tour is in Minneapolis for a two-week run. Whether you’ve seen it a dozen times or never before, it’s more than worth a few hours of your time. Les Miz effortlessly transports its audience to 19th century Paris, catapulting them into the most exhilarating moments of the characters’ lives. While all technical aspects were phenomenal, the light and sound design completed this tra...

Framed within the context of the 19th century, the reborn, not-so-dream of a production, Les Mis é rables proved disappointing as it took the Orpheum’s stage for the North American Tour. Directed by Laurence Connor and James Powell, the lack of cohesive storytelling and substandard artistic choices were disenchanting for a first-time Les Mis goer. Beginning its journey as a novel by Victor Hugo, published in 1862, Les Mis é rables explores themes of justice, love, and redemption. The novel's able to offer perspectives of the human condition against political turmoil and eventually the story was adapted into a concept album by Alain Boublil—laying the foundation for the stage musical. Despite its rich history, the North American Tour of Les Mis é rables failed to capture the essence of the historical tale, leaving me to question the musical theater community’s shared love for the show.  The lack of emotion due to rushed storytelling was a glaring issue for the entirety of the perf...

If I had to pick one word to encapsulate the current National Tour  of Les Misérables , it would be “art”. The lighting, designed by Paule Constable, transformed every scene into a painting, I could almost feel the sunlight on my face. The darkness was also used to the show’s advantage, leading to a shadowed opening; Prologue , where the low, rhythmic chorus deeply communicates the tragic circumstances the main character finds himself under. Imprisoned for simply stealing a loaf of bread to feed his family, Jean Valjean (Nick Cartell) breaks his parole and flees, leaving him to be chased by a relentless Inspector Javert (Nick Rehberger). Along the way, we meet Fantine (Lindsay Heather Pierce), her daughter Cosette (Emerson Mae Chen, Greta Scheafer, and Delaney Guyer in various ages), and others fighting for France in the Paris Uprising of 1832.  The story is told mainly through song, which, while it does demand more of the audience’s attention to follow the story, really h...

  LOOK DOWN, LOOK DOWN, DON'T LOOK ‘EM IN THE EYE. So begins Les Misérables , continuing its National Broadway Tour stopping in Minneapolis for the fourth time since 2010. LOOK DOWN is also an apt description of my viewpoint on the show— I sat near the farthest back row of the balcony and was expecting the usual messy audio and hard sightlines that plague upper seats. Refreshingly, I didn’t have any of those issues: I was fully invested in the show for the nearly 3 hour runtime. As you might know, the plot follows convict Jean Valjean throughout decades of his life and eventually rebellion against the monarchy, introducing a smorgasbord of characters and dark moments that highlight the true brutality of love and war. Despite being set in the early 19th century, it felt relevant. I was rooting for Jean Valjean as he struggled from the opening number onwards. I was pleasantly surprised by every cast member. Precise direction by Laurence Connor (School of Rock, Miss Saigon) and ...