Critical Review at Hennepin Arts

  What a show. The Book of Mormon is a riot on absolutely every level, leading to equal amounts of laughter and shock. The plot follows two Mormon missionaries on a quest to baptize the citizens of a small Ugandan village. As this show was written by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of South Park, one can expect crude, R-rated humor, and the show lived up to every such expectation. The actors embraced the outrageousness of the plot wholeheartedly, leading to flamboyant dance numbers that put my jaw on the floor. One of this show’s greatest strengths was the dedication of the actors, a show this off-color could easily rely on the simple shock value of the content to carry the performance, but each actor was motivated and made sure the entire plot came across, not just the jokes. This full-out commitment was especially prevalent in the dance numbers, which were just big enough to be spectacular without being over the top or ridiculous.  The best example of this would ...

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...