The book of Mormon – Memphis Flyer

Joan Marcus

The Book of Mormon Company

Canadians and Mormons are practically the same thing, right? That’s why Ryan Bondy, formerly of Canada, was literally born to play Elder Price in The Book of Mormon, Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s relentlessly profane musical. “If you mean we’re really nice, and we like to talk then, yes, we’re exactly alike,” Bondy affirms.

The Book of Mormon is a satirical buddy story in the spirit of the old Bob Hope/Bing Crosby road pictures. It tells the story of two missionaries with conflicting personalities who are sent to Uganda to recruit more Mormons. Their efforts are challenged by famine, disease, and a warlord with an unprintable name.

“Out of all the shows that I’ve done in my career, this is absolutely the most fun I’ve ever had,” Bondy says. “Anybody who’s familiar with Parker and Stone and South Park knows that those guys don’t necessarily write anything that’s not funny. And it’s not just about the humor. There’s so much heart and real character opportunity. This is a reality of what Mormons have to go through in regards to their mission and the reality of their journey and the reality of what was going on in Uganda, a godless place full of poverty, AIDS, and starvation.”

The Book of Mormon opened to rave reviews in 2011. The show picked up 14 Tony nominations and nine wins, including Best Musical. After all this time, and in spite of near-universal praise, Bondy says people still come out to protest the show. “They don’t necessarily do their research as to what The Book of Mormon is really about,” he says. “A good indication should be that the Mormons themselves love the show. Now when they go out on their missions, they’re not allowed to see it. But there are a lot of elders standing outside the show afterwards, handing out books and talking to people. And they have seen it. The Book of Mormon does the very first thing Mormons need — it starts a conversation. So they even take ads out in our programs that say, ‘You’ve seen the play, now read the book.'”

“The Book of Mormon” at the Orpheum Theatre March 15th-20th. $44-$154. orpheum-memphis.com

From Godspell to Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, many hit musicals have been inspired by religion. None of them can even begin to compare to The Book of Mormon, Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s gleefully perverse look at missionary life.

Yes, everything you’ve heard about this show is true. The Book of Mormon, which opens at the Orpheum Tuesday, June 24th, is full of dirty words, and those who are easily put off by strong language will want to steer clear. But for all of its rampant profanities and frank acknowledgments, at its big gooey heart, this musical by the creators of South Park and Avenue Q, is old-fashioned, toe-tapping Broadway razzle-dazzle, with uplifting themes as sweet and pure as a Rodgers and Hammerstein joint. The critically acclaimed and wildly successful show has been accurately described by Stone as an “atheist’s love letter to religion.” In the mold of Spamalot and Urinetown, Book of Mormon is also a cheeky love letter to the Broadway musical with clear shout-outs to Wicked, Annie, West Side Story, and The King and I.

The Book of Mormon

The Book of Mormon tells the story of a group of Mormon missionaries who have been shipped to Uganda to win souls. They are immediately robbed by a despot with an unprintable name inspired by the actual Gen. Butt Naked. Things get worse before they get better in this sincere — yes, sincere — paean to the power of faith. Yes, faith.

Don’t be put off by the sincerity, either. The musical number “Spooky Mormon Hell Dream” contains everything anybody could possibly want from the creators of South Park all rolled up into three-and-a-half minutes of infernal choreography. Eternal damnation? Check. Ranting Adolph Hitler? Check. Johnny Cochran? Jeffrey Dahmer? Double check. Giant cups of Starbucks coffee? Oh, why the hell not?