Book of Mormon Tickets
| Singing Your Doubts Away Man has been always pondered about his existence. Many turn to religion for explanation and consolation. There are those who have more questions than religion can answer, but there’s no other place to turn. So, what’s a soul to do? The answer – turn to the “Book of Mormon.” No, not that “Book of Mormon,” the one on Broadway. Elder Arnold Cunningham is a heavy, timid, member of the Mormon Church without friends or emotional security. Enter Kevin Price, the good looking, arrogant, but devout wanna-be missionary who pictures himself a modern day savior. Price envisions working in Orlando, Florida where he believes he'll find success in bringing the word of God to those in need in sunny Orlando. Instead, he finds himself sent to Uganda with Cunningham. Even so, he figures he’s destined to shine. Cunningham is just happy to have a place to belong and, finally, a friend in his partner, Price. They are sent to a village that is full of people who live with the daily torment of AIDS, hunger, and impoverishment. To make matters worse, they are under the thumb of a tyrannical chieftain. The local warlord, General Butt-F---ing Naked, which alludes to the real General Butt Naked, adds his own layer of pain to the lives of the villagers. Mafala Hatimbi is one of the villagers. His daughter, Nabulungi, helps Cunningham and Price get settled. As Cunningham and Price learn about the villagers, they hear them chant “hasa diga eebowai” and sing a song devoted to the phrase. The villagers tell them it is their way of relieving the stress of their lives. Imagine the chagrin of the Mormon missionaries when they discover the translation of the words is, “F--- you, God.” It's easy to understand why the missionary goal of conversion has been a complete failure. The leader of the motley crew, Elder McKinley, tells Cunningham and Price how to handle their doubts. He tells them to turn off their negative thoughts. Ever enthusiastic, Price presents his arguments to the natives and gives the standard reasons why they should convert. Nothing changes, and no one is buying what he has to sell. His self-confidence is shaken, and he is unsure of his ability to handle Uganda and the challenges he finds there, so he requests a transfer to Orlando. In the meantime, General Butt-F---ing Naked makes his presence known and informs the villagers that all females will be circumcised, immediately. In response to the villager’s anger, the General murders a random villager. Nabulungi, in a place of safety, is intrigued by the promises suggested by Price’s teachings. When the Mission President announces he'll be visiting, Elder McKinley is terrified. They have accomplished nothing. Price is leaving, and Cunningham is left alone. Nabulungi turns to him to learn more about the “Book of Mormon.” In Act II, Cunningham, faced with the task of teaching and converting, makes up stories to fill in the gaps of his knowledge of Mormon theology. The natives find they can relate to Cunningham’s imaginative tales because they can see some of their lives in his words. Meanwhile, Price, realizing he has added to a lifetime of real and imagined sins, comes back to the village to rejoin Cunningham and the mission. Cunningham is unsure of Price’s motives, but Price jumps into the fray and tries to convert the General. The villagers become enchanted by Cunningham’s version of the “Book of Mormon” and convert. Price is upset because the General refuses to join the faithful. Price is left to question the meaning of his life and his disappointments with his family, friends, and his overall life. Even so, the Mormon President is impressed by the number of successful conversions until he learns what they have been led to believe. He informs the villagers they are not real Mormons, after all. Cunningham is upset because he believes he caused more trouble for the very people he was trying to help. The play resolves the issues of faith when Price realizes that Cunningham’s pure motives are the real meaning behind the missionary work. He and Cunningham join together and decide to remain in Uganda and help the villagers make their world a real heaven on earth. The missionaries work together and proclaim themselves and the Ugandans the real Latter-day Saints. Ultimately, life comes down to a question of true faith. Under the trappings of religion is the real need to connect with God in order to find meaning in life and help facing the problems all of us have. The words and music of the “Book of Mormon,” bring this eternal search to life in a memorable way. The “Book of Mormon” won nine Tony Awards including Best Book, Best Score, Best Orchestrations, and Best Musical. Casey Nicholaw and Trey Parker won for Best Direction. Brian Ronan won for Best Sound Design. Scott Pask won for Best Scenic Design. Brian MacDevitt won for best Lighting Design, and the Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role was won by Nikki M. James. |