Photo by Joan Marcus
The touring production of Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone’s The Book of Mormon has settled into the Marcus Center rather nicely. The musical comedy about a group of Mormons in northern Uganda strikes an impressive balance on many levels. The music is flashy and catchy enough to be fun and dynamic without distracting from the social satire at the heart of the story. The criticism of organized religion is sharp and precise without being so ruthless as to turn away those sympathetic to it. This is a musical for both those willing to have a lighthearted laugh at religion and those who want to see it eviscerated.
This story of a mismatched couple of missionaries is a thematically and lyrically complex one. It’s a show about the well-meaning lies we tell ourselves and others. It’s also about the plight of those living in impoverished countries. It’s reassuring to know that people who can afford tickets to a big-budget touring show are getting exposed to this sort of thing, but the real power of The Book of Mormon is going to be realized in years to come when it is opened to local productions at high schools and community theaters across the country. This is an important work that needs to be part of the larger cultural dialogue in a big way.
Through May 31 at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, 929 N. Water St. For tickets, call 414-273-7206 or visit marcuscenter.org.
