"The Book Of Mormon"

Nottingham Theatre Royal

Hello, it's finally here; the musical that I've been looking forward to for the last few years! And let me tell you, it was so worth the wait, and the experience.

Written by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, who are responsible for "South Park" and Robert Lopez, who co-created the musical Avenue Q and co-wrote the songs for Disney’s Frozen and Coco. Since its' debut back in 2011, this has been THE musical that everyone wants to see, which explains the reason why the run at the Theatre Royal is until Saturday 10 September.

The musical follows a pair of Mormon boys sent on a mission to a place that’s a long way from their home in Salt Lake City, Uganda!

As expected, this musical breaks every taboo going, possibly insulting everyone who has no sense of humour. there are several parts that even I felt my jaw dropping open and quietly saying to myself "did they really say that?". Even so, this is possibly one of the most un-PC pieces of theatre, but one of the funniest, and naughtiest things I've seen on stage....possibly ever!

Elder Price is the top Mormon student, the one most likely to get a gold star for his conversion technique. He is full of confidence, and wants to preach the Mormon word in....Orlando! He is teamed up with Elder Cunningham, who is the complete opposite, and tends to make up parts of the scripture. When both find out that they are being sent to Uganda, and after being in the country for five minutes and having their baggage stolen, they both receive a reality check!

Conner Peirson as Elder Cunningham is, for me, the top billing in this musical, followed only slightly by his Mormonic foil, Robert Colvin as Elder Price. Both excellent comic actors with wonderful voices and so much energy. Many audience members were overheard to say that these two made the show for them. I disagree because the entire cast were fantastic, with Conner and Robert as the cherry on top.

Aviva Tulley as Nabulungi, the young village girl who has a dream of Salt Laker City and moving there. She believes what Elder Cunningham is preaching and decides to get baptised by the Elder, and then changes the opinions of the village to revert to being Mormons and to get baptised. Nabulungi is the first person to ever be baptised in the village since the Mormons, prior to the current Elders, were dispatched. There is a wonderful running joke with Nabulungi's name throughout the show. Oh and what a sublime voice Aviva has.

Elder Mckinley, the Elder who was in charge before Elders Cunningham and Price arrived, and is a wonderfully camp character, in the most wonderfully camp musical, since the last wonderfully camp musical I saw. Jordan Lee Davis is brilliant in this part.

The whole cast, as I said previously are just perfect in their roles. From an illuminated Jesus to an amazing Satan, and even the odd character from Star Trek and Star Wars, the costumes are wonderful, especially in the "Hell section".

I must mention the harmonies because these were just one section of the musical that I really loved and appreciated the work that had gone into the production. An absolute aural delight!

The set designs ranged from the Utah Mormon Headquarters, through to a fake Orlando which transformed into Hades, to an African village, all changed with smooth transitions.

Directed by Casey Nicholaw and Trey Parker, with choreography by Casey Nicholaw, set design by Scott Pask, costume design by Ann Roth, lighting design by Brian MacDevitt, sound design by Brian Ronan, orchestrations by Larry Hochman and Stephen Oremus and music supervision and vocal arrangements by Stephen Oremus.

I don't feel that I need to carry on about just how funny, and shocking, this show is, because anyone who has seen South Park will know just how funny, and shocking, the work of Parker and Stone can be. This musical may not change your life, but it will give you a brilliant night of naughty fun, and is definitely one not to be missed!

"The Book Of Mormon" is at the Nottingham Theatre Royal until Saturday 10 September and there is an age restriction of 14+ due to the language used.