So I went to see Book of Mormon a few weeks ago. It's the second time I've seen the show and while I can honestly say I enjoyed it the first time, this time I loved it. There is something about this show, raw as it is, that makes me think that this is what a "Broadway Musical" should be about. The lyrics are all easy to understand, the choreography is non-stop and the characters, while extreme, are real. I can relate to Elder Cunningham trying to change the truth to fit the circumstances just as I can relate to Elder Price wanting to do "something incredible" with his life, but on his own terms.
I took someone with me who is an international student and wondered if I was going to have to explain the show to him as it was presented. In truth, except for just a few questions, he got it right away. The humor was easy to understand and fit well into the script. While I would guess every play-write hopes this will be the case, truth is more fail than succeed. This student has been easing into understanding live theater. He has seen probably 10 or so in the year and a half since he has been in the country. But never has he left the theater trying to remember the songs. And he has been humming along for the past two weeks.
The first time I saw the show I left a bit judgmental, in part trying to figure out if the offensiveness of the show outweighed the performance. This time I too left humming the music and in fact eager to see it again. Enjoy this show for what it is, a statement that our religions and our faith are for the most part based on writings and stories we rely on others to prove. Did this change the way I judge my own religion? Not a bit. But it truly helped me understand how others can interpret their own beliefs.
And after all, maybe the Book of Arnold has some merits! (except for the frog part)
