Note 13: The Book of Mormon

 Can you imagine the creators of the hilarious animated comedy South Park also produce a Broadway musical? Believe it or not, The Book of Mormon is a religious satire musical, reflecting the creators' lifelong fascination with Mormonism and musicals. This is a mildly amusing musical, with some knowingly parodic songs, that takes a few pot shots at religious credulity without ever questioning the need for belief.

This comedy musical follows the plight of a pair of teenage Mormon missionaries sent to convert a village in a dangerous part of Uganda. But what is the show actually saying? In part, that religion is a human invention. Passing reference is made to the Mormon founder, Joseph Smith, and his supposed discovery of sacred tablets on a hillside in New York state in 1827. We see the show is concocted to a new faith in which Mormonism is merged with bits of Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings. The creators devastatingly showed that it is easy enough to invent a new religion, but that it will inexorably lead to sacrifice and ritual slaughter before achieving respectability. The Book of Mormon takes the exact opposite line, suggesting a made-up faith may be a remedy for violence and bloodshed.

However, that's not to say it doesn't have its pleasures; and part of the fun lies in playing spot-the-source for the numerous songs. The opening number, Hello, in which trainee missionaries press doorbells, has echoes of the telephone song in Bye Bye Birdie. A cheery African anthem, Hasa Diga Eebowai, is clearly a foul-mouthed parody of a similar number in The Lion King. And, when the Ugandans stage their own muddied version of Mormon faith, one is reminded of the Uncle Tom's Cabin scene from The King and I.

      Though I don’t really have religion, through this newborn, old-fashioned, pleasure-giving musical I can get a glimpse of how believer live with their belief. It seems to me as though Mormons find this musical either A+ or the most offensive thing on the planet.This amuses me for reasons I can't quite expound upon.