Review: ‘The Book of Mormon’ delivers on promises with absurdist humor

From its very first line about an ancient religious leader in "upstate New York," "The Book of Mormon" had the Tuesday night audience at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts laughing. It was crude, lewd and politically incorrect, but it delivered the comedy it promised.

"The Book of Mormon" was first staged in 2011 and is the brainchild of "South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone along with Tony-awarded Robert Lopez.

"The Book of Mormon" follows two newly minted Elders as they complete their mission training and are given assignments for their next two years of service. Elder Price is the perfect picture of the ideal Elder, and he hopes to be placed in his favorite city, Orlando, Florida. Elder Cunningham lacks everything Elder Price has; he's disheveled, giddy and has a short, chubby figure that makes him poke out like a sore thumb when he stands next to the more uniform Elders. When the two are placed together in a village in Uganda, Price and Cunningham have to reevaluate their faith and their true purpose in life while trying to convert a village of disinterested Ugandans.

While Price is slated to be the main character, it was Cunningham who stole the show (and many of Price's dreams.) Cunningham (played by Conner Peirson) with his boyish mannerisms and overenthusiastic personality uses Star Wars references like a pro and is not afraid to admit he's got a big imagination. From his clingy hope that Price and he will become "best friends!" to the way he pronounces Uganda like U-ga-Honda, Cunningham was the exact opposite of the trim and morally absolute Price. Kevin Clay, who played Price, was on his first national tour debut, and also did a wonderful job portraying the overconfidence of a 19-year-old who thinks he can change the world with his willpower alone.

There were also several talented cast members who played Ugandans. Kayla Pecchioni (as Nabulungi) portrayed a willful convert to the Church of Latter Day Saints through her love of the Elders and complete faith in the paradise of Salt Lake City. The General — whose full title is a little longer and a lot less publishable — was played by Corey Jones. Jones did a good job playing an almost satirical version of an African warlord or dictator.

While the talented cast carried the show, it would be remiss to say the sets did not enhance the overall entertainment of the production. Where the initial American set is sparse — relying on detailed backdrops to set the stage — the Ugandan set is intricate with several huts and even animal carcasses. The transitions between different sets as were astoundingly fast as there were multiple Ugandan villages portrayed. The show also excelled at interacting with the audience. The very first musical number seems to be speaking to the audience itself, and there were many times when the lighting came off the stage and into the crowd.

Overall, "The Book of Mormon" delivers on exactly what it promises with a hell of a lot more entertainment, including a hell-dream musical number that was a shock to the system. The willful naivety of the characters, juxtaposed with the harsh conditions of life in Uganda, seems humorous on its own. From the very first scenes in Uganda, the audience is made aware of the fact that theft, AIDS, and female genital mutilation are common occurrences.

A play with such dark themes could easily have become a tragedy, but the creators pushed the themes to the absurd and into the comical with oftentimes crass humor. The writers build off that setting but delivered a positive overarching message for when things get rough, with Elder Cunningham's signature line: "Tomorrow is a Latter day!"

The Book of Mormon is playing at the Atwood Concert Hall in the Alaska Performing Arts Center until Oct. 28. Tickets and showtimes can be found at centertix.com.