Book of Mormon - Get the Hype

Years ago when I came to NY I heard about In The Heights. It was really hyped up, so we bought tickets. My husband and I thought it was OK, but didn't understand why people were going crazy. Back in Feb, I had bought tickets to Book of Mormon. My husband likes South Park and so he wanted to try it, and so 2 days before it opened in preview, I bought 2 tickets, 2nd row on orchestra on the side. Little did I know, this one ended up winning The Tony and went crazy after it opened in previews being sold out and also very hyped up. Wasn't sure if we'd also walk away thinking it was just OK, like In The Heights.

well, saw it this weekend, and OMG. We LOVED it! It was a little dirty, which is not my thing, but can stil say it's one of my favourites as was blown away by the music and really sat in awe for a lot of the scenes. Excellent performance by all...funny, awesome music, and chemistry. The songs are constantly in my head..which is a good thing. Can understand why it's sold out like mad until next Spring.

Do others agree with the hype? Also, on a different note...just curious on hearing stage door experiences. My husband isn't into that and I'm very shy so we didn't stay, but have to admit I would have loved to have met Andrew or the othe cast members.

Updated On: 6/30/11 at 08:00 AM

I'm glad you enjoyed it! I'm seeing this August 2nd, and I can't wait!!

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Huge hype for a show tends to make me suspicious and unconvinced. So when the reviews came in and the Tony sweep happened, I was a little apprehensive when the date for our tickets finally arrived. I wasn't sure if it would truly able to live up to all raves and accolades.

And it did. It was seriously the most fun I've had in the theatre in a LONG time.

I saw the show last night after listening to the CD nonstop since it came out, and it completely blew me away. Totally lived up to the hype. At the stagedoor (which was one of the best I've ever visited) a women walking by (I think she had possibly just seen Chicago) stood near those of us who were right in front of the door and said things like "just because they say f*ck a lot doesn't make it a good show" and if we wanted to see something good, we should try a show that doesn't resort to "cheap tricks". Thankfully, none of the actors were out yet and people cussed her out and got her to leave pretty quickly, though she yelled at us the whole time she was walking away. I thought that she couldn't be more wrong. I wonder if she's even seen it...

I try to manage my expectations before I see a show and ignore the hype-factor and its opposite.

I liked Book of Mormon.

Would I call it revolutionary, brilliant, a non-stop laugh riot, or one of the best musicals I've ever seen?

No.

Did I find it a fine, very funny, consistently entertaining and fully realized show?

Absolutely.

We live in a world where everyone's beliefs seem polarized. They either love or hate things. I try to avoid that, very often enjoy things to the degree that I can when they are decent-good, get thrilled when something occasionally knocks me out, and then there are times, more than I would like of course, when I sit there wondering why the hell I didn't just stay home and watch Game of Thrones.

jenniewie, totally agree with the first part of your post. I too listened to the cd over and over prior to seeing the show, and then seeing songs performed as you said "blew me away". There was just something so magical, it was a true theatre expereince. As mentioned, I was able to put the swearing and rudeness behind (as I don't like that), and still absoluvelty loved the show.

I totally understand how after listening to the cd someone would be nervous that the show would just rely on the dirty jokes and the shock value of some moments to carry the show. And if the show had done that, I think it would deserve the bad rep that some are giving it due its profanity. However, the show really doesn't rely on it at all. Even numbers like Hasa Diga Eeboway or ones that have shocking costumes like Joseph Smith American Moses are all there to serve the plot. When leaving the show, people aren't talking about the vulgarity. They're talking about the character arcs of the leads, about the clever lyrics and book etc. It's not a shock value show.