Posted: 11/5/21 at 11:30am
Posted: 11/5/21 at 12:03pm
Daniel M said: "- choreography has been adjusted in I Am Africa to signal the Ugandans’ dissatisfaction with the elders’ appropriation and the absurdity of the lyrics (in my opinion)"
Not sure about this one. In the context of a musical, are they really singing this to the Ugandans? Or are they really just talking to themselves? Part of the satire is that they think they are white saviors. The only reason then for the Ugandans to react is because the audience wasn't "getting it." But I've always found it fairly obvious.
Posted: 11/5/21 at 12:04pm
Miles2Go2 said: "If the reference to f****** the baby is out, is Elder Cunningham’s made up story about f****** the frog instead gone too?
The reference is still there-just the set-up of how it is presented is new
Does the Book of Mormon still end up in a certain body cavity?"
Yes, and in a crowd entirely of people who know the show and know the jokes, this got one of the best reactions of the night.
Posted: 11/5/21 at 12:21pm
Fosse76 said: "Daniel M said: "- choreography has been adjusted in I Am Africa to signal the Ugandans’ dissatisfaction with the elders’ appropriation and the absurdity of the lyrics (in my opinion)"
Not sure about this one. In the context of a musical, are they really singing this to the Ugandans? Or are they really just talking to themselves? Part of the satire is that they think they are white saviors. The only reason then for the Ugandans to react is because the audience wasn't "getting it." But I've always found it fairly obvious."
Spoiler below
Posted: 11/5/21 at 11:54pm
I probably won't get back to see the show for a while, what's the new line?
Posted: 11/6/21 at 1:03am
I love, LOVE the new ending of I Am Africa. You would think people would've gotten more clearly that it was satirizing white saviorism for the past 10 years, but I didn't mind it being made more blatant.
A few more changes not mentioned here:
Too tired to add many opinions right now, but the show feels a lot fresher artistically and technically. None of the principal cast members were new to me, and it was a nice feeling of nostalgia and a definite sense that rest was good for everyone. I haven't sat in the mezz in years (at least several months before covid, I think), and the sound and lights were extremely vivid. On stage, Matt Stone and Casey Nicholaw had a short, sweet welcome-back speech (Casey cried!) before the show.
Welcome back, Mormon!
Posted: 11/6/21 at 1:22am
LizzieCurry said: "I love, LOVE the new ending of I Am Africa. You would think people would've gotten more clearly that it was satirizing white saviorism for the past 10 years, but I didn't mind it being made more blatant.
A few more changes not mentioned here:
Too tired to add many opinions right now, but the show feels a lot fresher artistically and technically. None of the principal cast members were new to me, and it was a nice feeling of nostalgia and a definite sense that rest was good for everyone. I haven't sat in the mezz in years (at least several months before covid, I think), and the sound and lights were extremely vivid. On stage, Matt Stone and Casey Nicholaw had a short, sweet welcome-back speech (Casey cried!) before the show.
Welcome back, Mormon!"
How was Kevin Clay as Elder Price?
Posted: 11/6/21 at 11:27am
MattieIce2018 said: "
I probably won't get back to see the show for a while, what's the new line?
It still begins "I want to show you something" but Nabalungi's next line is "It is the entire play posted on the Mormon Church's Facebook Page."
Posted: 11/6/21 at 2:58pm
Jordan Levinson said: "How was Kevin Clay as Elder Price?"
So good. This was my second or third time seeing him and he's the perfect person to reopen the show with. I saw Andrew Rannells as Bob Gaudio in Jersey Boys before I ever saw him in Mormon, and Kevin Clay reminds me of that Bob Gaudio. So he is also VERY much like Andrew's Elder Price in looks and voice. It's not like he's an imitation, though — his own thing plus an echo of Rannells. Strong youth pastor energy. Lots of jazz hands. Big leg movements! He got a well-earned partial standing ovation for I Believe.
Posted: 11/7/21 at 11:23am
I love Kevin's Price! Lizzie describes him very perfectly with the turn of phrase of "strong youth pastor energy" and I love his post I Believe hot mess state. His voice is strong, clear, and sells the hell out of every single Price moment given. I'm so happy for him getting the chance to reopen the show as he has bounced around companies for awhile.
I also want to echo the love of the new ending of I Am Africa because it is just so good. It's again like - why wasn't that there to begin with? I think the changes they made definitely help address issues with the Ugandan ensemble and help elevate Nabulungi in a good way.
The Facebook joke after Joseph Smith American Moses was one of my personal favorites and just hysterical.
One thing that resonated with me was Trey Parker addressing the audience before the show with Casey Nicholaw and having him say how he felt they might never get back to this because I too had my feelings of that nature. Casey starting to cry really got me and he deserved the standing ovation and love he got. There were several moments through out the show that got me and had me in tears - seeing and hearing Kim Exum sing Sal Tlay Ka Siti and all of Tomorrow Is A Latter Day.
This show has become such a big part of my life over a decade (I truly cannot believe I just typed that statement) it's been in my life and being there to welcome it back felt so right.
Updated On: 11/7/21 at 11:23 AM
Posted: 11/8/21 at 1:18am
Jakeevan942 said: "MattieIce2018 said: "
I probably won't get back to see the show for a while, what's the new line?
"
Question about this - wasn't it implied that the play "written in text" became, or at least was the basis for, The Book of Arnold in the finale? Am I mis-remembering something (it's been a while since I've seen the show), or has any of that been altered?
Also, is anything different in Joseph Smith, American Moses? I ask because of the change to the content about the baby being misinformation that someone read rather than Mutumbo (who plays “Joseph Smith” in the show within a show) actually trying to do it.
Updated On: 11/8/21 at 01:18 AM
Posted: 11/8/21 at 6:22am
MattieIce2018 said: "Jakeevan942 said: "MattieIce2018 said: "
I probably won't get back to see the show for a while, what's the new line?
"
Question about this - wasn't it implied that the play "written in text" became, or at least was the basis for, The Book of Arnold in the finale? Am I mis-remembering something (it's been a while since I've seen the show), or has any of that been altered?
Also, is anything different in Joseph Smith, American Moses? I ask because of the change to the content about the baby being misinformation that someone read rather than Mutumbo (who plays “Joseph Smith” in the show within a show) actually trying to do it."
Posted: 11/11/21 at 7:43pm
Saw the fan performance in London tonight. Seems all the changes mentioned here have also been implemented in the West End.
Another change I noticed was the line in I Am Africa “A monkey with a banana” has been changed to “Papayas and a banana”
Posted: 12/2/21 at 12:45pm
I can (and cannot) believe they had to do the "call someone who left the show over three years ago" method for Elder Price this week!
https://twitter.com/understudies/status/1466455254220816387
Posted: 12/2/21 at 12:48pm
LizzieCurry said: "I can (and cannot) believe they had to do the "call someone who left the show over three years ago" method for Elder Price this week!
https://twitter.com/understudies/status/1466455254220816387"
Exciting! Rouleau was my Elder Price back in 2018.
Posted: 12/2/21 at 12:50pm
LizzieCurry said: "I can (and cannot) believe they had to do the "call someone who left the show over three years ago" method for Elder Price this week!
https://twitter.com/understudies/status/1466455254220816387"
Especially Nic Rouleau. Makes you wonder if they facing a COVID outbreak in their show, too?
Posted: 12/2/21 at 12:59pm
It definitely crossed my mind. Kevin Clay's wife is expecting their baby any minute, so I assumed he would be out for some time around now, but I'm pretty sure there are three Elder Price covers in the cast!
Posted: 12/2/21 at 1:10pm
They have one Elder Price standby and two understudies. I'm guessing Kevin Clay is planning on being out for an extended time frame then.
Posted: 12/6/21 at 10:08am
Nic is now there through Dec. 12: https://www.instagram.com/p/CXEUtsNL_Yj/
I went this weekend and he and the show are in excellent form. It's almost like he never left (and he's even finding amazing new reactionary faces to make), and his chemistry with Cody Jamison Strand is excellent. They are hilarious together and already know all the right buttons to push.
Posted: 12/6/21 at 10:40am
ACL2006 said: "LizzieCurry said: "I can (and cannot) believe they had to do the "call someone who left the show over three years ago" method for Elder Price this week!
https://twitter.com/understudies/status/1466455254220816387"
EspeciallyNic Rouleau. Makes you wonder if they facing a COVID outbreak in their show, too?"
Don't make COVID assumptions out of thin air. It's defamatory.
Posted: 12/7/21 at 1:54pm
Just had a great time reading this thread; thanks for the updates, everyone. I know people like to rag on anything that is a result of changing societal proclivities or political correctness, but from all of the reports this sounds basically like a best practice for what should happen with a long-running show that has some outdated or offensive elements. By all accounts the heart, soul, and plot of the show are fully intact, with some clever, surgical updates to a few key lines. Glad to hear it feels so fresh.
Posted: 2/3/22 at 9:48am
Finally got back to BOM last night. Apparently Kevin Clay just returned to the show as he was an insert in the Playbill. Supposedly between Nic & Naysh Fox(current standby), they've been rotating the role of Elder Price since December. Clay & Cody are probably the best duo since Josh & Andrew. Yeah, it's weird how similar Clay's Elder Price is to Andrew's. He's not as cocky as Rannell's Price and has a better comedic sense of the show. None of the line changes made the show better or worse, even the frequent Facebook add-ins. We Are Africa is so much better now. Why wasn't it like this from the start? My last previous visit to the show was sometime in 2017. Nic was in the show for way too long at this point as well as several ensemble members. They seem bored, their was an overall lack of energy and the jokes weren't landing. The current cast is still mostly veterans of the show(Bway, tour, West End), but there's new life to this show. Loved the energy and they fed off the strong audience as well. Like Phantom & Wicked, Book of Mormon seemed to benefit from the shutdown as it gave new energy to a show that was losing steam. The house appeared mostly full. They sell $59 tickets at the box office that are side orchestra & rear mezz seats. Not bad seats, but I had to go to SRO for the 2nd Act as i had little leg room and my right leg was cramping up during Act 1.
Posted: 2/4/22 at 6:44pm
A popular Price alum will be stepping back in for about 2 weeks this month.
Posted: 2/4/22 at 6:50pm
No way, Gavin Creel?!
Posted: 2/4/22 at 7:31pm
Call_me_jorge said: "No way, Gavin Creel?!"
Or Andrew Rannells.
