The ridiculousness of the Book of Mormon- Page 2

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 8/9/11 at 12:58pm

>> if you call the show a two-hour fart joke when there's not a single fart joke to be found, it does cheapen your opinion

Dude, it's called "hyperbole". But again, whatever. Carry on.

[jv92]

Posted: 8/9/11 at 1:08pm

The least the writers could have done was purchased a Clement Wood. I mean, if you want to write a traditional musical comedy...oh never mind.

It blows my mind that it's selling out SOO much, but it is an entertaining evening I suppose, so...whatever.

And with FOLLIES on Broadway now (and I don't care how much you hate the production), it's no longer the best thing running.

[trentsketch]

Posted: 8/9/11 at 1:30pm

SeanMartin, I'm with you 100% on Spring Awakening. I did not like that show one bit. I disagree on The Book of Mormon, but I can totally see where you're coming from. I was more drawn to the design, staging, and performances than the fart jokes, which is how I approach everything Trey and Matt do. I knew to expect that kind of humor and prepared accordingly. I wouldn't want to dismiss South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut because of the Uncle number, nor would I want to dismiss The Book of Mormon because of the shock jokes.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 8/9/11 at 1:52pm

Matt and Trey's thing has always been hiding deep, meaningful messages behind very crass humor. Some of their grossest South Park episodes are the smartest, if you would believe that.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 8/9/11 at 1:57pm

Is there a more socially-responsible, relevant musical on Broadway right now?

Not that I can think of.

Hmmm...pretty AND smart. Call me.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 8/9/11 at 2:34pm

"Not only is it sold out until January 2012 completely, the rear mezz is sold out until October 2012, the latest selling date."

Im really sick of these histrionic threads touting that the show is sold out for years. It is not. My bestie bought tickets for next month last week. While the show is very popular, you just have to keep checking. A lot of availability opens up from day to day, week of show and even day of show. Getting tickets takes some planning and a little forethought, but its not impossible. Relax people.

[ABB2357]

Posted: 8/9/11 at 3:04pm

What Bettyboy said. Chill out, folks! I'm usually the first one to complain about high ticket prices and sellouts, but I honestly don't think any show in the past several years has earned (and exceeded) the hype the way MORMON has.

If you think the show is a mindless collection of fart jokes (it doesn't have any, by the way) you're missing out on one of the smartest and most original musicals in years that, get this, isn't based on any pre-existing source material. Imagine that!

[MusicalAreTrivial]

Posted: 8/9/11 at 3:21pm

Did a blog on Book of Mormon musical inspiration a while back...maybe you all will see the similarity.
Book of Mormon and She Loves Me?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/9/11 at 3:24pm

What's with all the 'chillout'? Nobody is up in arms or upset --one poster was simply a little suprised.

Whether a show earns or exceeds hype is also a personal opinion. There are many here that think Wicked is unworthy of all the love it receives -- and yet it continues. There are many that think Spring Awakening was useless -- and many that loved it. We could replace those titles with just about any successful title and it would still ring true.

[littlegreen2]

Posted: 8/9/11 at 3:41pm

MusicalAreTrivial - I definitely see the similarity. Also, You and Me (But Mostly Me) sounds exactly like The Wizard and I from Wicked, and it was my father who pointed that out. I've gone through the cast recording and compared the songs to other contemporary musical theatre songs. The material is funny but the score is less than original.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 8/9/11 at 3:43pm

"Not only is it sold out until January 2012 completely, the rear mezz is sold out until October 2012, the latest selling date. I am NOT paying $155 for orchestra! This whole thing is nuts. I hope if I ever do see it, that it was worth it."

Dramamama, I never said "chill out". I said relax. I was referring to the original poster whose exclamation points, caps, and phrasing makes it appear that they are a little histrionic about the whole affair. Rational people are getting tickets to the show-it happens everyday.

[ABB2357]

Posted: 8/9/11 at 4:03pm

I'm the one to blame for "chill out," Bettyboy. Hope I don't have any spooky Mormon hell dreams later tonight!

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 8/9/11 at 4:11pm

There are some musical references in The Book of Mormon, but I think a lot of the specific ones people keep pointing out are illusory.

Updated On: 8/9/11 at 04:11 PM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 8/9/11 at 4:35pm

The material is funny but the score is less than original.

The spoofs of musical theatre is intentional. The songs are still original. One of the reasons You and Me sounds so much like Wizard and I is due to the orchestrations. Yes, the song is intended to spoof the most popular musical on Broadway, but it's really the orchestrations that let the audience in on the joke. And yes, I picked up on the Sounds While Selling thing before and agree that it is probably intentional. It isn't a case of Forbidden Broadway where they are truly trying to copy show tunes with satirical lyrics. They adopt a style and write an entirely new song with some recognizable features for those who are well-versed in musicals. They did the same thing with the South Park movie. And to me, the beginning of Hasa Diga Eebowai immediately reminds me of Mama Will Provide from Once on This Island. It may not be intentional, but it wouldn't surprise me in the least if it was. I don't think that's so much unoriginal as it is very clever.

[hyperbole_and_a_half]

Posted: 8/9/11 at 6:25pm

Dude, it's called "hyperbole". But again, whatever. Carry on.

Duly noted. Your sentence has thus been commuted to merely time served, since hyperbole is clearly the best thing ever :-*

[Owen22]

Posted: 8/10/11 at 2:30am

This show is SO far from mindless I question your ability to actually sense intelligence ANYWHERE! Man, this show is so smart and subtly deep and genuinely funny. So much brilliance going on in the writing. And performed wonderfully. I can't believe how many times I've listened to that cast CD and STILL catch myself laughing out loud. And, if in the right mood, I can tear up when Price tell Cunningham he's his best friend and would do anything for him. Not only is it satirically brilliant it has real, REAL heart. I can't praise this show enough. And it certainly deserves to be the hit of the new century.

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 8/10/11 at 3:04am

"I am NOT paying $155 for orchestra!"

Nobody said you had to. :) Supply and demand is a bitch isn't it?

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 8/10/11 at 3:23am

dp

Updated On: 8/10/11 at 03:23 AM

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 8/10/11 at 3:23am

"MusicalAreTrivial - I definitely see the similarity. Also, You and Me (But Mostly Me) sounds exactly like The Wizard and I from Wicked, and it was my father who pointed that out. I've gone through the cast recording and compared the songs to other contemporary musical theatre songs. The material is funny but the score is less than original."

I wouldn't blame that on the score. It's the orchestration at fault here. He was involved with Wicked and his 9 to 5 orchestrations had similar moments. Lazy orchestration? Sure. Intentional Wicked spoof? Probably not.

What I find extremely smart about The Book of Mormon is that it doesn't merely parody a memorable musical theatre moment. They turn it on its ear.

Updated On: 8/10/11 at 03:23 AM

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 8/10/11 at 7:59am

>> This show is SO far from mindless I question your ability to actually sense intelligence ANYWHERE

Oh snap!

Okay, I get it: it's the greatest thing since... since... THE BLACK CROOK. It'll take the Pulitzer! Hell, a Nobel! Maybe even get a special Oscar *in anticipation of* a film version!

Does that make everyone happy now?

[Rage and Love]

Posted: 8/10/11 at 10:04am

dramamama611, thanks for that. It seems that anytime someone posts an opinion, they get attacked.

[aasjb4ever]

Posted: 8/10/11 at 10:26am

No, when someone begins trashing a great show, uses "facts" that the general public just buys into without any speculation regardless of truth or not, and then trashes the show's worth without having actually seen it, THEY GET ATTACKED.

Is that a decent retort, you fire starting TROLL?

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 8/10/11 at 10:39am

No one is attacking you Rage. You essentially are stating untruths about ticket availability as fact and doing it in an exasperated manner. People are merely responding to that. There are tickets, you just have to keep checking and you will have to pay full price. Its just how it goes. Its not ridiculous-its a hot show. It's expected.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 8/10/11 at 11:10am

>> then trashes the show's worth without having actually seen it, THEY GET ATTACKED.

Is that a decent retort, you fire starting TROLL?

Wow. The prescription for Prozac running out anytime soon?

[aasjb4ever]

Posted: 8/10/11 at 11:27am

YESTERDAY ACTUALLY!?!?