Hello! My name is Sister Rodgers. And I would like to share with you the most amazing book.
OK, I am not converting to the Church of the Latter-Day Saints, but I did see “The Book of Mormon” Wednesday at the Des Moines Civic Center. A well-touted, comedic musical, I was not disappointed as I watched the story unfold before me. It had me smiling and laughing from start to finish.
The three leads of the show gave very compelling performances to keep the audience engaged with what was happening on stage. Candace Quarrels plays the young Ugandan village girl, Nabulungi who the missionaries meet on their assignment to Africa. Quarrels had a beautiful voice. She made you believe in the girl searching for a paradise far away from her bleak existence.
The show would be nothing without its two main Mormon missionaries, Elder Price (Ryan Bondy) and Elder Cunningham (Cody Jamison Strand). Strand was by far the biggest comedian of the group. His antics on stage had the audience rolling with laughter. Bondy brought the winning smile and upbeat attitude that you would expect from the top-of-his-class Morman recruit heading out on his first assignment. Strand and Bondy worked very well together, really bringing out the comedy wherever possible.
Elder Price is the “golden boy” of the recruits and Elder Cunningham is the screw-up who never seems to do things right. So it stands to reason that Elder Price would be the leader. However, when the struggles of Uganda get to Price, it is Cunningham that must teach the African village about “The Book of Mormon” — in his own unique method.
Even though Elder Cunningham didn’t teach the Africans in the traditional way, they were still able to understand the message. This understanding is what helped them find the courage within to stand up to those who oppress them. Everybody needs something on which to base their beliefs. It’s what gives them strength to live the way they choose. It doesn’t matter where that strength comes from as long as it works for you.
The real draw to the show is its comedy. For a comedy to work, it has to have a great ensemble cast in addition to the main leads. The national tour brought a very high caliber of talent to Des Moines. Each member of the cast had great comedic timing. The group song and dance numbers were amazing. Every cast member was working hard to give the audience the best performance possible.
Much of the comedy comes from the juxtaposition of the happy, cheery song and dance from the Mormons with the harsh way the Africans look at their life, and the struggles they deal with on a daily basis. The contrast and clever writing brings many laughable moments — especially to those who have had a Mormon missionary ring their doorbell.
It’s easy to see why it holds the record for the largest weekly gross in Civic Center history and why people want it back in Des Moines again and again. It was two and a half hours of non-stop fun.
“The Book of Mormon” will be in Des Moines until Sunday. I feel as though I should mention there is quite a bit of strong language in the show, but don’t let that stop you from joining in the hilarity.
Contact Pam Rodgers at
prodgers@newtondailynews.com