BackStage Utah

I got a ticket!!  I paid a fortune for it, but I'm going to be in NY when the show was sold out, so I bought a single seat on the last row of the balcony, but I'm seeing it!

May 8th.  I can't wait!

Ah yes, I should have returned and reported.

Objectively, the musical was wonderful.� For one, it seems to have become something of a rarity to see an original musical on Broadway that isn't based on a movie, a band, or a revival of an old classic.� While I certainly think shows like Sister Act and Priscilla Queen of the Desert bring something brilliant to the great white way, seeing something that is not only original but fantastic was a treat.

The tone of the show was definitely sillier than traditionally great broadway shows, but to its credit it worked perfectly for the story and message and subject matter of the show.� If the lyrics and book hadn't been so clever, it might have felt a little cheesy and certainly too vulgar.� However, I've always excused vulgarity when coupled with wit.


It was hilarious of course.� I don't think it was quite on par with Avenue Q, if I were forced to compare.� Because of my background I was naturally hyper sensitive to the subject matter and it wasn't always clear when I was laughing because it was hilarious versus when I was laughing to prove to myself that I could laugh at myself.

It's hard to be very objective about the subject matter.� I felt as though some parts of the play could have been performed by mormon actors at a stake roadshow and would have been a big hit, but of course felt differently to have others doing it instead.� Many other moments were definitely mean spirited, painting Mormons as a group as silly morons, but done in a way that laughs at a stereotype, not an individual.� That being the case, I hope audiences understand that stereotypes generally fit very few individuals completely, but might capture a tone rather accurately.� �(does that makes sense?)

Anyway, as South Park sometimes does, some moments reached an absurdity that I felt stopped being clever and became something more like, "ohhh... they said it!� I can't believe they went there.� What won't they say??"� Which I think is where wit drops off and vulgarity bridges the gap.

It IS fitting I suppose because if the show has a message to Mormons it might be: "This is how absurd you seem to the rest of us!"� Dicks.� � On the other hand, if it has a message to the rest of the world it might be: "Hey, let people believe in whatever absurdity they like as long as it makes them happy and helps them live a better life."� I sort of appreciate that when it has become so fashionable and easy to simply berate a religious group.� I think it speaks to the talent of the creators that they could make something a little more thoughtful than that.

All in all, the music is good and I found it memorable and cast was fantastically talented.� If you are LDS be prepared to see things you find sacred blasphemed, but I felt like direct ridicule wasn't excessive.� Mostly it was akin to dressing up like a pregnant Nun for Halloween and assuming catholics can take a joke.

Mister A wrote Today at 1:13pm:


Elder McKinley, like the rest of the ensemble, has really quite a small part. His highlight as being gay in "Turn it off" is just about the extent of the show's focus on him.  His character doesn't really develop further, except as all the other missionaries' do in "I am Africa."  The show focuses almost exclusively on Elder Price and Elder.... fat guy.  And the African woman (who btw, I once had drinks with after her performance in Rent as Mimi, because she went to school with a good friend of mine).  Everyone else mostly adds flavor to what is going on with them.

Sorry.  I guess his story is for another musical.