The Book of Mormon, by Matt Stone and Trey Parker

[falafel]

I've been listening to the soundtrack for a few weeks. Can anyone who has seen the musical provide a little context for the "I have maggots in my scroooooootuuuuuuum!" line? Is there any?

[pellegrino]

I've been listening to the soundtrack for a few weeks. Can anyone who has seen the musical provide a little context for the "I have maggots in my scroooooootuuuuuuum!" line? Is there any?

I believe it's referring to one of the native's health problems. I think a native says it.

[falafel]

I believe it's referring to one of the native's health problems. I think a native says it.

That makes sense. I thought it was Elder Cunningham.

[UtahDan]

I've been listening to the soundtrack for a few weeks. Can anyone who has seen the musical provide a little context for the "I have maggots in my scroooooootuuuuuuum!" line? Is there any?

It is just a recurring gag. The context is that Elder Price is teaching one of the locals about the Book of Mormon and trying to get him to recognize what the spirit is. He has him read something then asks him whether he felt moved, like there was a stirring inside of him. The native says yes. Elder Price asks him if he knows where that feeling comes from (or maybe tells him it is from God) at which point the native says "its because I have maggots in my scrotum."

From there on out he keeps bringing it up.

[PaloAltoCougar]

We saw it this evening. I'd give it a very qualified, and yet very enthusiastic, thumbs up. Two production numbers are extremely obscene and offensive (to people generally, not just Mormons), typical of the South Park guys going too far at times. But other songs and production numbers were not only very well done, but were actually touching. The audience went nuts over the production, with a very long and enthusiastic standing ovation. We agreed that, on balance, for non-members the show helps more than it hurts the LDS public image. That said, when/if this show hits SLC the positive and negative reactions will both be off the charts.

BTW, we also saw How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, with Harry Potter and John Larroquette. That was very good as well; a nice weekend of Broadway and overeating.

[UtahDan]

We saw it this evening. I'd give it a very qualified, and yet very enthusiastic, thumbs up. Two production numbers are extremely obscene and offensive (to people generally, not just Mormons), typical of the South Park guys going too far at times. But other songs and production numbers were not only very well done, but were actually touching. The audience went nuts over the production, with a very long and enthusiastic standing ovation. We agreed that, on balance, for non-members the show helps more than it hurts the LDS public image. That said, when/if this show hits SLC the positive and negative reactions will both be off the charts.

BTW, we also saw How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, with Harry Potter and John Larroquette. That was very good as well; a nice weekend of Broadway and overeating.

Going to the show is in the top five most fun things I have ever done. I'm glad you saw the good in it. But now spill it, did you eat anywhere good?

[creekster]

Going to the show is in the top five most fun things I have ever done. I'm glad you saw the good in it. But now spill it, did you eat anywhere good?

Seriously? I find that really surprising. And my reaction to your statement has nothing to do with the subject matter of the production. I have seen a number of shows on Broadway, including some I considered very moving and very entertaining, but none of them would come close to being among the top five most fun things I have ever done. Was that hyperbole or did you really think that as a production this show is just that good, that much superior to anything else before it?

[UtahDan]

Seriously? I find that really surprising. And my reaction to your statement has nothing to do with the subject matter of the production. I have seen a number of shows on Broadway, including some I considered very moving and very entertaining, but none of them would come close to being among the top five most fun things I have ever done. Was that hyperbole or did you really think that as a production this show is just that good, that much superior to anything else before it?

Yes, it is that good. Have you listened to the sound track? Plus seeing something that hot just a few months into its run added to the wow factor. Lots of people are saying it is the best musical in ten years. If you can get past the really offensive numbers (PAC is right there are two of them) it is just superbly written, the music is great, the dancing is fun, it is touching and it is about US. Sort of a perfect storm for me personally.

EDIT: Also, that was my first Broadway show believe it or not. Maybe additional experience will change my perspective.

[PaloAltoCougar]

But now spill it, did you eat anywhere good?

Two places of note.... Last night we ate at l'Ecole, the restaurant affiliated with the Culinary Institute for French cooking. A four course price fixe meal prep'd by the instructors (really good). Today we enjoyed a 3 PM brunch at the Harlem Grill. Food was so so, but the crowd was a lot of fun, as the Giants were on the big screen while we dined.

[PaloAltoCougar]

At the risk of digging up the dead horse so I can beat it again, after thinking more about the theatrical experience, I wanted to mention a couple of major negatives about the musical, but need to provide spoilers in order to do so.

Spoiler for Some very gritty details, please self-censor:

We knew going in there would be a lot of obscenities and R- or X-rated themes. The Hasa Diga Eebowai song (a takeoff of Hakuna Matata, in which the natives are singing Eff You, God) refers to carnal acts involving every orifice of the body. And the final play within a play, intended by the natives to be an homage to the Church performed for the benefit of the mission president, includes references to bestiality with the males wearing yard-long strap ons--all these reflect their misunderstanding of the missionaries' message and some creative liberties taken by the problem elder.

All of this was certainly offensive enough although, as noted, the greatest offenses were general in nature, and not directed at the Church (Africans have greater cause to be upset than Church members). But for me, the most offensive elements centered around a presumed cure for AIDS: having sex with a baby. I'm still perplexed, and more than a little bothered, by a line that one character repeated whenever he'd walk off the stage: "I'm going to go eff a baby!", always to much laughter among the audience. Honestly, I can't think of any circumstance under which that line should be funny.

The South Park creators are very smart, funny guys, and much of the musical is pretty great (I love 3-4 songs in particular). But the authors seem to lack any internal filters and a few moments are outrageously obscene and, I would have thought, offensive by anyone's standards. It bothers me that, particularly as to the baby joke, there were apparently no standards at all. I'd still recommend the musical to some here, but certainly not to others.

[marsupial]

At the risk of digging up the dead horse so I can beat it again, after thinking more about the theatrical experience, I wanted to mention a couple of major negatives about the musical, but need to provide spoilers in order to do so.

Spoiler for Some very gritty details, please self-censor:

We knew going in there would be a lot of obscenities and R- or X-rated themes. The Hasa Diga Eebowai song (a takeoff of Hakuna Matata, in which the natives are singing Eff You, God) refers to carnal acts involving every orifice of the body. And the final play within a play, intended by the natives to be an homage to the Church performed for the benefit of the mission president, includes references to bestiality with the males wearing yard-long strap ons--all these reflect their misunderstanding of the missionaries' message and some creative liberties taken by the problem elder.

All of this was certainly offensive enough although, as noted, the greatest offenses were general in nature, and not directed at the Church (Africans have greater cause to be upset than Church members). But for me, the most offensive elements centered around a presumed cure for AIDS: having sex with a baby. I'm still perplexed, and more than a little bothered, by a line that one character repeated whenever he'd walk off the stage: "I'm going to go eff a baby!", always to much laughter among the audience. Honestly, I can't think of any circumstance under which that line should be funny.

The South Park creators are very smart, funny guys, and much of the musical is pretty great (I love 3-4 songs in particular). But the authors seem to lack any internal filters and a few moments are outrageously obscene and, I would have thought, offensive by anyone's standards. It bothers me that, particularly as to the baby joke, there were apparently no standards at all. I'd still recommend the musical to some here, but certainly not to others.

I really wanted to see the Book of Mormon musical but my interest waned after listening to the soundtrack. A few of the songs were great--cuz God loves Mormons and he wants some more--but a few of the songs were vulgar beyond words. Because I haven't seen the musical, I assume there is some context to the lyrics that I am missing, but I have a hard time understanding how they'd be any better in context. I agree with you on the baby part. I don't think it is funny... I couldn't even enjoy the Hangover because a baby was left in a hotel room with passed-out bachelors and a tiger.

Still, if I were ever to get a chance to see it, I'd totally go.

[Clueless]

Does she still have an...er...celebrity bishop and matron? That's my old ward and the bishop (called in late 2005) was a striking individual who has had an uneasy relationship with Michael Ballum/Satan.

Not any more but he was my photographer!

[RobinFinderson]

Geesh... we were excited to catch the touring show when it came through LA, but tickets are about $200 a pop after fees and taxes. I wouldn't even be able to enjoy the show knowing that I paid $200 for the ticket. And $600 for the family? That is the price of two long weekend camping trips to a national park. That is the price of our next video game system plus a few games. That is half the price of a decent computer. That is the price of a week-long science field trip to Catalina for Little Robin. That is the price of TWO trips up to the Champagne Room with Fifi. There MUST be a cheaper way to see a maggot-infested scrotum (and I've heard it's fake).

[UtahDan]

[YOUTUBE]ekwiXQDdhSk[/YOUTUBE]

If you watched the Tonys the other night (I didn't) this part is was free, Robin.

[Green Monstah]

Interestingly, myformer boss, who teased me incessantly about being Mormon, saw this on broadway and he and his wife walked out early. He said he thought it wasn't cool to mock a religion like they did.