The Book of Mormon production image.The play has been running at the venue since 2013 and has received countless glowing reviews. However, one cannot deny the themes covered are not what one would typically expect of a West End play. Yet, when I arrived at the theatre I found the queue to enter stretched the entirety of Oxendon Street to the Harold Pinter! Inside, it was a full house, even on a Tuesday night. I figured the play must be doing something right. And in many a sense, it really is, I just cannot get over the feeling that the shock factor is wearing thin in 2025 and some of us may be longing for a new narrative.
The Book of Mormon was created by the team behind the very 90/00s-coded ‘South Park’ cartoon series, renowned for its unabashed exploration of controversial topics. South Park ceased production in 2023, probably because what was once bold and daring simply doesn’t shock or interest us any more. The same does not appear to apply to The Book of Mormon, which has a very similar approach in its treatment of contentious subjects.
The play created significant buzz when it first opened on Broadway in 2011, and you would think that in time this may have died down, but no. Indeed, whilst South Park has had its time, the play continues to thrive on the stage and looks to remain there for a long time coming.
The action revolves around two young Mormons, Elder Price (Callum Henderson) and Elder Cunningham (Connor Peirson) who are sent on a mission to Uganda to convert the citizens to the Mormon faith. It isn’t at all subtle with its treatment of the various crises that have historically plagued this part of Africa - from warlords to FGM to AIDs. Plenty of comedic elements hinge on these three topics and grotesque tropes. This is, of course, in tandem with a blatant lampooning of Mormonism.
In 2025, I did not expect any of these jokes to go down very well, assuming that as a cultural collective, we had moved away from this sense of humour, particularly when it lacks any real nuance. However, I fear the audience’s reactions prove me to have been very, very wrong. At no point during The Book of Mormon did any of the jokes fall flat, nor did they provoke any real sense of shock or outrage.
I must say that the play was very entertaining. The acting was spectacular, and the dance movements were immaculate - the same goes for every single musical number, many of which are still stuck in my head. You would hardly believe the cast repeated this performance nightly as they looked to have the energy to spare. Dues to Henderson and Pierson who really embodied their roles and delivered some heartwarming and real belly-laugh moments. The ensemble cast members were similarly faultless and breathed a welcome liveliness into the piece as a whole. All members of the team are clearly putting their all in every single night, leaning into the ridiculousness, and for this, I credit them highly. The writers were evidently aware of all of the elements that go into a successful West End show, for instance; an unlikely duo, a plot which is easy to follow, catchy numbers, and likeable leads. Perhaps they knew, also, that even if the jokes go out of fashion, the very absurdity and outright shock factor would be enough to draw crowds for a long time to come.
On the whole, I must say this play is worth a watch because it is so well executed. Not a single viewer seemed to leave angry or disappointed which signals a well-done production. Yet, the whole time I was watching I couldn’t help but wonder how my fellow audience members were really feeling. If you are not too easily offended and are willing to leave your sense of morality at the theatre door, you will be entertained. Afterwards, you might have to take time to process what you’ve just seen and the synopsis you give your friends and family! Also - you probably will have to hum the show tunes rather than sing the lyrics out loud…..
The Book of Mormon is currently booking at the Prince of Wales Theatre until 12 July 2025.
