Tag Archives: Robert Lopez

REVIEW: The Book of Mormon – Theatre Royal, Glasgow

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Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s musical satire on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, The Book of Mormon, is finally in Glasgow after a postponement due to a little thing called COVID.

Premiering on Broadway in 2011, winning nine Tony Awards and after running in the West End for nearly a decade, its reputation precedes it, but you’d be wrong to judge without seeing for yourself. On the surface crude, cruel and pushing the envelope, it is certainly not for the easily offended, but dig a little deeper and it is so much more than that.

Two hapless, polar opposite LDS missionaries, the wide-eyed, idealistic Elder Price and the pathological liar Elder Cunningham, are sent on their two-year Mormon mission to a remote Ugandan village. Suffice it to say, the locals aren’t exactly welcoming them with open arms. Added to that there’s the AIDS crisis, famine, poverty and a despotic warlord for good measure. Of course, there are the inevitable ‘journeys’ everyone embarks on to find one’s true self, all done with a tongue planted firmly in the cheek.

It is a musical that heavily relies on shock and surprise, and it would be churlish to give away the funniest scenes. There are laughs on laughs and foot tapping tune after tune, all delivered by a knockout cast. Principal among them are Conner Peirson as Elder Cunningham, who steals every scene he’s in; the beautiful-voiced Aviva Tulley as Nabulungi and Jordan Lee Davies wrestling gloriously with his homosexual urges as Elder McKinley.

It’s clear that the whole thing has been written with affection by Parker and Stone and of course, musical theatre royalty Robert Lopez (Avenue Q, Frozen, Coco) there is no way that it could get away with what it does, if it were purely cruel rather than impressively clever.

It is a giant juggernaut of a show and serves up a slice of unashamed satire that’s much needed in our easily offended world. If you needed any other reason to see it, ask yourself where else will you see Genghis Khan playing guitar with the Devil onstage in Glasgow on a weekday night?

Runs until 26 November 2022 | Originally published at The Reviews Hub

REVIEW: Avenue Q – Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow

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There can be few who call themselves musical theatre lovers who have yet to see Avenue Q, Robert Lopez, Jeff Marx and Jeff Whitty’s naughty but (ultimately) nice satire on the lives of the twenty-something human and not-so human, residents of a downbeat New York street. It is testament to the popularity of the piece that after four years of almost continual touring since leaving the West End, the show is still packing in audiences around the country.

Neither those returning to the piece nor first timers, will be disappointed by Sell a Door Theatre Company’s latest production. The gang’s all here: Princeton, Rod, Nicky, Kate, Brian, Christmas Eve, The Bad Idea Bears and of course, Trekkie Monster, as are the now infamous songs “The Internet is for Porn”, ‘Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist” and “What Do You Do with a B.A. in English?”

In comparison to shows such as Book of Mormon, with whom it shares a composer (Robert Lopez), Avenue Qis beginning to look more like the naughty little sibling rather than the controversial, ground-breaking, triple Tony award-winning daddy of modern musicals that it once was (the Gary Coleman reference in particular dates the piece badly). But, that said, it is still a winner. So well does it articulate the foibles of modern life and relationships that it never fails to raise a smile.

Stand-out amongst the engaging cast is Stephen Arden who skilfully juggles the multiple roles of Nicky, a Bad Idea Bear and the show-stealing Trekkie Monster with an ease that belies the difficult character changes. His physicality and vibrant energy are impressive as is Emily-Jane Morris as Christmas Eve whose knock out vocals bring the house down in “The More You Ruv Someone”.

Less than successful is Lucie-Mae Sumner who, whilst utterly captivating in her characterisation of Kate Monster is less convincing in the role of Lucy The Slut and her thin vocals fail to do justice to one of the show’s most iconic songs “There’s a Fine, Fine, Line”.

Avenue Q still retains its ability to thoroughly entertain and remains as irreverent, infectious and utterly irresistible as it ever has.

4****

REVIEW: Avenue Q, King’s Theatre Glasgow 2nd July 2011 starring Rachel Jerram

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Today’s show was another one on my ‘still to see’ list –

AVENUE Q is not the most upmarket of New York streets, and is about as far away from Park Avenue as you can get, but it is home to some lively and off the wall characters performed by a comedic alliance of humans and puppets!

Princeton, a bright-eyed college graduate, has just moved to this neighbourhood as he desperately tries to follow his dreams and discover his ever-elusive purpose in life.

A tiny bank balance, the distraction of a busty blonde and a variety of weird and wonderful friends and neighbours lead Princeton on a journey of self-discovery. Life may suck on AVENUE Q but being jobless, homeless, politically incorrect, having sex (whether hetero, homo or porno… and that’s just the puppets!) are just some of the topics featured in the songs of this show. Winner of the 2004 Tony Award for Best Musical.

Not exactly the most regular premise for a musical and it didn’t temp me enough to fork out West End prices for it, but again it’s on tour so I gave it a go!

Well, I don’t know what I was thinking but this was brilliant. The performers had the audience in the palm of their hands throughout and on their feet at the end. The actors performed with wit, energy and sensitivity and with amazing dexterity. Special nod to Rachel Jerram, Adam Pettigrew and Chris Thatcher. An absolute joy from start to finish – go see it.