The Book of Mormon

At the website of The Norwegian Theatre the following, among other things, is written about The Book of Mormon:

"This is a surprising and satirical musical about religion, and it has broken all boundaries for what one may mock - and get away with. But then again, the creators are not just anybody. For years, Trey Parker and Matt Stone have challenged religions, ideologies and mindsets through the series and the movie South Park. To this duo, nothing is sacred.

(...)

Many have had a young, nicely dressed and polite Mormon calling. Few have let him in. We do. Vidar Magnussen makes his debut in the director's chair as we follow two young missionaries at their first assignment abroad. They are sent to Uganda. The challenges are far greater than they could imagine. Where they hoped to spread the word about the important book that will give you a better, more enlightened life, they meet a local community struggling with AIDS, starvation, genital mutilation and local warlords. The meeting is, mildly put, a culture crash, but a Mormon never gives up. And he believes- even in the most improbable.

(...)

The Book of Mormon opened at Broadway in 2011, and was staged in West End two years later. The production still sells out in New York and London both, and is finally ready for a Norwegian audience.

The Book of Mormon is produced in collaboration with Kilden Performing Arts Centre, and it moves on to Kristiansand after the Oslo run."

The Hedda Jury gave the following reason for the production of the year award to The Book of Mormon:

"The award winner in the production of the year category is a giant effort that has become a giant success. The same title has made up the basis for great draws in cities like New York and London, but the Norwegian production for which the award is given is far more than an adjustment of an international success. The direction is tight and precise. The ensemble sparkles, and both established names and talented newcomers are provided with enough space to flourish and excel. At every level, a well-tuned artistic team has managed to make its mark on a concept in which levels are already many and the possibilities for interpretation even more. All of this has led to a production that can be likened to a lighthouse, to fireworks, and a party, with confident timing in its acting, its music and its choreography.

This year's award goes to The Book of Mormon."

The Hedda Jury gave the following reason for the best text for the stage award to Are Kalvø:

"This year's winner in the text for the stage category has performed an assignment that is often overlooked in discussions about text within theatre. At times, it is even said that when this work is done well, it shouldn't be noticed. In the winning text, the work is done so well it is indeed noticed. It can't have been simple. Satire can be split into two main categories: The satire that makes it clear that it is satirical, and the satire that leaves to the recipient to define it as such. In the winning work, the stated and unstated satire are combined in a linguistically playful party of a text. Both the levels and the levels between them have been translated with a surefire sense of double and triple meanings, and for the musicality and rhythm of words and sentences. The result is no less than incredible.

The best text for the stage award this year goes to Are Kalvø for The Book of Mormon."

The Hedda Jury gave the following reason for the best supporting actor award to Preben Hodneland:

"A supporting role can be decisive for the whole of a production. It can expand the picture and create contrasts to its main features. Such a role often affects the flow and the rhythm of the performance. It can make moods shift, and it can increase the understanding of the environment as well as the challenges the main characters meet. In the production for which the award is given, the award winner does all of this. The role he interprets is not big in size, but he has found room for diverse flourish and nuanced character depiction. He has combined merriment and solemnity at a swishing fast pace, and his entertainer talent reaches full score. He also sings and dances, and this with great confidence.

This year, the best supporting actor award goes to Preben Hodneland for The Book of Mormon."

SOURCES:

The Norwegian Theatre, www.detnorsketeatret.no, 27.10.2016, http://www.detnorsketeatret.no/framsyningar/the-book-of-mormon/

The Hedda Award, www.heddaprisen.no, 18.06.2018, https://www.heddaprisen.no/vinnere/2018

The Hedda Award, www.heddaprisen.no, 18.06.2018, https://www.heddaprisen.no/nominerte/2018

• Musikkteaterprisen 2017 - Årets musikal
• The Hedda Award 2018 - Production of the year

• Musikkteaterprisen 2017 - Årets musikal
• The Hedda Award 2018 - Production of the year