The Book of Mormon

The Book of Mormon (2017) is a musical theatre production by The Norwegian Theatre in collaboration with Kilden, Kristiansand, the Norwegian premiere of the satirical musical by Trey Parker, Matt Stone and Robert Lopez. The production was performed at The Norwegian Theatre's main stage, prior to being transferred to Kilden in 2018. After being performed in Kristiansand, it returned to The Norwegian Theatre for a new run, for 2018 and 2019.

Vidar Magnussen directed it. The production is his debut as a director of theatre.

Frank Kjosås plays the role of Kevin Price.

Kristoffer Olsen plays the role of Arnold Cunningham. He was given the musical theatre award Musikkteaterprisen in the best musical theatre artist category for the role.

The Book of Mormon received three awards during The Hedda Award 2018. The production was given the award in the production of the year category. Are Kalvø received the award in the best text for the stage category for his translation, and Preben Hodneland received the award in the best supporting actor category for the role of Elder McKinley. In addition, Kristoffer Olsen was nominated in the best leading actor category for the role of Arnold Cunningham.

The Book of Mormon was performed during the festival Heddadagene 2018.

Information

(Objekt ID 67545)
Object type Production
Premiere September 2, 2017
Produced by The Norwegian Theatre
Coproducers Kilden Theatre
Based on The Book of Mormon by Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Robert Lopez, Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Robert Lopez
Audience Adults
Audience size 150038
Number of events 265
Language Norwegian Nynorsk
Keywords Musical, Theatre
Running period September 2, 2017  
Website Det Norske Teatret
More

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

Performance dates
June 16, 2018Hovudscenen, The Norwegian Theatre Show
June 15, 2018Hovudscenen, The Norwegian Theatre Show
June 14, 2018Hovudscenen, The Norwegian Theatre Show
June 12, 2018Hovudscenen, The Norwegian Theatre Show
June 9, 2018Hovudscenen, The Norwegian Theatre Show
April 20, 2018Konsertsalen, Kilden New opening
September 2, 2017Hovudscenen, The Norwegian Theatre National premiere, Norway
Festivals (1)
Heddadagene June 9, 2018