Satirical musical returns
The Book of Mormon is riddled with profanity, uses four-letter words, ricochets sex jokes and is deliberately sacrilegious. But when the touring musical played Edmonton in 2016, audiences ate it up.First staged in 2011, the Broadway musical’s premise follows two naive door-to-door Mormon missionaries who travel to Uganda hoping to convert villagers.
The villagers are uninterested. They face more pressing problems such as famine and oppression from a warlord.
The parody contrasts reality with fantasy and nothing is off-limits, from AIDS and genital mutilation to Jesus and Yoda.
With numerous sold-out engagements, The Book of Mormon returns to the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium Sept. 18 to 23. Tickets go on sale Monday, June 25 at 10 a.m. They are available at 1-800-889-8457 or www.ticketmaster.ca.
Opera Nuova’s 20th season
For its two-decade celebration, Opera Nuova reimagines Mozart’s The Magic Flute as a Canadian theme dubbed The Arctic Flute running June 23, 26, 28 and 30.In this contemporary adaptation, the mystical darkness of winter gives way to a sparkling spring where two young people are determined to save themselves from greed and ignorance.
Striving to preserve the endangered environment, they also attempt to lead the world towards a peaceful, enlightened and sustainable future.
The opera troupe’s second production is Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods on June 24, 27, 29 and 30.
Directed by Brian Deedrick, Sondheim’s brilliant musical score reminds viewers to be alert to their own desires. This dark musical weaves together the plots from several famous fairy tales relaying contemporary messages about dreams, wishes and building community.
Both shows are performed at Festival Place. For tickets visit www.operanuova.ca
