Good Review of "The Book of Mormon" Musical

[_Eric]

I've not read much by Orwell outside of his serious political fiction and some of his social criticism, and frankly, wasn't aware that he had done such a large number of theatrical reviews. Sounds interesting, given his fine mind and perceptive observations of culture and human psychology.

I recommend his literary review Reflections of Ghandi if you haven't gotten to that yet. Some of his best work, in my opinion.

[_Droopy]

A Mormon wants to find authorities who can tell him how to think? SHOCKING.

Independent thought, serious, critical thought, and education - lifelong, broad, and deep within one's chosen areas of interest - are a salient feature of our doctrine, philosophy, and culture.

If you were not aware of such, I might suggest doing some greater reading at depth regarding the Church' perspectives on the importance of knowledge and education, and looking at the importance learning, knowledge, and wisdom "out of the best books," has for Latter day Saints. This learning would also including books like those written by individuals such as Rousseau, whose philosophy is incompatible in many ways with the gospel.

As we cannot fully understand our own philosophy and beliefs without understanding incompatible and/or hostile beliefs, gaining knowledge of a wide variety of philosophies, ideologies, and ideas that impact the human condition are important for the comparison and contrast they provide to our own.

[_moksha]

Truman Capote might knowingly intone that the most jejune measurement of The Book of Mormon musical was Kant's Idea for a Universal History from a Cosmopolitan Point of View. Either that or he would have watched the Tony Awards on TV and see it win for the best musical.

Trey Parker thanked Joseph Smith for his part in accepting the Tony award.

[_Joey]

And nine Tonys later......! Yup, you sure can spot a good review!!!

[_Daniel Peterson]

And nine Tonys later......! Yup, you sure can spot a good review!!!

It was a good review!!!!! No matter how many Tonys the play won!!!!!

Popularity may or may not correspond to quality!!!! Prizes may or may not accurately indicate merit!!!!! Leo Tolstoy was passed over ten (10) times for the Nobel Prize prior to his death, and the prize was given, instead, to such eminent writers as Bjørnstjerne Martinus Bjørnson (1903), Henryk Sienkiewicz (1905), Giosuè Carducci (1906), Rudolf Christoph Eucken (1908), Selma Ottillia Lovisa Lagerlöf (1909), and Paul Johann Ludwig Heyse (1910)!!!!! You're probably the only person, though, who would argue that their Nobel Prizes prove that they were greater authors than Tolstoy!!!!

Only in Dogpatch, eh Joey??????!!!!!!

[_Baker]

And nine Tonys later......! Yup, you sure can spot a good review!!!

It was a good review!!!!! No matter how many Tonys the play won!!!!!

Popularity may or may not correspond to quality!!!! Prizes may or may not accurately indicate merit!!!!! Leo Tolstoy was passed over ten (10) times for the Nobel Prize prior to his death, and the prize was given, instead, to such eminent writers as Bjørnstjerne Martinus Bjørnson (1903), Henryk Sienkiewicz (1905), Giosuè Carducci (1906), Rudolf Christoph Eucken (1908), Selma Ottillia Lovisa Lagerlöf (1909), and Paul Johann Ludwig Heyse (1910)!!!!! You're probably the only person, though, who would argue that their Nobel Prizes prove that they were greater authors than Tolstoy!!!!

Only in Dogpatch, eh Joey??????!!!!!!

It deserved those awards - it's a terrific show!

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

It was a good review!!!!! No matter how many Tonys the play won!!!!!

Popularity may or may not correspond to quality!!!! Prizes may or may not accurately indicate merit!!!!! Leo Tolstoy was passed over ten (10) times for the Nobel Prize prior to his death, and the prize was given, instead, to such eminent writers as Bjørnstjerne Martinus Bjørnson (1903), Henryk Sienkiewicz (1905), Giosuè Carducci (1906), Rudolf Christoph Eucken (1908), Selma Ottillia Lovisa Lagerlöf (1909), and Paul Johann Ludwig Heyse (1910)!!!!! You're probably the only person, though, who would argue that their Nobel Prizes prove that they were greater authors than Tolstoy!!!!

Only in Dogpatch, eh Joey??????!!!!!!

Hello Mr. Peterson,

Oh my. You certainly just had one of the most amazing meltdowns I've ever witnessed an esteemed Professor of Middle Eastern Stuides has had.

Wow. I mean... Wow.

V/R
Dr. Cameron

[_Kishkumen]

It was a good review!!!!! No matter how many Tonys the play won!!!!!

Popularity may or may not correspond to quality!!!! Prizes may or may not accurately indicate merit!!!!! Leo Tolstoy was passed over ten (10) times for the Nobel Prize prior to his death, and the prize was given, instead, to such eminent writers as Bjørnstjerne Martinus Bjørnson (1903), Henryk Sienkiewicz (1905), Giosuè Carducci (1906), Rudolf Christoph Eucken (1908), Selma Ottillia Lovisa Lagerlöf (1909), and Paul Johann Ludwig Heyse (1910)!!!!! You're probably the only person, though, who would argue that their Nobel Prizes prove that they were greater authors than Tolstoy!!!!

So, you would argue that Bjørnson, Sienkiewicz, Carducci, Eucken, Lagerlöf , and Heyse were bad writers because Tolstoy was the author who was truly deserving of the Nobel prize? I don't think that anyone is necessarily arguing that the Book of Mormon musical is a timeless classic along the lines of Tolstoy's writings, Dr. Peterson. I am left wondering exactly what your point is.

OK, we can agree that Stone & Parker are not Tolstoy.

[_cinepro]

It deserved those awards - it's a terrific show!

It was worth it just to hear these lines sung on national television:

And I believe!

...that ancient jews built boats and sailed to America.

I Believe!

...that God has a plan of us!

I Believe!

...that that plan involves me getting my own planet.

And I believe!

...that in 1978 God changed his mind about black people.

I Believe!

...that God lives on a planet named Kolob.

I Believe!

...that Jesus has his own planet as well.

And I believe!

...that the Garden of Eden was in Jackson County, Missouri.


I believe the Lord will reveal it. And you'll know it's all true, you'll just feel it.

You'll be a Mormon, and by gosh, a Mormon just believes!

The Church should have bought a bunch of ad time for the Tonys and played those "I am a Mormon" commercials. It at least would have shown a sense of humor.

[_Daniel2]

So, you would argue that Bjørnson, Sienkiewicz, Carducci, Eucken, Lagerlöf , and Heyse were bad writers because Tolstoy was the author who was truly deserving of the Nobel prize? I don't think that anyone is necessarily arguing that the Book of Mormon musical is a timeless classic along the lines of Tolstoy's writings, Dr. Peterson. I am left wondering exactly what your point is.

OK, we can agree that Stone & Parker are not Tolstoy.

Great post, Kishkumen.

Like you, I'm wondering what Peterson's point is....

Does he feel that other musicals on stage this year should have won, in lieu of "The Book of Mormon" because they were more deserving (better theatre) that it?

Is he trying to suggest that "Book of Mormon" (a play Peterson's admitted he hasn't seen) wasn't well written or quality theatre, even if he disagrees with what it teaches?

Daniel2