The Book of Mormon - is there still buzz?

[everythingtaboo]

Just curious, are people still abuzz about BOM in London? I know it doesn't start until February, so is it selling well?

[ClapYo'Hands]

I believe the previews are near (if not) sold out.

[Phantom of London]

Mormons will take over next year, already 100% official, Charles Spencer has already started on a pre-opening night course of diazepam to be really ready.

If anyone comes on this thread to say "it won't do as well as it has done in New York". I am ready for you, to stick you in a cement mixer and turn you into goo.

[Stewart A]

I'm surprised that a show that has been so huge in NY isn't going to a larger theatre in the West End as it sounds like it could sell in a larger house. I have to say from what I've read and seen it doesn't really appeal to me all that much but I will probably get around to seeing it at some point. I have often found that overhyped shows aren't as good as they are made out - thinking of The Producers and Jerry Springer The Opera which were both big let downs.

[TBFL]

BOM on Broadway could easily move to a larger theatre, but being in a smaller house means it is always sold out, which pushes premium prices higher, and it mnakes it a hard to get ticket, so it becomes more of an event. Its a smart move.

[Phantom of London]

The Book of Mormon was offered the St James, but the show needs a small theatre to sell out for it's dynamic pricing structure to work.

[Jonwo]

The Prince of Wales isnt that small, its a similar capacity to the Eugene OO'neil on Broadway.

[DanielWhit]

Capacity:

Prince of Wales Theatre - 1160
Eugene O'Neill Theatre - 1102

[mrkringas]

Stewart A when did you see The Producers?

The first three months with Nathan Lane and then afterwards with errr name escapes me but that entire original London company were superb.

Sadly the entire affair degenerated in later recasts as the show lost its energy.

[Princeton Returns]

agreed, and it was huge when it first opened and filled drury lane and then it quickly trailed off. i do wonder if mormon will go the same way. time will tell i guess

[Stewart A]

I saw The Producers on broadway in 2004 but don't ask me who was in it as I hadn't heard of them plus I think the understudy was playing Max that night. I couldn't fault the performers but I just didn't find it that funny. I was expecting to be in stitches all night but I wasn't.

I am sure Mormon will do well in the west end. Some transfers fair better than others - Rent didn't do too well but Wicked has so time will tell I guess.

[FireFingers]

The buzz has died down, but of course it has. The press and cast is out, it won't balloon till previews and press night, when it will become the hottest show in town... probably.

It could go into a large theatre, but their aren't any available and suitable. Plus it is still a gamble (though it will recoup easily I think)

[Phantom of London]

The Book of Mormon works in a more 'intimate' theatre, the show would be completely lost in somewhere like the Palladium and Drury Lane, IMHO the Prince of Wales is the 100% perfect house, also the said theatre is one of the nicest houses in London anyway.

I am so curious how the London critics will take to the show, I could equally see them loving it with a pull quotes like 'Mormon Heaven' or equally hating it with something like 'American Vulgar Trash Finds The West End Gutter', I just can't tell how it is going to go after the Stellar New York notices, but rest assured I will be one of the first to be reading them in April.

[Jonwo]

I doubt the producers would have looked at theatres like Drury Lane or Palladium, I imagine the biggest realistic sized theatres would have been the Palace or Adelphi.

[Phantom of London]

Agreed, just making a point.

[Quiche2]

Definitely still buzz.

[Scripps2]

There's no comparison between BoM and The Producers.

I invited two friends (who are theatregoers but not musical anoraks) to see The Producers (JGS had just taken over from Lee Evans) and they were ho-hum about it. A lot of the in-jokes and references to other musicals went over their heads and I've avoided taking them to large scale West End musicals ever since.

Wind the clock forwards to September this year and they were on the 'phone to me asking when we were going to book to see BoM.

[TBFL]

I agree theres no comparison.

maybe on Broadway Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick made the material fly, but the London production was dull. Seriously plodding. Thats the problem with casting such big names to open a show. The BOM team want the show itself to be the star and can be (obviously not easily...) duplicated elsewhere without the names attached. I really think its one of the funniest things i have seen in the theatre. Like Scripps, ive also had non theatre friends ask about the show, because they heard it was by the south park guys and therefore it should be rude and offensive and a good night out, which it is!

I imagine once christmas is out the way, there will be more buzz and press about it. Or maybe they should do a tv ad and capture the christmas market! (why do we not have tv ads for shows here like they do in NYC??)

[Phantom of London]

I am going with 3 work colleagues in the previews, unfortunately and I forgot this when I booked the tickets and one of them is a very devout Christian, help?

[Owen22]

Don't worry. In the end, faith is sorta reconfirmed at the end. Its very heartfelt, though it gets there in a sorta obscene/hilarious way... but eventually, actually moving.

[winston89]

There's one big difference between The Producers and Book of Mormon. And, that has to do with casting. When it came time to cast replacements in The Producers, they were having actors become carbon copies of Nathan Lane and Matthew Brodrick. For Book of Mormon they have been letting actors do their own thing with the role and make it their own. That is one major reason why Book of Mormon is vastly different than The Producers.

[TBFL]

You mean apart from one has a great book and score and the other doesnt??