The Book of Mormon is easily one of the funniest musicals out there, and it's no secret why. Written by the co-creators of South Park, the offensively hilarious cartoon that's aired since 1997, the musical is filled with a similar comedic approach to a much more serious topic: Mormon missionary work.
The show, which returns to Spokane's First Interstate Center for the Arts through Saturday, follows Elder Price (Sam McLellan) and Elder Cunningham (Diego Enrico), two missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who go to Uganda for a two-year mission trip.
After arriving, however, they realize the Ugandan villagers really have no interest in religion, but real concerns on their mind: the violent warlord who rules their village and the famine and disease running rampant in the region. Yet one young girl in the village, Nabulungi, played in this tour by Keke Nesbitt, might just be the key to helping the Elders find footing in their work.
"She's the most hopeful for change, so I think their partnership with Nabulungi kind of surpasses all of the cultural differences, and they're able to bring these two different communities together," Nesbitt says. "I think if you compare it to any other comedy, it's the same thing, you know, they take these situations that can be offensive or hurtful, but they try and put the spin on it, to make it funny, and just for everyone to have a good time."
While Nesbitt, 23, had heard about The Book of Mormon in her Palm Beach, Florida high school, she didn't actually see the musical until her sophomore year at Penn State University. She attended the show, not because of its popularity, but because one of her school's alumni was starring in it.
"I thought it was just so funny, and it was kind of like a come-to-Jesus moment of like, 'Oh my gosh, wait, I was once where they were,'" Nesbitt recalls. "It was just really cool to see that."
During her senior year of college, Nesbitt auditioned for the same show. While most fresh graduates are left wondering "What's next?" Nesbitt was cast in the leading female role with the nationally touring musical even before graduating two years ago.
It's an actor's job to bring a character to life regardless of how far apart the two may be, but Nesbitt says she sees a lot of herself in Nabulungi.
"Both of our auras are light, and I think we're very fun, upbeat people. Anytime someone hangs around us, you know, it's a better day and that's just because of, like, the spirit that I carry and the spirit that I think Nabulungi carries," Nesbitt says. "Within the show that's needed, because a lot of dark stuff happened in Uganda."
Now, as she finishes her second and final year with more than 500 performances under her belt, Nesbitt is ready to move to New York and begin auditioning for her next role.
"I don't know if I'm ever going to do a show for this long again, it's kind of a once-in-a-lifetime experience," Nesbitt says. "I don't have a home yet outside of college, so I'm excited to get to New York and figure out what my life is outside of a tour." ♦
The Book of Mormon • June 3-7; Tue-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sat also at 2 pm • $45-$140 • First Interstate Center for the Arts • 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. • broadwayspokane.com
