18,889 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 15, 2021 7:04:37 GMT
I agree with every word she says. I sat through it a few years ago and never cracked a smile. I found it offensive and unfunny.
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56 posts
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Post by mhumphries on Mar 15, 2021 9:51:28 GMT
If we are going to use BOM as an stick to beat the old ‘why there are there more white people in the audience then black people’ debate, maybe it’s not because they feel excluded, not because they are not interested and not because they feel the show insensitivity handles black representation poorly.
Maybe they are just smart enough to realise £90 to £100+ for a single ticket is not good value for money. Maybe they are smart enough to not support inflated ticket prices and there by locking anyone out of even a single ticket let alone a family booking.
As for the background artist concerns in the video, if that is what she felt looking out into the audience for Mormon, wonder if she would feel the same if she was in Hamilton?
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1,210 posts
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Post by musicalmarge on Mar 15, 2021 10:09:40 GMT
I agree with every word she says. I sat through it a few years ago and never cracked a smile. I found it offensive and unfunny. Offensive and unfunny is WHY it is funny. Lol It’s like laughing at a dying person who has cancer and one leg. Though desperately sad, sometimes black humour is needed and you can (and sometimes) HAVE to find humour in this crazy life. Book of Mormon is funny because it’s so horrendously rude, UN PC, racist, mocks religion, sexuality and life in general
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4,458 posts
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Post by poster J on Mar 15, 2021 10:57:17 GMT
I agree with every word she says. I sat through it a few years ago and never cracked a smile. I found it offensive and unfunny. Offensive and unfunny is WHY it is funny. Lol It’s like laughing at a dying person who has cancer and one leg. Though desperately sad, sometimes black humour is needed and you can (and sometimes) HAVE to find humour in this crazy life. Book of Mormon is funny because it’s so horrendously rude, UN PC, racist, mocks religion, sexuality and life in general No, not everyone needs black humour. I don't think there is any circumstance in which I would find laughing at a dying person who has cancer funny. That is grossly offensive.
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4,599 posts
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Post by Mark on Mar 15, 2021 11:01:29 GMT
Offensive and unfunny is WHY it is funny. Lol It’s like laughing at a dying person who has cancer and one leg. Though desperately sad, sometimes black humour is needed and you can (and sometimes) HAVE to find humour in this crazy life. Book of Mormon is funny because it’s so horrendously rude, UN PC, racist, mocks religion, sexuality and life in general No, not everyone needs black humour. I don't think there is any circumstance in which I would find laughing at a dying person who has cancer funny. That is grossly offensive. My sister was a dancer but she got cancer The doctor said she still had two months more I thought she had time, so I got in line For the new iPhone at the Apple Store She lay there dying with my father and mother Her very last words were, "Where is my brother?" Turn it off!
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1,210 posts
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Post by musicalmarge on Mar 15, 2021 11:41:52 GMT
Offensive and unfunny is WHY it is funny. Lol It’s like laughing at a dying person who has cancer and one leg. Though desperately sad, sometimes black humour is needed and you can (and sometimes) HAVE to find humour in this crazy life. Book of Mormon is funny because it’s so horrendously rude, UN PC, racist, mocks religion, sexuality and life in general No, not everyone needs black humour. I don't think there is any circumstance in which I would find laughing at a dying person who has cancer funny. That is grossly offensive. Actually without going into personal details about my life. You do find humour in the darkest times in your life. That’s exactly what you do. In my times visiting ICU in hospital I’ve laughed more than I cried. It’s called survival. So yes, you can laugh at someone who has cancer (including yourself). Offensive yes? Reality yes.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2021 12:04:40 GMT
No, not everyone needs black humour. I don't think there is any circumstance in which I would find laughing at a dying person who has cancer funny. That is grossly offensive. Actually without going into personal details about my life. You do find humour in the darkest times in your life. That’s exactly what you do. In my times visiting ICU in hospital I’ve laughed more than I cried. It’s called survival. So yes, you can laugh at someone who has cancer (including yourself). Offensive yes? Reality yes. Maybe thats the case for you, in your particular experience, butt you cant speak on the behalf of everyone else. Everyone has their own coping strategies. And just because you find it appropriate to laugh at a subject doesn't trivialise it for others. Some people are able to laugh and joke about rape, it doesn't make it any less devastating for those affected. Because your able to laugh at songs poking fun at racism doesn't mean that someone whose spent their life enduring racist remarks and been the subject of hatred, doesn't mean they'll respond the same way.
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Post by singularsensation10 on Mar 15, 2021 12:50:24 GMT
I think a big reason why BOM has done so well over here is because of the British love for satire. And this is satirical about more things than African people. The big question is whether this is still appropriate after a huge shift in our culture and awareness of racism, and whether people that found this funny 5 years ago (because of it’s silly, satirical and jokey view on genuine people and their cultural differences, I don’t think people sit at this show and ‘laugh at Black people’, they laugh at the characters’ quirks and punchy one liners) will feel comfortable laughing at this in 2021.
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Post by sph on Mar 15, 2021 14:21:23 GMT
While I agree with parts of what she says (for example, fans tend to love the Mormons rather than the Africans, which is sad), her point about the Mormons coming to the village and the ending not REALLY being happy because people still have AIDS etc, is, in my understanding, the entire point of the show is it not? The show literally makes fun of white saviours - "We're here to save you and here's our religion to help us do it!" when in fact they haven't helped at all. And many of the Africans, while naive, are far smarter than the Mormons and just want help with their actual daily problems. Sort of like they're saying "If your God is real, why should we worship him when he's clearly screwed us over?"
As for representation within the audience, yes there are many cultural and economic factors which could contribute to why there are less black people than white people, but at the same time, you also have to remember that only just over 3% of the UK population is black, so statistically that's going to happen anyway.
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2,379 posts
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Post by robertb213 on Mar 15, 2021 14:53:15 GMT
I didn't find it overly offensive but equally I didn't laugh out loud either. Good songs though 😁
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Post by oxfordsimon on Mar 15, 2021 14:58:05 GMT
I think it would be better to close if thr alternative is to neuter the original intentions of the creators.
Perhaps there is a middle ground to be found. But their whole style of comedy is founded in finding ways to push boundaries and to exploit the idea of causing offence. If that spirit cannot be retained, it would be better to close rather than so blunt the satire that it ceases to satisfy.
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4,458 posts
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Post by poster J on Mar 15, 2021 15:12:25 GMT
Actually without going into personal details about my life. You do find humour in the darkest times in your life. That’s exactly what you do. In my times visiting ICU in hospital I’ve laughed more than I cried. It’s called survival. So yes, you can laugh at someone who has cancer (including yourself). Offensive yes? Reality yes. Maybe thats the case for you, in your particular experience, butt you cant speak on the behalf of everyone else. Everyone has their own coping strategies. And just because you find it appropriate to laugh at a subject doesn't trivialise it for others. Some people are able to laugh and joke about rape, it doesn't make it any less devastating for those affected. Because your able to laugh at songs poking fun at racism doesn't mean that someone whose spent their life enduring racist remarks and been the subject of hatred, doesn't mean they'll respond the same way. Thank you, said much more eloquently than I had managed. I also distinguish between laughing AT someone and laughing WITH someone. There is a huge difference.
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1,210 posts
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Post by musicalmarge on Mar 15, 2021 15:17:36 GMT
While I agree with parts of what she says (for example, fans tend to love the Mormons rather than the Africans, which is sad), her point about the Mormons coming to the village and the ending not REALLY being happy because people still have AIDS etc, is, in my understanding, the entire point of the show is it not? The show literally makes fun of white saviours - "We're here to save you and here's our religion to help us do it!" when in fact they haven't helped at all. And many of the Africans, while naive, are far smarter than the Mormons and just want help with their actual daily problems. Sort of like they're saying "If your God is real, why should we worship him when he's clearly screwed us over?" As for representation within the audience, yes there are many cultural and economic factors which could contribute to why there are less black people than white people, but at the same time, you also have to remember that only just over 3% of the UK population is black, so statistically that's going to happen anyway. Well if 3 per cent of the UK population is black that is NOT represented in UK adverts! It’s more like 50 per cent or more. I agree times have changed and with BLM and social justice here there and everywhere BOM is past its sell by date. Funny to some is now offensive to others. I get that. Do we adapt? Change? Or is this all a passing trend?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2021 15:51:11 GMT
While I agree with parts of what she says (for example, fans tend to love the Mormons rather than the Africans, which is sad), her point about the Mormons coming to the village and the ending not REALLY being happy because people still have AIDS etc, is, in my understanding, the entire point of the show is it not? The show literally makes fun of white saviours - "We're here to save you and here's our religion to help us do it!" when in fact they haven't helped at all. And many of the Africans, while naive, are far smarter than the Mormons and just want help with their actual daily problems. Sort of like they're saying "If your God is real, why should we worship him when he's clearly screwed us over?" As for representation within the audience, yes there are many cultural and economic factors which could contribute to why there are less black people than white people, but at the same time, you also have to remember that only just over 3% of the UK population is black, so statistically that's going to happen anyway. Well if 3 per cent of the UK population is black that is NOT represented in UK adverts! It’s more like 50 per cent or more. I agree times have changed and with BLM and social justice here there and everywhere BOM is past its sell by date. Funny to some is now offensive to others. I get that. Do we adapt? Change? Or is this all a passing trend? This kind of attitude is exactly the problem.
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Post by sph on Mar 15, 2021 16:03:05 GMT
It's not really my sort of humour, and perhaps its moment has come and gone, but it does sell out consistently and tours with relative ease.
People may be a lot more sensitive in the future about how minorities are portrayed though. I can't remember who said it, but a comedian said comedy works if you're punching up, not punching down. So making fun of white, privileged Mormons might be easier to take than making jokes about Africans suffering from AIDS, especially in the post-2020 world.
As for the 3% statistic, that was according to the 2011 census.
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7,569 posts
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Post by alece10 on Mar 15, 2021 16:54:41 GMT
People know what BOM is about and know it offends everyone. So if it's not your thing, don't go. Save your money. As the song goes "turn it off".
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2021 18:03:06 GMT
People know what BOM is about and know it offends everyone. So if it's not your thing, don't go. Save your money. As the song goes "turn it off". Could interpret that to be a bit like BBC saying "well some people don't like Jimmy Saville but we'll carry on airing 'Jim'll Fix It' for those that do"
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7,569 posts
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Post by alece10 on Mar 15, 2021 18:39:02 GMT
People know what BOM is about and know it offends everyone. So if it's not your thing, don't go. Save your money. As the song goes "turn it off". Could interpret that to be a bit like BBC saying "well some people don't like Jimmy Saville but we'll carry on airing 'Jim'll Fix It' for those that do" Interpret it any way you want. I'm not going to apologise for finding it very funny and, will no doubt, be going to see it again when it reopens.
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Post by danb on Mar 15, 2021 22:13:42 GMT
That seems like a great place to park this discussion because it can’t go any further. Some people like it some people don’t.
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4,631 posts
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Post by Phantom of London on Mar 16, 2021 0:10:19 GMT
Any show that makes the former Daily Mail’s theatre critic and bigoted Quentin Letts’ apoplectic with rage, is totally okay by me.
The show is a hoot, nothing more, nothing less.
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1,656 posts
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Post by fiyero on Apr 18, 2021 18:46:17 GMT
Back off sale 😬
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5,318 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on Apr 18, 2021 21:01:40 GMT
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Post by Penny on Apr 19, 2021 13:04:21 GMT
I had this booked for 31st July and checked my DMT account Ana it’s been moved to 4th December!
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3,080 posts
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Post by Dr Tom on Apr 19, 2021 13:31:50 GMT
I'd booked for the first show back (12 July) and now seem to be attending on 15 November.
Maybe they need more time to rewrite the book and take out all the offensive parts?
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573 posts
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Post by princeton on Apr 19, 2021 13:34:14 GMT
This may be linked to the issues around Scott Rudin's behaviour and the fact that he is stepping back from an active role in all theatre productions. I suspect there are quite a lot of legal shenanigans going on behind the scenes.
Also, as has been mentioned, there have been workshops taking place with a view to rewriting some sections, and these may well not have been completed (especially as Broadway is some way from announcing reopening) and I'm guessing that they don't want to reopen without making some changes. So they are probably just being cautious about announcing exactly when the West End and tour will recommence.
Sonia Friedman has said today that she 'remains committed to the current west end and touring productions of the Book of Mormon' (whatever that means!)
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1,656 posts
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Post by fiyero on Apr 19, 2021 14:36:31 GMT
Based on latest available information and to allow the show to open safely without social distancing, THE BOOK OF MORMON will now start performances from 15th November 2021. This means that the performance you booked for, unfortunately, will not go ahead as scheduled.
Edit to add: the email I got has the wrong performance details on 🤭
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3,080 posts
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Post by Dr Tom on Apr 19, 2021 14:59:33 GMT
Edit to add: the email I got has the wrong performance details on 🤭 Yes, mine too!
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1,656 posts
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Post by fiyero on Apr 19, 2021 15:22:17 GMT
Edit to add: the email I got has the wrong performance details on 🤭 Yes, mine too! It’s annoying as I don’t want to go the date they have given me and the form is linked to the wrong booking so I can’t use it.
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Post by Penny on Apr 19, 2021 15:26:15 GMT
I emailed them and they replied in less than an hour to say they will refund me x
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1,656 posts
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Post by fiyero on Apr 20, 2021 9:13:18 GMT
I emailed them and they replied in less than an hour to say they will refund me x I’ve done the same and all swapped now. Another show bumped to 2022 though!
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