Have you ever wondered what happens if there's a medical emergency in the audience in the middle of a musical theatre show? Read on to find out.
The Book of Mormon is a satirical musical theatre production currently playing in Melbourne off the back of award-winning seasons on Broadway (US) and the West End (UK). It's written by the blokes behind the controversial animated TV show South Park and, surprise, takes the piss out of the Mormon religion.
We follow Elder Cunningham and Elder Price (American Mormons) on their missionary journey to Uganda where their resolve is tested in all kinds of amusing ways.
This show is hilarious and so, so well done! I heard lots of reviews saying that it's very offensive and not for the faint-hearted and that's certainly true but I think I was expecting it to be even worse than it was!
Going to the theatre in Australia is an expensive undertaking but if you can afford it, definitely scrape together the cash to see this one. You will have a fantastic night!
Now back to that medical emergency question... in the middle of one of the big musical numbers, suddenly a big group in the audience right near the front of the stage stood up and there was yelling. Due to the volume of the song being performed it was hard to tell what exactly was being said. At first I thought it was part of the show and they had planted protesters or something in the crowd but it soon became clear that wasn't what was going on and someone was in strife. Staff cottoned on and came running but the seats are all so close together at The Princess Theatre that they couldn't get to the person right away. So people were standing up trying to get out of the way and many trying to help etc. It turns out the old saying "the show must go on" is true, because the performers just kept going but it was clear that some of them at least were understandably distracted. They did stop the show at the end of that musical number but by then the unwell person had been taken outside of the theatre anyway, so it was only a brief pause. So there you go. It was a bit hot in the theatre (dress light if you go) so if you were feeling faint that might have done you in... here's hoping that's all it was and the person has fully recovered.
If you'd like to read more, in the form of a proper critique, check out this five star review in The Age.
* Photo from artsreview.com.au by Jeff Busby