In 2011 The Book of Mormon took Broadway by storm. In 2013 I was lucky enough to be in Chicago when the show was playing and caught it for the first time. I spent a good portion of that performance with my jaw dropped, laughing both in shock and at the clever jokes that flew from the stage at a frantic pace. I was thrilled when in April of 2015 Book of Mormon made its Calgary debut to a sold out week long run. Clearly I was not the only one thrilled to see the show, as just a year and a half later the show returns to the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium until September 11^th before heading north to Edmonton’s Jubilee September 13^th – 18^th.

There are some musicals that fall under the category of "seen it, done it." Others can become part of our lives and resonate for whatever personal reason that connects us to the show. With the initial "did they really just say that?" shock value gone from the show, and having listened to the soundtrack many times, I went into Wednesday night’s production wondering if the show would still be able to entertain me as much as it did that first time in Chicago.

The answer? Absolutely.

In fact, it is in multiple viewings of the show that one really starts to appreciate the subtleties and layers of the show. It’s not really a surprise – creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone of South Park fame have always have addressed things like politics and culture behind the shock value of their TV show. Sitting in the audience already knowing what will happen in a big musical number like personal favourite Hasa Diga Eebowai means that you can appreciate how spectacular the number is with really impressive choreography and the clear tribute to other more "Kingly" musicals. You can also take in the audience reaction more and enjoy seeing through their gasps and laughter how they react when many are seeing it for the first time themselves. In many ways it was like seeing the show for the first time in being able to appreciate the sets, costumes and social message. Tearing one’s eyes away from the center stage to watch the actors performance on the sidelines in numbers like Turn it Off and Joseph Smith American Moses is another highlight that is often missed seeing a show for the first time.

Casting wise, this tour is strong with the 2 male leads both having been part of the Broadway cast. Ryan Bondy’s Elder Price is energetic and earnest, and vocally he is the most similar in style to Andrew Rannels, who originated the role on Broadway. Connor Peirson’s Edler Cunningham takes a bit to warm up to, as it has in the past but he manages to capture the heart of the character. Candace Quarrels makes her touring debut as Nabulungi and is stunning both in performance and vocals. There is a key moment in the show where, when done right, the audience is taken from a place of laughter to pure, powerful emotion. Quarrels absolutely nails this moment, in which I could see a few audience members wiping their eyes.

At its heart, that is what The Book of Mormon is. Yes, it is at times shocking in language and content. However, it also addresses social issues like human rights, the AIDS crisis and other issues in Africa. In the end it is a story of hope, a universal feeling that regardless of your spiritual beliefs, resonates deeply.

1 week is far too short a run for this show. With tickets flying out the door again, it would not be a surprise to see The Book of Mormon return again soon for another engagement. I will certainly be there, because it is one of the best musicals in recent memory and worth seeing again and again.