Then there’s Josh Gad as Elder Cunningham. You know him as Olaf from Frozen or that guy from Wonder. Here, he plays a chubby, socially awkward nerd who can’t stop lying. I mean, creatively lying. He invents a Star Wars-themed version of Mormonism on the spot. “And also… there was a droid!” It’s peak comedy, and Josh Gad’s delivery is so earnest it hurts.
Together, Rannells and Gad are comedy gold. They bounce off each other like two bouncy balls in a dryer. Their duet “You and Me (But Mostly Me)” is an anthem of ridiculous ego. But the real heart comes in “Baptize Me,” where they sing about dunking people in water. It’s weirdly innocent and absolutely hysterical.
The Sassy, Soulful Women of the Cast
Now, let’s talk about the real stars: the women. Nikki M. James plays Nabulungi, the Ugandan girl who dreams of a better life. Her voice? Stunning. She sings “Sal Tlay Ka Siti” (a hilariously mangled pronunciation of “Salt Lake City”) and makes you feel every ounce of hope and desperation. It’s a beautiful, sad, and funny number all at once.
And then there’s the Elder’s Quorum—the male ensemble—who perform “Turn It Off.” That song is a masterclass in musical comedy. The premise? When you have bad thoughts, just “turn them off” like a light switch. The dancers do these robotic, jazz-hands movements while singing about repressing everything. It’s absurd. It’s also a little too real for anyone who’s ever been in a strict church group.
Let’s not forget “Spooky Mormon Hell Dream.” Oh man. This number is a fever dream—literally. It’s Elder Price’s nightmare, with dancing Starbucks cups, Genghis Khan, and a Jesus in a track suit. The original cast recording captures the chaos perfectly. You can hear the actors laughing in the background during the studio sessions. That’s how fun this show was to make.
Look Back at the Original Cast of The Book of Mormon on Broadway | Playbill
