We saw this show in preview and were blown away but have held off with a proper review until opening night - as is the tradition. In fact, every few days one or more of our friends have been going and the feedback has been universally positive so I reckon our preview night was not a fluke - this really is a great new show!
In fact, immediately after seeing the show, almost everyone I know, between humming the songs, has vowed to go see it again. Two things to learn from this; it really is good enough to want to see several times and the songs actually are hummable. Personally, I spent a week waking up with either "I believe" or "Spooky Mormon Hell Dream" already buzzing around in my brain but there isn't a dud song in the entire show.
The pin sharp choreography is delivered with terrific gusto and precision and is as funny as the lyrics. The sets are just the right side of naff and the whole evening fairly bowls along slowed only to allow the audience to have a chance to laugh... which they do. A lot.
Is it offenisive? Well, some of the language is pretty coarse, but the thread of the show defends belief and has a positive message - in the end the "good people" are those who hold to their belief and use it to make themselves and others better despite the fact that the actual details of what they believe may be a touch on the loopy side. Organised religion, however, comes off a little less favourably.
Do you need to be a South park fan to see this? No. This isn't South Park on stage despite the odd visual reference for those fans, this is a stand-alone piece of work.
Should you go see it? If you love a really good musical delivered with passion and professionalism then the answer has to be YES.
