On Theater: Wicked satire by the ‘Book’

Rude, crude, lewd and brimming with ‘tude, “The Book of Mormon” has returned to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, illustrating once again how first-rate musical theater and ribald satire can coexist on the same stage.

Boasting a rich and robust ensemble, including some magnificent choreography, this megahit musical from “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone — with enormous input from composer-lyricist Robert Lopez — is a total delight for open-minded audiences.

Following two newly minted “elders” through their first mission to a primitive village in Uganda (where eight others already have set up shop), “Book of Mormon” hits its stride as its protagonists attempt to explain the origins of the Mormon religion. Devout Mormons may cry “heresy” if they’re not too busy laughing their magic underwear off.

This time around, Billy Harrigan Tighe and A.J. Holmes portray the innocents abroad with the gymnastically adept Tighe spot-on as the self-centered overachiever and Holmes hilarious as his nerdish companion who tends to stretch the truth on occasion.

But the true centerpiece of the production is Alexandra Ncube as the virginal Ugandan lass awaiting her baptism. Ncube, in her first national tour (of many, it’s safe to say) blows the roof off the auditorium with her powerful voice, which is combined with a terrific interpretation.

The eight fellow elders form a high-stepping chorus line to perform Casey Nicholaw’s intricate and bullet-paced choreography, excelling by turns as solo artists. Their youth and energy blend with sheer performance talent to form an outstanding ensemble.

Others drawing special attention include Tyler Jones, Brian Beach and Ron Bohmer as Mormon founding fathers (Bohmer also enacts the shocked current-day Mormon president), Josh Breckenridge as the maggot-infested tribal doctor and Corey Jones as the imposing warlord General B.F. Naked (don’t ask what those initials stand for).

Production numbers are joyously funny, especially the “Spooky Mormon Hell Dream,” in which Tighe’s character encounters such historical villains as Genghis Khan, Adolf Hitler, Jeffery Dahmer and ... Johnny Cochrane.

Co-directed by Parker and Nicholaw, with awesome scenic designs by Scott Pask, “The Book of Mormon” truly deserves its lofty status among American musicals. It’s a great (latter) day at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

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IF YOU GO

What: “The Book of Mormon”

Where: Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa

When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sundays until April 3

Cost: Call for information

Information: (714) 556-2787