#cj eldred

cayla!angelique and ryan!nell

I don’t know how many times I’ve seen Book of Mormon, but in the (insert number I can’t remember) times I’ve seen the show - I had yet to encounter a standby/standby pair of Price and Cunningham until tonight. I had seen Nick Spangler as an understudy Price and seen several of the Broadway standbys for Cunningham, and we all know my knack for missing KJ on Broadway by a show. Tonight, Chris and KJ took a night off, and Chad Burris made his debut as Elder Cunningham and CJ Eldred broke my Price standby streak.

There’s no denying that in recent times there’s two sets of Cunninghams - the fat white guys and the weird white guys. It’s almost like the Sharks and the Jets - they inhabit the same turf, but are different based for the most part on weight. I’m not going to make this into a debate on weird white guys vs fat white guys, but it lends to what I’m going to continue on with. I hadn’t seen a “fat white guy” as Cunningham since Cody left Broadway, and until I saw Chris on opening night in Philly. I’ve gotten back in touch with the “fat white guy” thanks to the first national tour. Tonight, a brand new “fat white guy” stepped up to the plate, and knocked it out of the park. Chad was sweet, nerdy, and naive - walking the fine line of Cunningham’s sweet (and yet annoying) ways. In some ways, Chad reminded me of Cody - a rounder Cunningham with a splash of sass for flavor. However, Chad’s voice is stronger than Cody’s, and the guy can REALLY sing it.

A lot of Cunninghams aren’t known for their vocals - in fact, the only ones who I can think of off the top of my head who really bring it vocally are Will Blum, AJ Holmes, and Ben Platt. So, fat white guy and two weird white guys. Not since Will had a fat white guy impressed me vocally, and Chad impressed me. I still think Will’s vocals are tops, but Chad brings strong vocals that many others don’t have. It’s refreshing to hear the score sung like that, and sans many of the Gadisms that many Cunninghams in the past have done.

Chad didn’t play anyone else’s Cunningham, he plays his - and it works very well. Small flubs and some slight nerves aside, Chad was wonderful and I am so glad to have gotten to see his debut and I only expect him to get better and better each time he goes on.

CJ Eldred’s Price is a complete meanie - like, Nic Rouleau’s Price is mean, but man - CJ is one angry motherfucker. From the moment CJ’s Price is paired with Chad’s Cunningham, it’s like Joseph Smith came down from Heaven and put all of the golden plates on his shoulders and then tried to get him to walk. Annoyed, frustrated, and pissed off, CJ bites his tongue, rolls his eyes, and puts up with the golden plates on his shoulder. As time goes on and Africa (and Cunningham) wear on him, CJ’s Price has had it. The minute CJ snaps that he was stuck with Chad’s Cunningham and they’re not best friends, it’s like watching a snake bite a balloon and suck out all the helium. Sure, CJ attempts to make amends, but the snake bite has popped the balloon and it’s on to the next balloon.

Through the course of Act 2, CJ’s Price is tested and he struggles, which is an absolute shock to him. It takes CJ’s Price a vast majority of Act 2 to really see the light. Sometimes, you can see moments where a Price is seeing the way or trying to make the most of a bad situation, but CJ’s Price is not that. By show’s end, CJ’s Price is a changed man and all thanks to a popped balloon and golden plates. Vocally, CJ has a very good voice, and I really loved hearing him give the score a swift kick in the rear.

The chemistry between CJ and Chad was really strong - they played off one another well, which makes me think they do a lot of their rehearsals together. My favorite moment has to have been during the Kafe scene when the audience applauded Cunningham’s efforts only to have Price sarcastically begin applauding to mock Cunningham’s work. I really wish everyone could see that moment, because it was gold.

Can’t stress enough how much I love the ensemble of the first national tour. Those Mormon boys and Africans are just insanely entertaining and just crazy. From Tyler Jones and his pure look of horror in Joseph Smith American Moses to Kelechi Ezie’s sick of Nabulingi’s stupidity, it’s just a laugh a minute with this bunch.

Peter Mitchell’s McKinley gets better and better each time. He just charms the hell out of the audience, and does it all while looking like that page from 30 Rock. I adore Alexandra Ncube, and I hope someday they bring her to Broadway, because bitch is fierce as hell.