‘The Book of Mormon’

Anyone who saw South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut shouldn’t be surprised to learn that Trey Parker and Matt Stone genuinely appear to love musicals even as they subvert them. What’s perhaps less expected is that while The Book of Mormon packs in plenty of blissful profanity, sacrilege and politically incorrect mischief, the defining quality of this hugely entertaining show is its sweetness. Teaming with Robert Lopez, who co-wrote the music and lyrics for Avenue Q, Parker and Stone have created one of the freshest original musicals in recent memory. It has tuneful songs, clever lyrics, winning characters, explosive laughs and disarmingly intimate moments. Religious zealots are not going to roll up, but the show has a comic field day with Mormonism while simultaneously acknowledging — maybe even respecting — the right of everyone to follow any faith they choose. Or invent.