WHEN two young missionaries from the Church of Latter Day Saints arrive in a remote Ugandan village, it feels a long way from Utah.

There's not a doorbell in sight, and when you're a Mormon spreading the word, that's a bit of an issue. Then there's the poverty, AIDS, female mutilation...and the trigger-happy warlords. Turns out, Uganda isn’t The Lion King after all.

Smash hit comedy musical The Book of Mormon - which is at the Alhambra for a three-week run - is a show like no other. It manages to be laugh-out-loud funny, while leaving you squirming, wondering how they get away with it. Some of it is jaw-droppingly shocking. But it has heart and charm too and, unlike most musicals, it challenges us.

Nyah Nish as Nabulungi and Sam Glen as Arnold Cunningham Nyah Nish as Nabulungi and Sam Glen as Arnold Cunningham

The show hilariously mocks the founding myths of the Mormon faith - in flashbacks to "ancient America" and founder Joseph Smith's discovery of the sacred golden plates - but it's cleverly layered. While it appears to send up the religion, it offers a rather endearing portrayal of young missionaries. You can't help but like these guys who, barely out of high school, are sent far away from Salt Lake City, thrown together in pairs in the curious, contrived Mormon brotherhood.

The show follows teen missionaries Elder Price and Elder Cunningham, sent to Uganda to convert the locals. It's not exactly what ambitious Price had in mind (he'd really rather be in Disneyworld) but Geeky Cunningham isn't so fazed; he'd go anywhere with his new best friend.

The pair are faced with the challenge of baptising villagers who couldn't care less about their Book of Mormon, mainly because they have more pressing issues to think about - like poverty, famine, disease and violence. The locals' welcome song, Hasa Diga Eebowai, isn't quite as jolly as it sounds.

The missionaries meet the villagers The missionaries meet the villagers (Image: Paul Coltas)

While the razor sharp script is by South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the music is by Robert Lopez, who wrote Avenue Q and Frozen, and the songs are fabulous, paying homage to old-school show-stoppers. Highlights include opening number Hello! with Mormons at missionary training school popping up like doorstep salesmen, smiles fixed, clutching the book; Turn It Off, a glitzy tap-dancing number embracing the "cool little Mormon trick" of suppressing uncomfortable feelings by turning them off, like a light switch; and the outrageous Spooky Mormon Hell Dream, featuring a surreal line-up of real-life villains.

This fast-paced, full-on, funny show keeps the audience on its toes throughout. It's brilliantly performed by a talented cast. At the helm are excellent leads Adam Bailey and Sam Glen, as Elders Price and Cunningham, and the superb Tom Bales as Elder McKinley. Great performances too from Nyah Nish as Nabulungi, Kirk Patterson, Daniel David Griffith, Will Barratt as Joseph Smith and Rodney Earl Clarke as the General.

It's a total hoot! Runs at the Alhambra until November 23.