A whirlwind of arts events this weekend

Who knew Mormons could be so much fun?

"The Book of Mormon" is hilarious, boisterous, clever, irreverent and entertaining — and it may not be your cup of tea. Remember, it gets laughs at the expense of an entire religion. The redeeming message seems to be this: Religions that seem credible in one culture may seem crazy in another. It's all relative, and nobody has any business throwing stones. Here endeth the lesson.

But that lesson feels thin when you've just spent two hours chortling at the absurdities of Mormon belief. Sure, Mormonism seems to be asking for it, with its history-bending ideas about Jesus visiting America and Joseph Smith's discovery of the golden plates. But aren't most unfamiliar theologies vulnerable? Whose religion makes sense to somebody hearing about it for the first time?

That's the problem confronting Elder Price and Elder Cunningham, two freshly minted missionaries who are sent to win converts in Uganda. There they join a Mormon mission that has yet to chalk up even a single baptism. The locals, it seems, are too concerned with warlords, AIDS and female genital mutilation to pay much attention to stories about golden plates and angels in America.

Cunningham, whose grasp of Mormon theology is tenuous anyway, infuses his preaching with improvised material that his local audience can connect with, and in the process invents yet another religion. His reimagined faith is a hit, baptisms go through the roof, and the Mormon mission is a miracle success story — right up until the Mormon authorities figure out what's going on.

Just like the old doctrine, the new one invites ridicule — but it works for the people it's aimed at, and that's the point.

In the same way, the show itself works for the people it's aimed at. It delivers big laughs to huge audiences. "Book of Mormon" was the acknowledged best musical of our times until "Hamilton" came along. That it climbed so high by mocking the beliefs of a religious minority doesn't make it any less funny, but it should at least make us uncomfortable. At the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis through May 29.

Reason to go: "Hello!" (The opening number.)

-Eric Ringham

Another musical with questionable gods: "Olympus"

I saw "Book of Mormon" on Saturday, but the tune that stuck in my ear over the weekend was the finale from "A Night in Olympus," which I'd seen on Friday. Take that, Broadway. "Olympus" is a light and frothy high school musical with a cheerfully demented plot. Girl wants popular jock, instead of the lovable nerd who's her best friend, and the faculty of her school happens to comprise the gods of Greek and Roman mythology. It's fun, from start to finish. Chan Poling's music and lyrics drive the story while also giving the stellar cast opportunities to shine — Tyler Michaels, to name one. Without giving anything away, there are two bits in which Michaels' skills as a physical actor steal the show. Another highlight is his lovesick ballad. Strong performances also come from Adam Qualls and McKinnley Aitchison. Oh, and there's the script by Jeffrey Hatcher ("Mr. Holmes") and Bill Corbett ("Mystery Science Theater 3000"). That's an awful lot of high-power talent aimed at this little show, and the result is a thoroughly enjoyable evening. At the Illusion Theater in Minneapolis through June 4.

Reason to go: "Open Up Your Eyes." (The closing number.)

-Eric Ringham

And one more play with God in it

So, let's see: We've covered Greek and Roman mythology, we've done Mormonism; what's left? Oh, yeah: Walking Shadow Theatre's production of Lucas Hnath's "The Christians" opens Friday at Mixed Blood Theatre in Minneapolis. A disagreement over doctrine is dividing the thousands-strong congregation of a megachurch. Promotional materials say the play follows the structure of a worship service. In an essay for the New York premiere, the playwright explained that audiences always want to know his own relationship to Christianity — but he won't tell. "I suspect that answering the question will somehow diminish the effect of the play," he wrote. In other words, this sounds like something worth seeing. Through June 11 at Mixed Blood in Minneapolis, with a special pay-whatever performance on Monday, May 23.

Reason to go: This play comes with its own choir.

-Eric Ringham

Your chance to run with the Art Hounds

The Art Hounds don't usually assemble in packs, so it's worth noting that our own Marianne Combs will welcome the hounds and their friends (or anybody, really) to the Fitzgerald Theater on Friday. Featured performers include Gaelynn Lea, the Duluth fiddler who won the NPR Tiny Desk Contest; Ananya Dance Theatre; Commonweal Theatre, and more. Schmoozing commences at 7 and the music starts up at 8 p.m. Friday at the Fitzgerald in St. Paul.

Reason to go: To see if Marianne Combs is really as tall as she sounds on the radio.

-Eric Ringham

Smoke, silk and secular gospel: Birds of Chicago

There's something exciting about the way Allison Russell and JT Nero's voices blend. Nero has a smoky sound, a bit like that of Ben Larson in Southwire. Russell counters the smoke with silk, and the mix creates the signature sound of Birds of Chicago. They explained in an interview with NPR last March that they see their music as "secular gospel," another thing they have in common with Southwire. They'll preach it Thursday evening at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis.

Reason to go: To see if there's an instrument Russell can't play.

-Eric Ringham

How to Art-a-Whirl

This weekend is the 21st annual Art-a-Whirl, when northeast Minneapolis goes topsy-turvy with open studio tours and live music. The weekend festivities span three days and more than 50 locations, so you can grab a map and plan your route, or simply go wherever the whirlwind blows.

The work of more than 600 artists will be on display, in a variety of media: painting, photography, glassblowing, ceramics, printmaking and more. Studios in the Northrup King Building, Casket Arts Building, Solar Arts Building, Qarma Building and others will open to the public. More than 50 local bands will be playing at local bars and breweries. And, of course, there will be food trucks.

If you're in it for the music, The Current has compiled a complete guide of where and when bands will be playing.

Getting around the northeast neighborhoods during Art-a-Whirl can seem like a cruel version of the Traffic Olympics (events include impossible parallel parking and narrow street navigation). Whirling by bike or by bus are great options: Free MetroTransit passes are available for the event. There is also a free trolley running among 12 locations. These stops are marked on the Art-a-Whirl map.

If you'll be whirling with wee ones, the Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association has a list of family friendly locations.

The festival is the perfect chance to support local artists and artisans. Artists will be passing out "I Bought Art" stickers to those who purchase original work. The stickers will earn you discounts at local bars, breweries and other businesses during the weekend.

Reason to go: 600 artists. 50 bands. That's 650 reasons.

-Tracy Mumford