Is it raunchy? Yes. Is there an excess of bathroom humor? Of course. But the bottom line is that “Urinetown” the musical is the most original and unorthodox Broadway show I have ever seen. Everything about the play is different from other musicals yet oddly the same. Let me explain. The show takes place in a stereotypical city some time in the distant future. Over the last 20 years there has been a severe draught leaving the city in a state of decay. A large corporation, UGC (Urine Good Company), has persuaded the cities officials to outlaw the use of private bathrooms to conserve water, forcing the citizens to use the UGC public bathrooms for an unnegotiable fee. After years of putting up with Caldwell B. Cadwell, the CEO of UGC, the people of the city decide to revolt. They are poor, mistreated and anytime someone urinates in public they are taken to Urinetown, which actually means they are killed. (I know it sounds like I just ruined the play but that’s the funny thing the narrator himself tells you this fact about 10 minutes into the story. He just blurts it out for all to hear. And that’s not all he gives away either. Through out the rest of the play he rudely interjects given away other key elements.) After the climactic revolt the rest of the play is filled with love, death and, of course, more bathroom humor. The story isn’t complex and the jokes aren’t even very clever and that is what gives “Urinetown” a unique, laid back, personal feel. The show isn’t filled with the usual “intellectual humor” and heart-breaking drama found in so many “classic” Broadway shows. The cast is comprised of many returning Broadway actors such as Tony winner John Cullum, Nancy Opel, Jeff McCarthy, and Ken Jennings. Each actor appears so comfortable on stage joking with the other cast members that it almost seems like they are ad-libbing the entire time. The star of the show is Jeff McCarthy who plays the role of Officer Lockstock. This straight nosed, hard working police chief narrates and brings a sense of lampoonish humor to the stage. His short monologues and candid banter with fellow characters gives the play a flow that holds the audience’s attention. What makes the show similar to past Broadway greats is the blatant but purposeful imitation of musical scores and dance numbers. The opening number resembles “Les Miserables'” with dramatic music and synchronized dancing, while the climactic dance number is obviously a duplicate of the “West Side Story” choreography of Bob Fossy. This comedic technique, rather than giving a cheesy air to the show, adds a very effective satirical element that keeps the audience laughing. “Urinetown” may seem to be an immature story on the surface but it is truly a well-pieced together musical that I recommend to anyone looking to have a truly entertaining theatrical experience.
Leave a Reply