Review: URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL at Chanticleer Community Theater is a Privilege to See

URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL, opens at the Chanticleer Theatre in Council Bluffs, Iowa tonight and runs through March 18. This stupidly funny winner of three Tony Awards, two Obie Awards, and two Lucille Lortel Awards, premiered in 2001 with music and lyrics by Mark Hollmann, and book and lyrics by Greg Kotis. If you loved SOMETHING ROTTEN, you will love this crazy show. Nothing is free from biting satire: corporate greed, populism, or even musicals.

Greg Kotis has said he was inspired to write the story behind URINETOWN when he came across pay toilets in Europe. Kotis holds a political science degree from University of Chicago. According to an interview in Playbill, Mark Hollmann has played trombone for an art-rock band, piano for improv groups Second City National Touring Company and Chicago City Limits, and organ for a church in Manhattan. Both Kotis and Hollmann were ensemble members of the Cardiff-Giant Theatre Company. Why do I bring this up? Because these writers/composer have an unusual combined resume' in comedy, politics, and music. This combination makes for a solid foundation for a satirical musical.

The story revolves around a town which has suffered a 20 year drought. Private toilets have become illegal and the public ones are controlled by a company called, wait for it...Urine Good Company (UGC)! People must pay to pee, and if they violate the laws, they are sent to Urinetown.

Officers Lockstock and Barrel are tasked with keeping the peace and hauling away those who violate the laws. When Old Man Strong is dragged away for peeing on the street because he lacks the coins to pay for the public amenity, his son Bobby does nothing. It is only when he falls for the lovely daughter of his heartless boss, Caldwell B. Cladwell, that he rises up a leader. Cladwell, clad well in a suit and tie while the citizens wear rags, solicits the services of the lecherous Senator Fipp to raise the fee to pee, igniting a rebellion.

Officer Lockstock (Jon Flower) serves a duel purpose as the narrator, speaking directly to the audience and interjecting funny commentary, or singing in a very pleasing voice. Cast members use the aisles as part of the stage.

URINETOWN employs every kind of humor. There are clever lines and lyrics, such as "Nothing can kill a show faster than too much exposition--or a bad title." There is physical humor in the ensemble dance numbers and silly props. There is irony. There is wisdom from the lips of the teddy bear hugging Little Sally. There are plenty of puns and parody of well known musicals. And there is dark humor. It isn't all fun and games.

Some actors are just naturally funny. Ryan Eberhart as the caricature of a megalomaniac Cladwell is one of them. He is ridiculously evil but lovably corny as he sings and dances with a smile while refusing to let the townspeople pee for free. He instructs his employees to turn their heads so he can run the company the way he wants. And what he wants is a trip to Rio. His "Don't Be a Bunny" is one of the funniest parts of the show.

Madison Hoge (Hope Cladwell) is bright and beautiful with an amazing voice. She shines. Her idealism is portrayed as naiveté, but every once in awhile there is a hint of something more than what meets the eye. She has learned to manipulate the masses as a student in university, while keeping her moral compass true.

David Ebke (Bobby Strong) is hilarious in his movements, but his voice is no joke. His romantic duet with Hoge is seriously beautiful. He is a reluctant hero with hidden strength. He exemplifies the brave as not the ones who are afraid, but the ones who are afraid and act anyway.

The ensemble rounds out a really good cast with a notable performance by Colleen Kilcoyne as Little Becky Two-Shoes.

Choreographer Jason DeLong incorporates humor into his movements. The numbers "Run, Freedom, Run" and "Snuff the Girl" are fun and fresh. The five piece orchestra conducted by Jerry Brabec fills the house with melodic sound, perhaps sometimes slightly drowning out the voices. I especially appreciated Stanton Harper's runs on the woodwinds.

Toilets. Plungers. An eye patch on Penelope Pennywise (comically played by Carrie Beth Stickrod) manages to slip to the other eye during a scene change. A giant teddy bear. A flash of white bloomers. Bunny slippers. These all make up the silliness of URINETOWN.

Little Sally (Brenda Smrdel) spouts her adult wisdom with such childlike simplicity. She perceives that this is not a happy musical and that dreams only come true in happy musicals and in Hollywood. "But," she adds, "When a little girl has been given as many lines as I have, there's hope for dreams."

Director Gary Bosanek has a wonderful production on his hands. There aren't that many shows that are this funny, this entertaining, and this musically pleasing while still imparting a message of respecting the environment and speaking up for our rights. After all, it is not a privilege to pee. It is a right. If you love this musical, urine good company!

Photo Credit: Peytonplays Photography

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