BWW Reviews: URINETOWN, Apollo Theatre, October 8 2014

Whatever you thought about the Urinetown posters themselves, you can't deny there's a buzz around this show.

Not well known in the UK, the "secret show" finally revealed itself at the St James Theatre, and now it's opened for a run at the Apollo Theatre in the West End - minus leading man Richard Fleeshman, but with its other star names all present and correct.

We're told from the outset that this is not a happy musical. It isn't. It's dark, and questioning, and very funny - but it's not happy. As the poor line up to pay for the privilege to pee at a public facility, assistant attendant Bobby Strong begins to question why they're forced to live this way - and after a chance encounter with the beauteous Hope, he decides to follow his heart and lead a revolution.

Rebels in musical theatre don't always have the happiest of endings - a peek up the road to the Queens Theatre will tell you that. But they have the power to make you think - and while you're laughing at some of the ridiculousness on stage, you'll also be considering some of the questions it raises about the unsustainable 21st-century lifestyle choices.

Of course, you'll also be admiring the cast. I have concluded that I would literally watch anything starring Jenna Russell, and what's more, it would be worth it simply for her presence. Here as Penelope Pennywise she's hilarious, terrifying and grotesque, and a pleasure to listen to.

Matthew Seadon-Young is a delight as our hero. Aesthetically and aurally very pretty, he is an excellent romantic lead as he challenges the evils of Simon Paisley Day's Caldwell B Cladwell. (Meanwhile, is Jonathan Slinger's narrator Officer Lockstock intended to be quite as maliciously, malevolently magnetic as he is? He's no singer, but that doesn't matter - he's charismatic and scary, funny and spine-crawling.)

Personally I thought there were some issues with diction at first, but as the show progressed decided it might be a problem with the vocal sound, which seemed to be swallowed up by the venue and the excellent band.

The script gently pokes fun at musical theatre and at itself (particularly that rather unattractive title) - and for those in the know, it's gleefully self-aware. For those not in the know (who see the mentions of 'Urinetown' on social media, or the posters on the tube, and don't know what it's about) they may be left feeling very isolated and as if they're missing a trick - that is, if they bother to buy a ticket at all. It was sad to see people leaving their stalls seats at the interval and not coming back for the second act; even if the humour isn't entirely to your taste, the performances should really be enough to enthral.

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