Urinetown the Musical is about a time in the not-too-distant future during a 20-year-drought. In order to conserve water, private toilets are banned, and everyone must pay to use the public amenities. The Urine Good Company runs the public toilets with an iron fist; anyone caught relieving themselves anywhere else is sent to Urinetown and never heard from again. Managing editor Tami Roleff was at the opening night performance at Theatre 29, and says “go” while you still can…
“Urinetown the Musical,” directed by Gary Daigneault and with musical direction by Ed Will, is a dark, dark comedy that smirks and winks at its audience; it’s a satire on corporate greed and exploitation; a spoof of many popular musicals; and also features comic-book double takes and set design. Z107.7’s Rebecca Havely is terrific as Miss Pennywise, and warns the masses, “If you gotta go, you gotta go through me,” and “It’s a privilege to pee.” Dennis “Easy” Boos does a great job as the narrator Officer Lockstock who steps through the fourth wall. And of course, Chris Fleischman and Katie Van Sumeren are wonderful—as always—as the leads Bobby Strong and Hope Cladwell who fall in love and rebel against Hope’s father, who runs the Urine Good Company. But the true star of the show is Amanda Winters as Little Sally, who is fabulous and brought me to tears during her song, “Tell Her I Love Her.” Don’t be put off by the title. You’ll want to “go” while you still can.
“Urinetown the Musical” at Theatre 29 plays 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights through March 28, with 2:30 Sunday matinees March 8 and March 22. Tickets are $8 to $12 and are available by calling the box office at 760-361-4151 or go to www.theatre29.org.
