Urinetown
Westfield Summer Stage
Photo credits: Zander Hall
So, what even is “Urinetown?”
Potential options are as follows:
A city of pee
A self-aware musical about capitalist rebellion
A metaphysical representation of the things we can’t understand
Death itself
Believe it or not, almost all of the above are correct.
(Hint: It’s not a city of pee).
At Westfield High School, the cast of students from across (and beyond) the county skillfully put on a satirical production. It was equal parts laugh-out-loud funny and shockingly dark, as the cast and crew navigated quite the rollercoaster of a revolution.
Revolution against what, you might ask?
The price to pee.
The Show
“Urinetown” was written by Mark Hollman and Greg Kotis in 2001 as a musical satire (you know, if the title didn’t make it obvious enough). In a dystopian city suffering from a catastrophic water shortage, all private toilets are banned.
The only way to pee? By using public amenities, which are controlled by the power hungry “Urine Good Company” (UGC for short). Suddenly, the execution of a basic human need has been put to a fee… but all it takes is one citizen to ignite a revolution.
In Westfield High School’s production, director Michael Viola peppered the show with allusions to over 40 classic musicals: from actors holding their hands in the iconic Evita pose to a victory march straight out of Les Mis. In fact, each playbill contained a graphic that showcased all the different titles of the musicals alluded to. A genius move to keep theatre nerds (like me) going multiple times to catch them all!
To tie it all together was the detailed work of the “Urinetown” tech crew. Over the course of about a month, these students put together the show’s set, costumes, lighting, sound, and publicity; with a rusted set and ratted costumes, they brought the run-down setting of a dystopia to life.
Standout Performances
Andrew Beasley was the first to stroll down the aisle of the Westfield High School auditorium, as he began his performance of Officer Lockstock: the audience’s guide to the mystery of “Urinetown.” With every pointed glance and cock of his eyebrow, Beasley established the officer’s authoritative, all-knowing presence; the perfect compliment to Henry Blevins’s bold and goofy Officer Barrel.
Skyler Lee--a rising eighth grader and one of the youngest in the cast--was a breath of fresh air as Little Sally. She skipped across the stage and approached the people’s challenges with wisdom beyond her years. When diving into the symbolism of the musical, Little Sally’s character might represent a happy medium between ignorance and corruption. Of course, she’s represented as a young girl whose advice is often overlooked.
Headlining the revolution was Jake Deering’s lovable performance as Bobby Strong: the heroic everyman. He embodied the iconic Jack Kelly, especially as he mustered the courage to stand up to Nico Velasco-Kent’s greedy Caldwell B. Cladwell and lead the people in a fight for a brighter tomorrow. Alongside Kathryn Whitis’s Hope Cladwell, the two searched for their truest dreams in the lovingly innocent and vocally rich “Follow Your Heart.” Whitis exuded the ingenue’s naive positivity as she glided across the stage with a permanent grin and spoke in a singsong tone.
On the other hand, no one was more exhausted by the common people than Lilli McNerney in her performance of Penelope Pennywise. She strode across the stage menacingly, gold plunger in hand, as she asserted her control over the Poor Ensemble in “It’s A Privilege to Pee.” McNerney truly shone in moments of physical comedy: whether she stood with her mouth agape or bashed her head with a plunger in embarrassment, McNerney’s larger-than-life expression sealed the show’s wackiness with a (insert whatever noise a plunger makes here).
Last, but certainly not least, this show’s ensemble injected the musical with life. In numbers like “Run, Freedom, Run” and “Snuff That Girl,” they used energetic choreography and wild expressions to lift each other’s spirits amid the chaos. It was clear each actor had crafted a unique character; whether it was Sophia Christiano’s pregnant Little Becky Two-Shoes, Roberto Valentin III’s vindictive Hot Blades Harry, or Maggie Huse’s frantic Soupy Sue.
Who Is It For?
Let’s be honest: a title like “Urinetown” might raise a few brows, but the musical is incredibly relevant and was skillfully portrayed. It pokes fun at the conventions of musical theatre as a whole, and in the way we perceive things: quite a thinker of a story.
Even if you’re not in the mood to think, you’ll absolutely enjoy the comedy, choreography, and rallying ensemble numbers.
I would like to mention that Urinetown is a pretty dark show; Westfield’s website lists a PG-13 rating for their production, and I’m inclined to agree with that. It examines death, corruption, and the overall doom of humanity (with a slew of comedic banter, belly laughs, and upbeat musical numbers, of course). Granted, a mature 10 year old probably wouldn’t have a problem seeing this production, since nothing is explicitly shown.
Of course, no actual bunnies were harmed in the making of this production… even if Caldwell B. Cladwell might make you think otherwise!
Don’t miss the chance to support this talented cast and crew of hardworking students. “Urinetown” runs for two more performances during its second weekend: July 18th and 19th at 7pm.
Visit westfieldtheatre.com for tickets and additional information.