Review: ‘Urinetown’ at Terrace Plaza Playhouse
TheatreARTBEAT, Caril Jennings
Production photos of “Urinetown” now playing at Terrace Plaza Playhouse. Provided
“Urinetown”
Musical by Greg Kotis
Directed by Carol Madsen
27 February-28 March, 7:30 PM
Terrace Plaza Playhouse
terraceplazaplayhouse.com
I continue to be amazed at the number of talented actors we have in our community. Urinetown has a double cast, meaning more than 20 stars presented by one production. I saw the performance with Candra Young as Little Sally, who stole the show by the way. I’m sure the other Little Sally with take the same opportunity with this choice role.
“Urinetown” was a Tony-winning Broadway show twenty-five years ago. It has all the qualities of musical theater: simple premise blown WAY out of proportion with choreography and great choral numbers. It’s preposterous and that’s why we love it. You won’t be disappointed with this production.
Twenty-five years ago paying to pee seemed preposterous and now we aren’t so sure. That’s what makes the premise and the exposition so interesting; to see the dilemma in a whole new light. What we have come to observe about commodification of human lives, optimization of systems for the elite and not the general welfare, etc., the idea of paying to pee isn’t so far fetched.
Of course, the dystopian solution to an earth-killing drought is for the rich to make out like bandits while they still can. Besides their pay-to-pee plan, they are also in charge of the police to clean up the streets. You pee in public, you get a one way ticket to Urinetown, where the street cleaners mop you up after your unfortunate leap from a tall building.
Corruption all around, surrounded by the abject poor. How long can they take it? How long can they hold it?
This is not a happy musical, but the music is upbeat. Officer Lockstock did an admirable job as the Narrator/Enforcer. He is a natural villain with just the right comic relief. Jacob Draper as the Untouchable Elite is an even better villain, the leader of the pack. Impeccably dressed, he is the very icon of the Epstein Class. His toadies understand their place. Power means everything.
On the side of the poor, Jake Swensen’s resurrection as Hot Blades Harry is so currently edgy he is hilarious. Brittany Salazar’s “sweet young thing” soprano voice stood up just fine to a whole chorus. She hit all those lyric notes spectacularly. Corbyn Macari captures the revolutionary youth right up to his dying breath.
It is unfair to limit comments to only a few actors. Every person on stage created their own legitimately “far-out” character when they first appear. Costume, hair and makeup help. Kudos to Little Sally’s pigtail in the second act.
The scenic design team at The Terrace is once again to be commended on their video design. It is such a clever use of technology to create grand scenic design without the expense, time, and weight of the olden days of stagecraft, which includes my youthful participation in the 60s and 70s.
As we learn, laughing at our problems sometimes make them easier to live with. “Urinetown” may not solve climate change but it gives you something to laugh about while you contemplate it.