2008 Woodie Awards
Urinetown's $25,000 production shows quality, smart humor, talented singers
Darwyyn Deyo
Issue date: 5/1/07 Section: News
"What kind of musical is this?!" asked Little Sally during Act II, a sentiment reciprocated positively by the audience by the end of a production which challenges the point and design of musicals. Friday night's performace was delivered to a standing ovation. Engaging the audience and raising comments in a fun atmosphere, Urinetown: The Musical sucks you in as you enter LeFevre Theatre.
Starting with the set design which evokes images of poor industrial neighborhoods and urban prisons, the musical and set are complex in that their multi-utilitarianism. Prepare your senses, for as Officer Lockstock and Little Sally remind us, "dreams only come true in happy musicals" but when a little girl like Sally "has been given as many lines as [she has], there's still hope for dreams!"
Written by Greg Koltis and Mark Hollmann on the premise that one day we will all have to "pay to pee," the musical skirts the border between shock and amusement without once stopping for a breath. Speaking of breathing, the cast didn't seem to have time for that, as the music and dancing is almost non-stop, parodying other musicals about revolutions-even Les Misérables-as well as evil cops, the indestructible hero, and his would-be romance with the daughter of his enemy. When you see this musical, you'll discard your ideas of what a musical should be in the first place.
The school spent $25,000 to put this musical together, and it shows in every way, from the vocal control to the dancing. The breadth exhibited by Miss Pennywise's voice (Katharine Cooper) as she pitched the high notes with high volume had the audience stunned, followed in a similar manner by Hope Cladwell (Danielle DiPaola). This was clearly not an easy musical to perform but at the same time the cast's boot-camp training pulled it off with style. In addition, Officer Lockstock (Andrew Russ), the evil cop and narrator who "you can't get rid of even if you want the story to end" is funny from start to finish, especially in his dialogue with Little Sally (Jillian-Anne Duffy) who does a good portrayal of a hopeful little girl. They are joined by Bobby Strong (Vincent Rodriguez) who not only convinces you he's an idealistic lovesick hero but makes you wish more lovesick idealists had his voice. Clearly, the theatre department has come a long way with this musical.
Starting with the set design which evokes images of poor industrial neighborhoods and urban prisons, the musical and set are complex in that their multi-utilitarianism. Prepare your senses, for as Officer Lockstock and Little Sally remind us, "dreams only come true in happy musicals" but when a little girl like Sally "has been given as many lines as [she has], there's still hope for dreams!"
Written by Greg Koltis and Mark Hollmann on the premise that one day we will all have to "pay to pee," the musical skirts the border between shock and amusement without once stopping for a breath. Speaking of breathing, the cast didn't seem to have time for that, as the music and dancing is almost non-stop, parodying other musicals about revolutions-even Les Misérables-as well as evil cops, the indestructible hero, and his would-be romance with the daughter of his enemy. When you see this musical, you'll discard your ideas of what a musical should be in the first place.
The school spent $25,000 to put this musical together, and it shows in every way, from the vocal control to the dancing. The breadth exhibited by Miss Pennywise's voice (Katharine Cooper) as she pitched the high notes with high volume had the audience stunned, followed in a similar manner by Hope Cladwell (Danielle DiPaola). This was clearly not an easy musical to perform but at the same time the cast's boot-camp training pulled it off with style. In addition, Officer Lockstock (Andrew Russ), the evil cop and narrator who "you can't get rid of even if you want the story to end" is funny from start to finish, especially in his dialogue with Little Sally (Jillian-Anne Duffy) who does a good portrayal of a hopeful little girl. They are joined by Bobby Strong (Vincent Rodriguez) who not only convinces you he's an idealistic lovesick hero but makes you wish more lovesick idealists had his voice. Clearly, the theatre department has come a long way with this musical.