[NEohioPAL]Berko review: URINETOWN

[Roy Berko]

TONY AWARD WINNING ‘URINETOWN’ AT THE PALACE

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--

Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News
Times--Olmsted-Fairview Times		

When it opened on-Broadway ‘URINETOWN THE MUSICAL’ was
billed as a “simple story of two kids who fall in love
in a city during a water shortage.”  The question most
often asked about the production was, “what’s with the
title?”  That title, plus a wonderful cast, a no-holds
barred production, and some wonderful word-of-mouth,
propelled the show into becoming Broadway's most
unexpected phenomenon, and the winner of the 2002 Tony
Awards for Best Direction, Best Book, and Best Music
and Lyrics. 

This musical-comedy tale of greed, corruption, love
and revolution in a city where water is worth its
weight in gold has been hailed by Entertainment Weekly
as "fresh, exuberant and even moving-somewhere beyond
the sublime and
beyond the ridiculous."

The idea for the show came to author Greg Kotis  when
he visited Luxenbourg and was confronted with having
to use the city's pay-per-use toilets.   He, along
with his friend Mark Hollmann, developed the show. 
Theatrical producers took one look at the title and
subject matter and wouldn’t take on the project. 
Luckily, they happened upon three of Cleveland’s own,
who were fledgling New York want-to-be stage legends. 
Matt and Mark Rego and Hank Unger had already produced
‘VAGINA MONOLOGUES’ and were ripe for another hit. 
They optioned the script, mounted an off-Broadway
production, and, against the odds, they became the Big
Apple’s new “wunderkinds.”

The First National Tour of ‘URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL’ is
now running at Playhouse Square Center's Palace
Theatre.  The response to the show was very different
here than in New York.

Part of the difference is that times have changed. 
When the show opened, the world was at relative peace.
 Seeing only the escapist message was all right. 
Since then the show’s messages have begun to ring
clear.  Messages such as what happens when big
business is given the right to control our lives. 
Think of the pharmaceutical and medical companies and
their stranglehold over our health.  What happens when
the citizens have their human rights taken away from
them?  Think Patriot Act and prisoners being held in
jail without being officially charged with a crime? 
What is it like to be lied to continually in an
attempt to push a political and economic agenda? 
Think of the missiles of mass destruction hoax,
resulting in the Iraqi war, and the amount of money
being made by the oil and military-industrial complex
and influential public officials.  Think of the rape
of the environment caused by loosening of the clean
air act.  The fantasy of the situation described in
‘URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL’ has become near reality.

The second factor for the difference in reaction to
the show is a combination of a weaker cast and a the
sometimes less-than dynamic presentation.  While the
Broadway production literally jumped off the stage,
the touring show is more subdued.  Does this mean
there aren’t any laughs?  Oh, believe me, there are. 
Does this mean that the show isn’t fun?  Parts are a
hoot. 

The touring cast includes Tom Hewitt as Officer
Lockstock, the show’s narrator.  Hewitt has perfect
comic timing, a wonderful ironic-sounding voice, and
just the right presence for the role.  Meghan Strange
is wonderful as his foil, Little Sally.  Whether
roller skating, singing, or whining her lines, she is
fine.  Charlie Pollock, who played the lead role of
Bobby Strong on Broadway, doesn’t quite win us over as
a romantic hero, though he sings extremely well. 
Christine Noll is not affectionate r vulnerable enough
as Hope, the daughter of the tyrant who controls the
local urinals and Bobby’s love interest. The rest of
cast is fine, but not wonderful.

Special production numbers are  “What Is Urinetown?,”
“Snuff That Girl” and the minstrel show inspired “Run
Freedom Run.”  “Follow Your Heart” is a lovely ballad.

CAPUSLE JUDGEMENT:  Having loved the Broadway
production of ‘URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL,’ I wanted to
love this production.  I didn’t love it, I liked it. 
Should you go see it?  Absolutely, just reserve a
little of your expectations.


Tickets to ‘URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL’, which range in
price from $25 to $52 are on sale now at the Playhouse
Square Center box office, at 1519 Euclid Avenue; by
phone at 216.241.6000; all tickets.com outlets; or
online at www.playhousesquare.com

Playhouse Square Center’s next show will be ‘SATURDAY
NIGHT FEVER’ to be staged from February 3-8.  Based on
the 1977 film of the same name, it features the songs
from the soundtrack by the Bee Gees and tells the
story of a streetwise Brooklyn kid with a desire to
make it big in NY.  Songs include:  “Stayin’ Alive,”
“How Deep Is Your Love?,’ and “Jive Talkin.”  The
production stars Mentor native Tony Gonzalez as Tony
Manero.


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