[NEohioPAL] Berko review: URINETOWN (BECK CENTER)

[Roy Berko]

Beck’s  revival of ‘URINETOWN’….is flushed with
success!
 
Roy Berko
 
(Member,
American Theatre Critics Association)
 
--THE TIMES
NEWSPAPERS--
 
Lorain
County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News Times--Olmsted-Fairview Times  
 
--coolcleveland.com--
 
 
‘URINETOWN:
THE MUSICAL’ graced the stage at Beck Center three years ago.  The results were packed houses and
joyous laughter.   Scott
Spence, the theatre’s artistic director, decided to revive the show this
season, with basically the same cast and production team.  
 
The idea for
the play came to author Greg Kotis  when he visited Luxembourg 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, Kotis and
Hollmann happened upon three of Cleveland’s own, who at that point in their
careers were fledgling New York want-to-be legends.  Westsiders Matt and Mark Rego and Hank Unger had 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.”  They
have gone on to produce the likes of ‘WICKED.’
 
Don’t think
of the show as a light bit of escapism.  It is fun, in fact, a total delight, but it also has a serious
underbelly.  This is a tale of
greed, corruption, love and revolution in a city where water is worth its
weight in gold.  Messages pervade,
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 citizens have their
rights taken?  What is it like to be
lied to continually in an attempt to push a political and economic agenda
(Think Bush and Chaney)?  Think of
the missiles of mass destruction hoax, resulting in the Iraq 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 the clean air
act and the attitude of “drill, drill, drill.”  The fantasy of the situation described in ‘URINETOWN: THE
MUSICAL’ has become reality.
 
Beck’s’
production is delightful!   Scott Spence pulls out all the stops to completely capture the necessary
farce without losing meaning.  He
controls the temptation to go overboard with shticks.  
 
Choreographer
Martin Cespedes has reconceptualized the dancing.  His new approach works well.  He is lucky to have Zac Hudak’s dancing feet to anchor the
choreography.   Larry
Goodpaster gets a nod of approval for this musical direction even though some
of the music under the spoken scenes was too loud and drowned out the actors.  Don McBride’s scene design, parallels
the Broadway sets.  Alison Garrigan
did her usual “run to the thrift store” to find the right grubby clothing.
 
The cast is
excellent...not a weak link in the chain.  Matthew Wright is delightful as Officer Lockstock, the narrator.  He builds a wonderful rapport with the
audience and can do a double take with the best of them.  Betsy Kahl (Little Sally) is terrific
as his foil.  Whether singing or
whining her lines, she is delightful.  
 
Colin Cook,
who has a strong singing voice, bulked up since the last production and has
lost some of his boyish charm.  He
interacts effectively with Maggie Stahl (Hope), his love interest, who is the
daughter of the tyrant who controls the local urinals.   Stahl’s’ rendition of “I See a
River” is a show highlight.  “Privilege to Pee,” “What is Urinetown,” “Snuff That Girl,” and “Run,
Freedom, Run” are all choreographic gems. 
 
Greg Violand,
who normally plays the mature love interest in productions, takes a turn at
being a bad guy in this show.  He
does it well with a big dynamic vocal range and strong acting talents.  His version of “Don’t Be a Bunny” is
hilarious. 
 
The choral
sounds are excellent, especially in several a capella segments.
 
CAPSULE
JUDGEMENT:   Beck Centers
‘URINETOWN’  is as strong this time
as it was the last go around.  If
you haven’t seen it before, do so now.  If you have seen it, go again>  It’s as much or more fun the second time.   Beck not only succeeds, but should be justly proud of
being flushed with success!
 
For tickets
to ’URINETOWN’’  which runs through
October 12 at the Beck Center for the Arts, call 216-521-2540.
 
 Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2001 through 2008, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at http://royberko.info

His reviews can also be found on www.coolcleveland.com and NeOHIOpal (to subscribe visit http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/neohiopal.)