A Review

2 P or Not 2 P

By R. J. Donovan

Remember the last time you were standing in a long line, urgently waiting your turn to use the bathroom? 

Well imagine that water has become a golden commodity.  Such a golden commodity that there are no private, at-home bathrooms anymore.  And that the police state is so restrictive, your only option is to use governmental loos.  Plus, you have to pay for the privilege -- every single time.  And on top of that, money is so tight, you have to plan ahead and save your pennies before you're allowed to relieve yourself.  In essence, "No Jingle, No Tinkle."

That's the off-the-wall premise of "Urinetown," the goofy musical parody that walked away with the Tony as Best Musical in 2002. The satirical look at political corruption in the not-too-distant future is playing at The Colonial through Jan 18.  

Never taking itself too seriously, this is a show with its tongue tucked securely in its grungy cheek.  Running from delightfully irreverent to downright politically incorrect, "Urinetown" is unlike all the other shows on the block.  And happily so. While you know you probably shouldn't laugh, it's hard not to love a show that has a lady with a leg brace sliding down a banister.

With the oh-so-serious Officer Lockstock (left) serving as our tour guide and narrator, the evening kicks off with an opening number explaining why the cast can't give away too much of the story too soon.  Constantly commenting on itself, "Urinetown" skips along with a wink and a nudge.  After all, the hero's name is Strong.  The dapper villain is Cladwell.  And the heroine is named Hope. 

While this ain't Rodgers & Hammerstein, creators Greg Kotis and Mark Hollmann slip in a homage of sorts to countless other musicals from "West Side Story" and "Les Miserables" to “Chicago,” "Fiddler on the Roof," the works of Kurt Weill and others.  If you're musical theatre-savvy, you'll love the references.  If you're not, you'll still enjoy the doings for all the silliness.

Keenly directed by John Rando, the cast of solid talents is a sharp group beginning with Tom Hewitt (top photo, with Strange) as a hilarious Lockstock.  Veteran actor Ron Holgate (left) is a smarmy Cladwell, corrupt as all outdoors. Charlie Pollock is Bobby Strong, who starts out as part of the system only to lead an uprising for the relief of the people. Beth McVey is Penelope Pennywise, keeper of a secret. And Christiane Noll (left, with Holgate) is a joy as sweet Hope. Daughter of Cladwell, she's out to right a few wrongs within the Urine Good Company corporation, employing a whimsical Madeline Kahn-like charm along with a big Broadway voice.    

The chorus folks are a great group, as well.  Within that tight company, Jim Corti starts out as Old Man Strong (Bobby's father), who breaks the law by refusing to use the sanctioned facilities.  After the senior Strong is sent off to oblivion, Corti returns to play Hot Blades Harry, one of the townspeople.  In Act Two, he positively shines when the locals kidnap Hope for leverage in their fight.  In fact, when Corti’s going through his comical motions at the group's Secret Hideaway, he momentarily steals the show.

Rounding out things is Meghan Strange (top photo with Hewitt) who gives a delectably quirky performance as the smudge-faced Little Sally. Providing the "common sense" factor against Lockstock's officious persona, it's Sally who cynically questions why plot points are as they are.  She's also the one who comes right out and says the title of the show is really gonna hurt sales -- which, of course, is the joke.

There's no drought of fun here, but if the show has a minor fault it's that the tone changes a little too much near the end.  After the insanity of the first act, you have to wonder how it's going to be maintained after intermission.  Happily, Act Two hits the ground running with two terrific numbers, “Snuff That Girl” and “Run Freedom Run.” 

But as the clock ticks, the pace slows.  Rather than racing towards a surprise revelation and a big finish, the story kind of plunks itself down.  Still, all is redeemed during the curtain call as the cast rejoins for one more kooky musical blast (including a human airplane ride for Little Sally), thereby sending you out into the night with a smile.

Final assessment for “Urinetown?” Stand up and go.

"Urinetown" is at The Colonial Theatre, 106 Boylston Street in Boston, through January 18. For information, call 617-931-2787.

-- OnStage Boston

1/9/04

 

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