Don't Hold it! Just Go - It's Urinetown!

Imagine a life when the California water shortage is so severe that you have to pay to pee.

This is the problem facing the poor folks in the musical "Urinetown." When the water shortage became too severe, Caldwell B. Cladwell, owner of the Urine Good Company, handled the situation. Cladwell closes down all private restroom facilities in the city and opens up public urinals that citizens must pay to use.

The urinals run by Urine Good Company's agents are dirty, expensive and constantly the host of long lines. The poor people of the town are being bled dry of the little money they have but do not dare use other facilities for fear of being sent to the dreaded Urinetown. None of the citizens actually know where Urinetown is or why they fear it, but each person has his or her suspicions and the authorities do their best not to confirm or deny anything.

Rae Robison and Elisabeth Harrington directed the play and performed by Humboldt State University students. It will be performed in the John Van Duzer Theatre the weekends of October 25-28 and November 1-3.

Actors and directors alike are happily anticipating sharing this kooky story with Humboldt state students and the surrounding community. Clayton Cook, the narrator and chief of police known as Officer Lockshock, the "Nazi-esque" man in charge of upholding the water preservation codes, could not be happier to be a part of Urinetown.

"The show is a whole lot of fun," he said.

The play is smart and ridiculous and makes fun of the standing foundation of the musical theatre world while being less than serious with itself at the same time.

Cladwell, played by Keith Renouf, is your typical bad guy as the head of Urine Good Company. His character is the reason for the suffering of the poor citizens waiting in line to pee. "You have to think of the bad guy not as a bad guy but as a guy with good intentions," Renouf said. "It's never as easy as 'you're right and they're wrong.' You have to understand the conflict within the character."

While at times it does seem as though Cladwell really does have the environment's best interest at heart, it is apparent that big piles of money have a great deal to do with his decision to conserve water through paying toilets.

The upbeat, cheery music of the show is in the typical style of most musical theatre classics such as "Wicked" or "Hairspray," but don't be fooled by the candy-coated exterior, this is no typical Broadway musical. "Why is the music so happy when the words are so sad?" Little Sally asks during one of the songs. "This is a musical," Officer Lockstock returns. "The music has to be happy."

Bobby Amirkhan, who plays the upright bass in the show's band, said that this play is unlike any other show he has played for. "There aren't quite as many ballads or jazzy tunes in this musical as there were in 'Chicago' or 'Kiss Me, Kate,' which allows a bassist to have more fun, but it's still fun music to play," said Amirkhan.

And what is the often whispered about Urinetown? "Well, you'll have to see the show," said Cook.

Printed October 24, 2007 in The Lumberjack.