Twenty-six years after its debut at the New York International Fringe Festival, the hilarious and irreverent musical with the world’s worst title is taking to the stage in Perth.
Urinetown, brought to us by Western Sky Projects, is a brilliant production, replete with excellent performances, tight direction, polished choreography and an abundance of wicked, irreverent joy. This is an unforgettable musical not to be missed – one that will have you giggling for days afterwards.
In a nutshell, Urinetown is set in a dystopian town where a scarcity of water has led to a ban on private toilets and a ‘pay to pee’ economy in which people are forced to relieve themselves at public amenities and pay for the privilege. Those caught peeing in public are arrested by the menacing Officer Lockstock (Nick Maclaine) and banished to the dreaded Urinetown. They never return.
Our hero Bobby Strong (Marshall Brown), an attendant at the grottiest amenity, becomes outraged when his father, Old Strong (Thomas Papathanassiou), is arrested and hauled off to Urinetown. Strong stages an uprising, which is complicated by a budding romance with sweet Hope Cladwell (Izzi Green), the daughter of the evil Caldwell B Cladwell (Chris McCafferty) of Urine Good Company, who owns and operates the public amenities.
The Liberty Theatre is a terrific space to stage this gritty musical. Loaded with character, its grungy, distressed walls and grubby toilets perfectly support the down-and-out ambience of Urinetown’s inner city dystopia.
Rhiannon Walker’s clever set is littered with the detritus of a run-down city. Her costumes – from the fabulously fascist black leather garb of Lockstock and his enforcers, to the gorgeously grubby dungarees of Little Sally Caldwell (with a grotty teddy strangled beneath her belt) paint a perfect picture of a society gone to the dogs.
Director Andrew Baker leads a polished production with no weak links in sight. Every performance is strong, and his vision of a madcap dystopian community is airtight and crystal clear.
It is delightful to experience a huge cast (18 in total) explode on the stage, in perfect command of their material, performing with relish, executing superb choreography by Tess Howison in unison. All are clearly having an absolute ball with their outrageous material.
Singing is also strong with notable skill from Marshall Brown as Strong, Izzy Green as Hope, Nick Maclaine as Lockstock and Sharon Kiely as Penelope Pennywise.
Marshall Brown is rock solid as the idealistic Bobby Strong, who goes from toilet attendant to revolutionary with his hilarious gospel anthem Run Freedom Run, which sends up the traditional ‘uplifting’ musical number by being absurdly over the top.
Brown’s voice is strong and hits all the right notes of emotional sincerity. His performance is passionate and wide-eyed, and his romance with Hope hilariously parodies the trope of the star-crossed lovers. ‘I’ve known you five minutes…but I’ll die for you!’
Izzy Green plays a great romantic lead as the lovely Hope. Her physical and vocal beauty are considerable, and the innocence and optimism she evokes in her portrayal are as charming to the audience as they are to just about every male character in the play. Her voice is sublime – ringing like glass, it is fragile, fierce and pure.
Nick Maclaine is also terrific as the villainous Lockstock and the self-aware narrator who ironically comments on all the musical tropes at play. Maclaine skilfully swings between evil villain and likeable narrator. His voice and acting are impeccable, and his performance is intelligent, layered and nuanced.
Madeleine Shaw also shines as Little Sally – the archetypal innocent who speaks truth to power and gives voice to uncomfortable truths with guileless charm. Shaw beautifully portrays her charming combination of naivety and insight, and successfully pulls off the meta-ness of the character.
Not only does she question the corrupt machinations of Lockstock and Urine Good Company, but she hilariously also points out how the show is a musical about musicals and all their clichés.
Sally: This isn’t a very happy musical Mr Lockstock.
Lockstock: I know. But the music’s so bouncy!
Little Sally is a terrific character, whose lines undercut the illusion of theatre and deepen the sharp satire at the heart of the play. Shaw delivers her many layers with authenticity and verve.
Sharon Kiely is outstanding as Penelope Pennywise, the enforcer of Urine Good Company’s fascist laws who uses her brute force to mask the fact that she is also poor and downtrodden. She’s the face of systemic cruelty, but she’s also trapped inside it. Her iconic song It’s a Privilege to Pee is a full-blown comic showstopper.
As with many of the songs, it’s a parody of gospel, in which she sings like a preacher defending capitalism, even though the lyrics expose the madness of what she’s saying. Kiely is superb in the role, with a commanding physicality, a big, brassy belter voice and powerful presence. The gleeful relish she invests in the role is contagious.
The entire supporting cast is strong, but Maree Cole as Little Becky Two Shoes and Clare Thompson as Soupy Sue deserve a special mention for their madcap and insanely gleeful performances.
It is such a delight to bask in the sheer edginess and subversiveness of Urinetown, and the joy with which the cast and crew bring it to life. This is a clear example of an ensemble that works together synergistically, executing every line, dance move and song with precision and intent.
The five-piece band, under tight music direction by Taui Pinker, also deserve a mention. What a delight to see a musical with a live band that delivers a crisp, energetic performance with tight rhythms and playful dynamics, which keep the pace sharp and the comedy alive.
In a time when satire feels more vital than ever, Urinetown delivers a hilarious, high-octane punch to the status quo. With its fearless ensemble, razor-sharp wit, and infectious energy, this production is a triumph for Western Sky Projects and a must-see for lovers of bold, intelligent theatre. Don’t let the title fool you — Urinetown is pure gold.
Urinetown, The Musical runs to 15 November at the Liberty Theatre. 81 Barrack Street Perth WA 6000.
Tickets: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1393260
Website: https://www.westernskyprojects.com.au/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/westernskyprojects/
Photo credits: Mark Flower Photography
