Our musical is set a couple decades after the coming "Stink Years," a time in the not-distant-enough future when we've recklessly depleted the groundwater to the point where the only drops of liquid you'll find in Brooks Memorial Fountain are the result of illegal public urination -- a crime that's gone from what was today a mere misdemeanor (don't ask how we know this) to what becomes a one-way ticket to the dreaded but mysterious Urinetown. All law-abiding folk must save their pennies to use the public amenities charging outrageous, ever-increasing fees to keep the pee off the streets and to keep their evil Monopoly guys vacationing in Rio. It's a situation ripe for fertilizing the seeds of revolution. Sort of like the Boston Tea Party...but different. To drive home the theme, Great Escape Stage Company went that extra mile and somehow scheduled the start of their production to coincide with the end days of a summer drought here in Marshall.
Bobby Strong emerges as this revolution's George Washington after his father is literally dragged offstage to Urinetown, with James Bleeker Jr. giving a great performance as the wide-eyed, sweet-faced public amenity employee who leads the desperate townspeople with a mixture of courage, fear, strength, and even brains (if they have to). But especially leading them with heart, which he finds thanks to his newfound relationship with the ever-hopeful Hope Cladwell. Riley Wilson hysterically captures Hope's journey through her early naivety and romanticism, to doubting daughter, to reluctant hostage, to fiery rebel leader even more drunk with power than her dear old dad.
Said dad is Caldwell B. Cladwell, the ruthless CEO of UGC (Urine Good Company), with Charles Burr gleefully hamming it up as he tries to teach Hope to not be a victim like a helpless little bunny, and instead crush little bunnies and make slippers out of 'em. He and the cast of freakishly devoted employees, along with Director/Choreographer Kim Forde, have some fun with this one including having Cladwell construct the bunny slippers like a mad scientist behind his dancing employees and bopping same employees over the head with a mallet for the various musical notes like Maria playing Do-Re-Mi on the Van Trapp children. Lisa Perez shines as his enthusiastic accomplice, lording over her public amenity with intimidating swagger and knocking out her big Privilege to Pee number as she lays down the law.
As both narrators and participants in this zany satire are the impressive comedic talents of Chris Howell as Officer Lockstock and Kelly Van Ryswyck as poor local urchin Little Sally. Chris relishes his power as sadistic Lockstock while affably explaining the plot to his inquisitive young sidekick, while Kelly is adorably curious and sympathetic to the rebellion in her over-the-top little girlish guise, ever desperate herself for those pennies that can help her survive to pee another day -- especially so after Lockstock abruptly and traumatically reveals to her the terrifying secret that is Urinetown.
The rest of the cast adds so much to the show throughout including super-creepy Senator Fipp (Antonio Barroso), Rudy Gauna as Lockstock's very eager right-hand man Officer Barrel, and Bobby's despairing parents (Evan Marshall and Sarrah Riddle). Most of the musical numbers are big ensemble scenes, and they all lend their quirky personalities and talents for highlights of the show including Jaiden Cowles and Bethany Barroso leading the cast in a frenzy to Snuff That Girl and Bobby Strong leading everyone in the catchy, holy rolling chorus of Run, Freedom, Run! that's sure to inspire everyone to fight for the right to pee wherever they want, whenever they want, and with whomever they want.
Rob Hopper
Marshall Arts
Photos: Jeff Wilson's Event Photography
Penelope Pennywise - Lisa Perez
Calhoun County Senior Services Caldwell D Cladwell - Charles Burr
Senator Fipp - Antonio Barroso
Officer Barrel - Rudy Gauna
Mr. McQueen - Jeremy Riddle
Josephine "Ma" Strong/UGC Executive/Police - Sarrah Riddle
Joseph "Old Man" Strong/UGC Executive/Police - Evan Marshall
Tiny Tom/UGC Executive/Police - Elliott Behrendt
Soupy Sue/Mrs. Millennium/UGC Executive/Police - Sereah Skutt
Little Becky Two Shoes/UGC Executive/Police - Bethany Barroso
Hot Blades Harry/UGC Executive/Police - Jaiden Cowles
Billy Boy Bob/Dr. Billeaux/UGC Executive/Police - Michael Taylor-Stewart
Robby the Stockfish/UGC Executive/Police - Patricia Quispe
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