Reviews: Urinetown at Our Lady of Good Counsel
Written by Lauren Capistran of Bishop Ireton
Get ready to go through "coronary summersaults" at Our Lady of Good Counsel's production of Urinetown: The Musical. Urinetown is the place to be, despite possible puddles on the streets.
Urinetown: The Musical, created by Greg Kotis and Mark Hollman, premiered on Broadway on September 20th, 2001. It follows a dystopia where everyone has to pay to pee because a twenty-year-long drought has allowed corporations to take over water usage. The musical, while comedic and satirical at times, tackles issues of corporate greed, capitalism, and the shortfalls of revolutions. It won three of the ten Tony Awards it was nominated for including Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, and Best Direction of a Musical.
Ensembles are the foundation of any show and all of the ensembles in this production are no exception. The Poor Ensemble was perfectly dirty, tired, and angry. Every member created an individuality that was above expectations. The UGC Ensemble was scarily proper and precise with their movement. They truly showed how out of touch the two groups of characters were. Specifically, the dancing and choreography execution from Hot Blades Harry (Kamdi Aghazu), Little Becky Two Shoes (Nealah Malmstrom), and Dr. Billeaux (Anna Legrady) was a privilege to see.
"A Privilege to Pee" is Penelope Pennywise's (Allison Payne) primary song. It was an ear-catching ballad that was highlighted by Payne's powerful belt. On top of her voice, Payne had a foreboding physicality that was very in tune with her character. Payne's facial expressions were the cherry on top because they showed off the more complex sides of the character she was portraying. Hope Cladwell (Elsa Harlor) is the stereotypical musical love interest turned on her head. Harlor takes this preppy and odd girl and makes her even more fun and exaggerated. Her acting choices were perfectly picked with her shrieks, claps, and confused looks. Harlor also had a beautiful voice that shined on its own and blended well with fellow castmates. This is seen with Bobby Strong (Francis Hoag) in "Follow Your Heart."
The aforementioned duet gets a deeper meaning and an emphasis on the chemistry between the lovers with the Lighting by Jude Buber, Madison Boddie, Ryan Bykowski, and the GCTC Lighting Team. This team was strong in their color use; starting with all pinks but by the end of the song Hope is partially covered in green, the color of the poor, to show her change in opinions and exposure to the real world. They also had flawless follow-spots during many of the scenes. They used moving lights and a strobe effect during the "Act One Finale" to highlight the chaos on stage. It was a very well-done effort on the team as a whole.
Also, with flawless execution was The GCTC Run Crew. Guided by the Stage Management team of Lily Sarfaraz, Mimi Wise. They had great safety measures with the use of "glow tape" to avoid injury on the dark set steps. The fly rail operation was practically professional because of how smooth and steady it was. This is shown with the UGC set flying in and out throughout the show. They also created detailed run sheets to ensure everything that needed to be onstage was. The GCTC Run Crew was good because they were undetectable. Tables, desks, and stools were brought onstage quickly and efficiently.
Urinetown: The Musical at Our Lady of Good Counsel let "freedom run," "golden frothy canals" flow, and hearts pound to the thrilling performance. The cast and crew should be proud of the high-grade quality of their abilities.
Written by Grace Gibbens of South Lakes High School
"Welcome to Urinetown—not the place, of course, but the musical!" Our Lady of Good Counsel High School's production of this satirical and surprisingly relevant show took audiences on a hilarious yet thought-provoking journey through a world where even a bathroom break comes at a cost.
Written by Greg Kotis, with music by Mark Hollmann, Urinetown tells the story of a dystopian future where the "Privilege to Pee" is fueled by corruption and poverty. The show follows Bobby Strong as he leads a rebellion against Urine Good Company, only to discover that the woman he loves, Hope Cladwell, is the daughter of the company's greedy CEO, Caldwell B. Cladwell. As tensions rise, Bobby must decide whether to leave Hope behind or bring her with him in the fight for justice. Premiering in 2001, Urinetown quickly gained acclaim for its sharp wit, self-aware humor, and social commentary. This Tony award-winning score and script balanced comedy with social justice, remaining a favorite among theater goers for its unique storytelling, energetic ensemble numbers, and inspiring writing.
Good Counsel's Urinetown came to life through the enthusiastic and committed ensemble, whose energy never wavered. The show's structure allowed for numerous featured moments, giving many cast members a chance to shine. This made for a dynamic and engaging performance where every role felt important. The collaboration between the technical crews and actors was especially impressive, considering the show's demand for challenging feats. Their teamwork resulted in a well-executed and highly entertaining performance that showcased the company's strong dedication.
Francis Hoag, as Bobby Strong, delivered a standout performance of the role, showcasing his incredible vocals and commanding stage presence. Hoag brought both charisma and depth to the character, handling the demanding role with ease, allowing the audience to see the raw talent and amazing energy that can be brought to the stage. Opposite Hoag, Elsa Harlor expertly portrayed Hope Cladwell, using clear character choices that added profundity and charm to her performance. Harlor's stunning operatic vocals carried the show with grace as she made each moment more captivating and memorable than the last. The deep chemistry between these two actors showed through their performances, keeping the audience wanting more of the effortless moments they created together.
The supporting cast played a crucial role in bringing Urinetown to life, adding depth and vibrancy to every scene with their compelling performances and strong character work. Charles Cobb gave an enticing performance as Caldwell B. Cladwell, showcasing incredible acting skills that shined through despite the unique challenge of performing with a long beard and glasses throughout the entire show. Although they never interacted on stage, Susana Lopez Chavarriaga as Little Sally matched the energy Cobb brought with their performance. Chavarriaga expertly played a young girl, and conveyed the curious energy of Little Sally within each and every scene, whether or not she was actively speaking.
The set crew's (Allison Payne, Alex Hatziyannis, Ava Pitner, Rain Ayers) expert design created a versatile backdrop for the variety of settings throughout the show. Using six layers of paint, the crew created a hyper-realistic brick base, contrasting it with rusting metals. Complementing the set was the truly symbolic lighting (Jude Buber, Madison Boddie, Ryan Bykowski, and the GCTC Lighting Crew) that helped set the mood for each and every scene, reflecting the different characters in their lighting choices. Through the use of follow spots, moving and strobe lights, and various gobos, the lighting team created a breathtaking effect that allowed the audience to better understand the story and its characters.
Our Lady of Good Counsel High School's rendition of Urinetown overflowed with incredible talent, boundless energy, and remarkable creativity, making it a truly golden production from start to finish.