Urinetown
at Robert E. Lee High School

Reviewed on April 27, 2019

Madelyn Khoury
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

The knife glints maliciously in the low light of an underground hideout, flashing as it comes to rest against the neck of a terrified hostage. It's a picture right out of an action film or dark drama-- and, while the scene is actually a snippet from Robert E. Lee High School's recent production of Urinetown, that's not too far from the truth. Urinetown the Musical made its debut on Broadway in 2001, written by Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis as a satirization of American society. Its storyline follows young Bobby Strong, who, against the backdrop of a dystopian, ultra-capitalist society, has grown tired of laws requiring citizens to pay to urinate. Amidst digs at society, gratuitous fourth wall breaking, and a generous handful of melodramatic incidents, the young hero leads a group of revolutionaries in hopes of changing the world.

The leading cast of Urinetown acted as its propellers, their snapping energy moving the show from one scene to the next. Patrick Payne, as Bobby Strong, led the pack strongly, belting his heart out in upbeat songs like "Run Freedom, Run" and holding Bobby's fearless posture – shoulders back and arms tensed, ready for a fight – in confrontation scenes. He and Christina Springer (Hope Cladwell) admirably used precise physical choices to add humor to the show, particularly in their melodramatic embraces in "Follow Your Heart". Meanwhile, Springer's bright and bell-like mix, lovely roundness, and rich vibrato accompanied Payne's well-supported belt and fun styling, meshing into beautiful harmony.

All the while, strong supporters like Pennywise (Winta Habtemichael), Officer Lockstock (Leah Block), and Little Sally (Khue Duong) used strong physical and vocal choices to imbue life in their characters. Block easily took charge of the stage with a confident swagger and a sarcastic drawl that excellently emphasized her satirical lines, while her frequent scene partner Duong -- clutching a stuffed teddy bear, pouting freely, and maintaining a memorable character voice – stayed committed to her character. Habtemichael used bold body language, squatting low as she took the stage in harsher songs and thrusting her chest out in scenes of conflict, unafraid to give a strong physical backing to her forcefully delivered lines.

The ensemble served as an opportunity for students to make their characters their own – an opportunity they seized. The ensemble maintained impressive energy and commitment to character, as its members clutched their bladders, danced maniacally as they threatened Hope, or sang accusingly out to the audience. Overall, they did an admirable job of executing the sharp choreography by Amanda Cohen, Luna Alazar, and Kennedi Roland, resulting in snazzy stage pictures and tableaus with exciting levels.

To further immerse the audience in the world of Urinetown, Henson Doan executed an impressive and refreshing lighting design, using bold, shifting colors and special effects – such as a "rolling" spot to simulate a police siren – to emphasize the mood of the show. Meanwhile, detail-oriented costumes by Bailey Benson and Christina Springer– including leather work-belts and plungers for the custodians, a yellow tie for the CEO of Urine Good Company, and excellent imitation police uniforms – helped distinguish characters.

With impressive vocal talent, strong energy, and detailed technical elements to aid the audience's immersion in the story, Robert E. Lee High School's production of Urinetown was a delight to watch. Audiences looking for a witty, thought provoking show are in luck; Urinetown is sure to satisfy.

Erik Wells
Lake Braddock Secondary
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

"A bad title, even? That could kill a show pretty good," opines Little Sally to the audience in "Urinetown", a show which is nothing if not self-aware. If this kind of humor is for you, you're in luck. If you find the title off-putting, don't throw the baby out with the bath water or in this case, toilet- water. Despite first appearances, "Urinetown" is plumb full of great moments for everyone: beautiful vocals, timeless political commentary, and yes, some toilet humor.

The idea for "Urinetown" first came about in the late 1990s when lyricist Greg Kotis was traveling through Europe and thought, "What if I made a biting social satire centered around toilets?" From there, the show went on to a successful Broadway run (after being turned down by several production companies along the way), eventually winning 3 Tony's from 10 nominations. The musical tells the story of a city where a drought has led to an opportunistic businessman charging people for toilet usage, leading to many becoming impoverished and eventually exiled to the titular town when they cannot pay. Major players include: Bobby Strong, an assistant janitor who will lead a revolution with his strength; Mr. Cladwell, the aforementioned businessman whose hold on the city and conviction in his beliefs is ironclad; and Hope, Cladwell's daughter, who loves Bobby and might be able to bring peace through her... hope.

Robert E. Lee High School's cast plumbs the depths of these roles to wring out every laugh and hit every note. Patrick Payne brings a "gee whiz" enthusiasm to the role of Bobby Strong, perfectly capturing the likeness of a man who has big dreams but is not sure how to set them in motion. Payne puts in engaging work with all of his scene partners, especially Christina Springer, who plays Hope. The two have such a palpable chemistry in their Act 1 duet "Follow Your Heart" that you'll forget their characters barely know each other. Springer also does a particularly good job of selling her character's more over-the-top lines. As Hope's father, Caldwell Cladwell, Jacob Durish exhibits a sleazy charm, immediately cluing you in to the fact that this is a man who feels no turmoil over his actions. Durish gives his all to every malicious gesture and venomous line delivery. Leah Block kept up the flow of the play in the narrator role of Officer Lockstock. With crisp diction, exaggerated posturing, and a biting rapport with the cast, Block gave a memorable comedic performance in a role that a lesser actor would have just let serve as an exposition delivery device. Lastly, a revolution is only as strong as its members, and Urinetown's ensemble made it a strong revolution indeed. Every ensemble member created a unique character and displayed a thorough commitment to their bit in all their scenes.

On the technical side, a highlight was the costume work by Bailey Benson and Christina Springer. The use of distinct aesthetic and color schemes made a character's background clear immediately upon seeing them. Student choreography also brought an extra layer of enjoyment to the big musical numbers, with the choreographers seizing the opportunity to create various interesting pictures throughout the show. Lastly, the show's stripped-down orchestra performed flawlessly with only five members, to the point that you would think the show was always meant to be performed that way.

If you're looking for a musical that mixes punchlines, politics, and pathos, Lee High School's production of Urinetown takes the throne: a play packed with passionate portrayals, pitch-perfect performances, and proficient production work. Truly, you're in for a treat.

Mithra Dhinakaran
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Submitted for publication to FCPS Community News

We, the people, fought long and hard for our basic rights, although we may often be guilty of taking some for granted. How frequently do we take a moment to appreciate our freedom - to sing, to breathe, to… take a leak? As uproariously funny as a morbid dystopia can be, Robert E. Lee High School's production of Urinetown called our privilege into question, poking as much fun at a capitalist society as it does itself.

Written by Greg Kotis and composed by Mark Hollman, Urinetown premiered in 2001 and ran on Broadway for over two years. The satirical musical takes place in a drought-stricken future in which people must pay to urinate in public amenities owned exclusively by "Urine Good Company." Should the people violate this law, they are sent to the cryptic Urinetown. When a fee hike is proposed, Hope Cladwell, daughter of the CEO, inspires worker Bobby Strong to liberate the impoverished townspeople.

With unadulterated optimism and self-mocking innocence, actress Christina Springer personified Hope from beginning to end. Humorously turning away from other characters and scooting off the stage in a rolling chair, her melodramatic portrayal drew many laughs. Springer demonstrated her beautiful singing in plenty of numbers, particularly "Follow Your Heart," a duo with Patrick Payne as Bobby, whose strong vocals shone in exceptional riffs. Payne's exaggerated seriousness turned even the most morose scenes into comedic affairs.

Playing another larger-than-life character, Jacob Durish as the evil Mr. Cladwell managed to instill fear about the authoritarian nature of mega corporations while prancing around in bunny slippers. Narrating his atrocities, Leah Block as Officer Lockstock built a playful relationship with the audience through ludicrous self-awareness. Candidly breaking the fourth wall with unsolicited exposition, her offhand delivery cracked up the audience. These moments were made all the funnier by Khue Duong as Little Sally, whose rational analysis Block casually dismissed in the spirit of musical theatre.

With a characteristic high-pitched voice, Duong captured her character as an amusing and astute little girl. Her dynamic with Block was one of the highlights of her performance, rivaled by enthusiastic interactions with the rest of the cast. In one notable scene, she fought plunger to plunger in slow-motion with Winta Habtemichael as Ms. Pennywise. Portraying the tough operator of Public Amenity #9, Habtemichael firmly shut down the freeloaders with a gritty attitude and powerful voice.

Dressed in ratty clothing with mud-streaked faces, Bailey Benson and Christina Springer's costumes and Reese Lim and Kimberly Quispe's make-up and hair created a cohesive style for the wretched characters. Additionally, lighting led by Henson Doan enhanced the mood of each scene, from the blindingly bright office to the downcast sewer hideout.

From enormously physical reactions of surprise to overblown facial expressions and individual reactions, the cast brought humor to the dark themes of the show in a skillful balance. While we were reeling with laughter, Robert E. Lee High School's production of Urinetown made us think about the interplay of freedom and security in our own lives, in such an entertaining manner that we may have not even realized it.

Rebecca Connor
South County High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com

If you happen to stop by Robert E. Lee High School's Urinetown, then "urine" for a treat. With a steady stream of comedy that flows all night, this show will have you laughing at it, yourself, and the world we all live in.

Despite all the puns and jokes, Urinetown is a poignant comment on capitalism, climate change, and blind belief that is focused on, you guessed it, pee. With lyrics by Greg Kotis and Mark Hollmann, first opened on Broadway on September 20th, 2001. Set in a dystopian world after a 20-year drought, the Urine Good Company (UGC) has created a fee to pee. This fee disproportionately affects the poor, who worry about getting sent away to the fictional Urinetown.

Christina Springer as Hope Cladwell showed beautiful consistency as the juxtaposition to the compromised morals of the show's other characters. Despite the sweetness of her role, she used her character's naivety to draw out laughs with exaggerated wide-eyed innocence. Complimenting her was Patrick Payne as the show's stock hero, Bobby Strong. With grounded physicality that gave his character authenticity, Payne captured both the moralist and pragmatist in the role. Both he and Springer showcased their strong vocals and chemistry throughout the show, particularly in the numbers "Follow Your Heart" and "Why Did I Listen To That Man?", both of which required range and a strong connection between the two actors.

Leah Block as Officer Lockstock and Khue Duong as Little Sally aptly narrated the show, setting up much of the production's self-deprecation. Block's nasally intonation helped to build her character throughout the show, especially alongside Nazmee Kamal as Officer Barrel in "Cop Song" with grounded voices and malicious physicality. Jacob Durish as Caldwell B. Cladwell captured the essence of the perfect villain: someone who knows what he's doing is bad and does it anyway. Winta Habtemichael as Penelope Pennywise captured the essence of the show with her simultaneously can-do and sassy attitude in the expositional number "It's a Privilege to Pee".

The Poor may have been dirty and ragged, but their transition from meek penny-pinchers to feral kidnappers was not only funny but exemplified the satirical nature of Urinetown. Ethan Gomes as Hot Blades Harry may have made the audience uncomfortable at times, but his commitment to not shying away from such a despicable character was laudable. Similarly, Katie Machado as McQueen, Cladwell's assistant, portrayed the fumbling sidekick with comic accuracy.

The show's make up team (Reese Lim and Kimberly Quispe) did an outstanding job with the show's poorer citizens, making it seem as if they really had been dirtying themselves up in a slum all their lives. There was also a clear balance in costumes (Bailey Benson and Christina Springer) with the Executives popping in bright colors and the Poor in more muted, earthy tones. The uniqueness of setting the orchestra up behind the set was intriguing, though it did lead to some of the music being muffled. The lighting (Henson Doan) nicely matched the scenes with a color scheme, though actors would sometimes be left in the dark without a spotlight.

As the climate apocalypse draws ever nearer, Urinetown reminds its audience of the pressing nature of our earth's destruction from global warming and capitalism alike. However, it's not all doom and gloom and before the night is over, you'll find yourself being grateful for your toilet.

Nicole Benson
South County High School
Submitted for publication to Connection

Robert E. Lee High School's production of Urinetown, The Musical reminded the audience that it's a privilege to pee, follow your heart, and don't be the bunny!

Urinetown, The Musical, with music and lyrics by Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis, opened on Broadway on September 20, 2001. It tells the story of a dystopian world where a water shortage has caused a mega-corporation to make it illegal to pee without paying a fee. This way of life is challenged when a dashing young hero named Bobby Strong leads a revolution against the CEO, Caldwell B. Cladwell. The show satirizes themes such as capitalism, social structure, populism, and bureaucracy.

Leading the production were Patrick Payne and Christina Springer as Bobby Strong and Hope Cladwell. Payne played Bobby Strong's melodramatic, stereotypical, "hero" personality expertly and demonstrated clear vocals and great energy. Springer gave a remarkably cheery and innocent disposition to the character who lived up to her name, "Hope". Springer also showed her beautiful soprano notes and had hilarious comedic timing. Payne and Springer had excellent chemistry together and harmonized perfectly in their duet, "Follow Your Heart."

In the supporting cast, Leah Block gave a laid-back yet corrupt personality to Officer Lockstock with sarcastic delivery and hilarious interactions with the audience. Jacob Durish played the perfect corrupt businessman, Cladwell, who is also genuinely concerned for "tomorrow." Durish also showed great comedic moments and vocal work in "Don't Be the Bunny."

Khue Duong was a hilarious and spunky "little girl" stereotype as Little Sally. Duong did well with her interactions with Lockstock and the ensemble. Winta Habtemichael was a rough, tough Penelope Pennywise with great physicality and personality. The ensemble as a whole kept to their characters and all appreciated the melodrama of the plot and dialogue.

On the technical side, the costumes were well-attuned to the setting and fit each character well. The crew made good use of color with the poor wearing dirty, earthy colors and the rich wearing bright jewel tones to show the difference in social standing. Makeup was excellent, as it made the poor people look dirty.

Overall, Robert E. Lee High School's production of Urinetown was a fun-filled, melodramatically hilarious experience for the whole audience. And remember, it's a privilege to pee.

Jacqueline VonTersch
Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School
Submitted for publication to Fairfax County Times

When faced with tyranny, follow your heart. When fighting against tyranny, let freedom run. When defeating tyranny, don't be sorry. A fantastic blend of comedy and social commentary, Urinetown incorporates these ideas to create a show unlike any other. With hilarious songs like "It's a Privilege to Pee" and "Don't Be the Bunny", Urinetown becomes a difficult show to master as it calls for the actors to somehow keep a very weighty mood while not loading the audience with unbearable gravity; and Robert E. Lee High school managed to do an excellent job of just that.

In a world with a water shortage, everyone must pay to use the bathroom. Any open defecation or not-in-a-public-bathroom relief is grounds for an arrest and a trip to Urinetown. It is in this world that a toilet cleaner, Bobby Strong, meets young Hope, the daughter of the Urine Good Company CEO, and decides to revolt against the tyrannical rule of the CEO: pay to pee. After kidnapping Hope in an attempt to make her father, Mr. Caldwell, abolish the rules regarding free peeing, Bobby Strong attempts to negotiate with Mr. Caldwell for the poor people. Instead Bobby Strong is killed and sent to Urinetown. After this the poor with Hope as their new leader kill Caldwell and set about creating a free pee society. The musical finishes with everyone dying of dehydration since they didn't conserve any water, and Hope tells them that "the river is in them".

While there may not necessarily be any clear "good guys" or "bad guys" in this show, there is definitely a protagonist. Patrick Payne did a fantastic job playing the role of Bobby Strong with his powerful voice that rang throughout the audience. He easily conquered many vocal runs expressing a clear level of agility in his voice. Likewise the actress of Hope Caldwell (Christina Springer) brought a great vocal presence to the stage with clear vocal runs and a resonant voice that demonstrated the sweetness in her character. Other performers like those of Little Sally and Caldwell did an excellent job of singing as well. The whole cast meshed smoothly and overall were very strong withe some of the ensemble members standing out. For example, the actor of Mama Strong had a force and stage presence that made her character into a very powerful and engaging role.

The performance on stage was exciting and excellent but it would be a crime to fail to mention the fantastic choreography. In a show where urine and death mean almost the same thing finding the right way to be expressive can be a challenge. The choreography, however, did this to a "T". The choreography incorporated lots of levels and powerful pictures that made the audience lean a little more forward in their seats throughout the whole show. Yet, while the ensemble did a fantastic job letting the choreography shine, many times their volume and sound was hard to hear for the audience.

Overall the production of Urinetown by Robert E. Lee High school was a fantastic performance. After watching it, the audience left questioning the sanctity of a completely capitalist society and wary of the naiveté of a completely anarchist society, but most importantly the audience left astutely grateful for their free privilege to pee.