"Urinetown the Musical" - by Mark Hollman and Greg Kotis - Concord Players (Concord, MA.) - REVIEW
(Cover Photo: The CAST of "URINETOWN THE MUSICAL" by Mark Hollman and Greg Kotis presented by Concord Players in Concord, MA. now playing through May 17, 2025. Photo Credit Sue Flint)
By Emily D. Baldwin
Special METRMAG Correspondent Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
“It ain't no joke, that's why it's funny. So, take your cue: Don't be the bunny!"
- ("Caldwell B. Cladwell") / Mark Hollman and Greg Kotis
Concord Players
Presents
"URINETOWN THE MUSICAL"
Music and Lyrics by Mark Hollmann
Book and Lyrics by Greg Kotis
Directed by Shelby Art-Koljonen
Assistant Director Cathy Koerwer
Music Director Martha Warren
Choreographer Jamie Cook
Cast Includes: Josh Telepman as “Officer Lockstock,” Chris Govang as “Officer Barrel,” Vanessa Calantropo as “Penelope Pennywise,” Ryan Malyar as “Caldwell B. Cladwell,” Jonathan Touchette as “Bobby Strong,” Aiden O'Neal as “Hope Cladwell,” Nikki Ready as “Little Sally,” Thomas Christopher Marsh as “Hot Blades Harry,” Allison Russell as “Little Becky Two-Shoes,” Alyson Foisy as “Soupy Sue,” Chuck Holleman as “Old Man Strong,” Deborah Rosenstein as “Josephine ‘Ma’ Strong,” Crisanto Guadiz as “Tiny Tom,” Michael Gravante as “Robby the Stockfish,” Stacy Sherman as “Billy Boy Bill,” Michael Jay as “Five Times Johnny,” Patrick French as “Senator Fipp,” DJ McKeon as “Mr. McQueen,” Autumn DeSisto as “Mrs. Millennium,” Agatha Oehlkers as “Dr. Billeaux,” Samantha Casale as “Mrs. O'Henry,” Avery Clements as “Mrs. Vanderfeller,” David J. Kim as “Million Dollar Bill.”
Additional Creative Team:
Hair and Makeup Design - Jamie Cook; Co-Producer - Nadine Sa; Co-Producer - Michael Jay; Stage Manager - Heather Hamilton Gallagher; Assistant Stage Manager - Bill Fisher; Dance Captain - Allison Russell; Intimacy and violence coordinator - Sydney T. Grant; Set Design / Chief of Set Construction - Allen Bantly; Properties - Anne Bantly; Costume Designer - Kim Cook; Lighting Designer - Tim Gregor; Sound Designer - Bob Pascucci; Associate Sound Designer - Matthew Tse; Publicity - Andrea Roessler.
Performances:
May 2, 2025 through May 17, 2025
(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)
All performances to be held at 51 Walden Street, Concord, MA. 01742
TICKETS:
Call # 978 369-2990 or visit https://concordplayers.org/
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(Warning: The following review contains spoilers)
Concord Players plunges head first into the month of May with "URINETOWN THE MUSICAL" a drenching satire overflowing with silliness.
The staging of the production by director Shelby Art-Koljonen impresses and the show is solid, loaded with strong ensemble performances.
"URINETOWN THE MUSICAL" has developed a staunchly dedicated following, mostly because it recognizes and promotes itself for what it is – a preposterous show with a terrible title.
In this latest Concord Players' staging, the choreography by Jamie Cook is simple but effective and brings the campiness of the show into the music, especially in numbers like “Mr. Cladwell” and “Snuff That Girl.”
Yes, this is a fabulous show…with an intentional (albeit unfortunate) wretched title.
However, as soon as one accepts the premise of the potty-driven plot combined with a multitude of musical references, the more fun they will have at "URINETOWN THE MUSICAL."
(Photo: Jonathan Touchette as “Bobby Strong” with the CAST of "URINETOWN THE MUSICAL" by Mark Hollman and Greg Kotis presented by Concord Players in Concord, MA. now playing through May 17, 2025. Photo Credit Sue Flint)
Debuting in 2001, "URINETOWN THE MUSICAL" with its witty, quirky libretto, was developed with the collaborative efforts of music by Mark Hollmann, lyrics by Hollmann and Greg Kotis, and book by Kotis.
While, for some, the show may come across as outlandish, sophomoric humor, don’t be fooled - because "URINETOWN THE MUSICAL" well-satirizes many higher concepts, among them: politics, law, commerce, ecology, society, bureaucracy, corporate greed, and musicals.
Premiering at the New York International Fringe Festival, "URINETOWN" then was produced Off-Broadway in 2001 at the American Theatre for Actors.
Ultimately opening on Broadway and running from 2001 until 2004, "URINETOWN" ran for a total of 25 previews and 965 performances.
"URINETOWN THE MUSICAL" was nominated for 10 Tony Awards and won three: one for Best Book of a Musical, one for Best Original Score and one for Best Direction of a Musical (for John Rando).
In 2010, a movie adaptation was made and yes - it is currently available on multiple "streaming" platforms.
From the moment Concord Players' "URINETOWN" begins, instantly it becomes apparent that this is going to be two solid hours of completely silly satire…and thank goodness for that, because it is done in an amiable, delightfully funny way.
Our host and guide for the proceedings is Officer Lockstock (Josh Telepman), a policeman who lyrically conveys right off the bat that we are about to experience a musical unlike other kinds of musicals we might have experienced before.
As Lockstock, Telepman serves well as the fun narrator, also doing a great job alternating from when his character is our narrator and when he is actually part of the story he is telling. We then meet street urchin Little Sally (Nikki Ready).
Ready is quite believable as a child despite Little Sally being taller than half of the “adult” characters, and presents the story arc of an enthusiastic young urchin who soon becomes a little more jaded by the time we reach the show’s second act.
(Photo: Aiden O'Neal as “Hope Cladwell” with Jonathan Touchette as “Bobby Strong” in a moment from "URINETOWN THE MUSICAL" by Mark Hollman and Greg Kotis presented by Concord Players in Concord, MA. now playing through May 17, 2025. Photo Credit Sue Flint)
We learn of a 20-year drought that has caused a catastrophic water shortage.
As a result, home toilets are now a thing of the past and only mandatory public-use pay-toilets exist.
The above plot was inspired while "URINETOWN" co-creator Greg Kotis was a student traveling abroad in Europe and had to contend with “pay toilets.”
Kolis developed "URINETOWN THE MUSICAL" with Mark Hollmann which ultimately landed them on Broadway.
In this fictitious futuristic society, all bathroom activities are done in public toilets governed by an unsympathetic corporation called "Urine Good Company" (or “UGC”).
To control water consumption, people have to pay to use the amenities which we learn about in the song, “It’s a Privilege to Pee.”
As the story continues, we learn of the cruel restrictions and penalties put upon the public to force people to pay to urinate and that any public urination is prosecuted ferociously.
There is a line gathered at the most disgusting urinal in town, “Public Amenity # 9” (aka “# 9” as signified by a suspended neon sign) run by the unsympathetic controller Penelope Pennywise (Vanessa Calantropo) assisted by the show’s hero, aptly named Bobby Strong (Jonathan Touchette).
Calantropo as Pennywise has a solid voice and is fun to watch, bringing a lot of energy whenever onstage and making very specific, insightful choices.
The Pennywise songs are some of the funniest in the Concord Players' show and there is also a riotous running gag regarding the eyepatch worn by Pennywise to which audiences should pay close attention.
(Photo: The CAST of "URINETOWN THE MUSICAL" by Mark Hollman and Greg Kotis presented by Concord Players in Concord, MA. now playing through May 17, 2025. Photo Credit Sue Flint)
As Bobby, Touchette plays the role overtly over-optimistic and less determined, making it hard to believe anyone would rally with him.
Blessed with a good voice and clearly enjoying the role, Touchette blends well with the other singers.
There is also a fine balance of real-life and camp discovered in the Little Sally/Bobby second act duet, “Tell Her I love Her” with Ready’s approach serving the story as a serious anchor while Touchette’s Bobby leans more into the show’s overall campiness.
However, it becomes apparent some tunes are slightly out of Touchette’s range, evidenced by some struggles with the Act One finale.
Any lawbreakers are sent to a place called "URINETOWN," and are never seen nor heard from again, which soon impacts Bobby into making a life-changing decision.
Bobby's father (Chuck Holleman), unable to afford his daily urinal fee, urinates on the street.
Therefore, Bobby’s father is arrested by Officer Lockstock and carted off to "URINETOWN," which ultimately will inspire Bobby to lead a revolt against the revolting corporation, UGC, and sinister “Senator Fipp” (Patrick French).
UGC is led by CEO Caldwell B. Cladwell (Ryan Malyar) who’s recent grad daughter, Hope (Aiden O’Neal), has arrived to work for her father as a new “fax/copy girl.”
Maylar provides a standout performance as Cladwell, bringing a charisma and energy to the role and making a seamless transition from loving father to corporate tyrant.
O’Neal not only has a fine voice but makes delightfully fun and very “Galinda-fied” choices with the Hope character.
(Photo: Ryan Malyar as “Caldwell B. Cladwell” with the CAST of "URINETOWN THE MUSICAL" by Mark Hollman and Greg Kotis presented by Concord Players in Concord, MA. now playing through May 17, 2025. Photo Credit Sue Flint)
Through a chance encounter, Hope meets and falls for Bobby Strong.
Both share a naïve sense of optimism, as they convey in their duet “Follow Your Heart.”
The couple prays for a future where people throughout the world can not only find joy (sound familiar?) but also a future where people can pee for free.
However, suddenly, just like colon cleanser added to the world, the floodgates open and soon they are both drowning in a grotesque sea of reality.
While the chemistry with Touchette as Bobby seems lacking, O’Neal uses these moments as a great fuel for her own character’s overall arc.
As one of Cladwell's henchmen, Mr. McQueen (DJ McKeon), declares a new fee hike imposed upon the urinals, a defiant Bobby thrusts open the doors of the urinal and leads the people in a “Les Mizh”-level rebellion in the song, "Look at the Sky."
Cladwell vows to crush the rebellion in the song "Don't Be the Bunny” which immediately puts his daughter Hope in danger with the rebels led by Bobby.
(Photo: Vanessa Calantropo as “Penelope Pennywise” with the CAST of "URINETOWN THE MUSICAL" by Mark Hollman and Greg Kotis presented by Concord Players in Concord, MA. now playing through May 17, 2025. Photo Credit Sue Flint)
Many of the standout musical numbers from the score that include the Concord Players' Company seem to occur during Act Two, including “Snuff That Girl,” “Run Freedom Run” and “Why Did I Listen to That Man?”.
The musical director for "URINETOWN THE MUSICAL" is Martha Warren while the band, situated behind the stage, is led by the show’s assistant music director Shane Stecher on keyboard.
The Concord Players' production comes with a clever scenic design, utilizing well the Concord stage space and having the “rich people” looking down on the “poor people.”
Lighting design is also very clever, evidenced as the number “Mr. Cladwell” ends and the illumination switches from bright and vibrant back to a more normalized “reality” lighting.
The Concord Players' costuming continues this separation of classes by highlighting those characters that need to stand out.
"URINETOWN THE MUSICAL" continues in Concord, MA. until May 17th, 2025 so gather up any spare change you can find and head straight to the theatre to see this marvelous show.
Coming up next at Concord Players will be a limited engagement of the Jason Robert Brown musical “SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD” beginning June 20th, 2025.
For tickets and more information, contact Concord Players at # 978 369-2990 or visit https://concordplayers.org/
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Approximately two hours with one intermission
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
@MetrmagReviews
@Theatre_Critics
ABOUT THE SHOW
"URINETOWN THE MUSICAL" is a musical satire of the legal system, capitalism, social irresponsibility, populism, bureaucracy, corporate mismanagement, municipal politics and musical theatre itself!
In a Gotham-like city, a terrible water shortage, caused by a 20-year drought, has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets.
The citizens must use public amenities, regulated by a single malevolent company that profits by charging admission for one of humanity's most basic needs.
Amid the people, a hero decides that he's had enough and plans a revolution to lead them all to freedom! Inspired by the works of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill, "URINETOWN THE MUSICAL" is an irreverently humorous satire in which no one is safe from scrutiny.
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ABOUT THE CONCORD PLAYERS
THE CONCORD PLAYERS are proud of their continuous record of presenting quality theatre to the citizens of Concord and the surrounding communities. Three major productions are mounted each season. In addition, one-acts, such as the annual entry into the Eastern Mass Assn of Community Theatres (EMACT) Spring Festival, are frequently presented. Workshops in acting, directing, and technical theatre are also offered to the membership. MISSION STATEMENTThe purpose of our organization is to produce and perform quality theatre for the citizens of Concord and the surrounding communities. We encourage the participation of people with an interest in technical theatre, as well as in performing.
51 Walden Street
Concord, MA. 01742
# 978-369-2990
