"How about a bad title?" wonders Spencer Kayden's Little Sally in "Too Much Exposition." "That could kill a show pretty good." It's a tribute to the skill deployed by the Urinetown creative team (Mark Hollman, music and ly... more »rics; Greg Kotis, book and lyrics) that its title doesn't kill the show. Set in a near-future in which water depletion has led to a ban on private toilets, this may be the only musical in history in which one of the leads makes a fortune on pee. But the show (which originated Off-Broadway before graduating to the big league) limits its subversive intent to subject matter and is refreshingly classic in approach and structure--think Weill-meets-Lewis Carroll. Backed by a small ensemble, the cast (with John Cullum in a turn nothing short of brilliant as the evil urinal magnate) has a field day with Kotis and Hollman's frequently hilarious score. --Elisabeth Vincentelli« less
"How about a bad title?" wonders Spencer Kayden's Little Sally in "Too Much Exposition." "That could kill a show pretty good." It's a tribute to the skill deployed by the Urinetown creative team (Mark Hollman, music and lyrics; Greg Kotis, book and lyrics) that its title doesn't kill the show. Set in a near-future in which water depletion has led to a ban on private toilets, this may be the only musical in history in which one of the leads makes a fortune on pee. But the show (which originated Off-Broadway before graduating to the big league) limits its subversive intent to subject matter and is refreshingly classic in approach and structure--think Weill-meets-Lewis Carroll. Backed by a small ensemble, the cast (with John Cullum in a turn nothing short of brilliant as the evil urinal magnate) has a field day with Kotis and Hollman's frequently hilarious score. --Elisabeth Vincentelli
"...you'll have trouble not liking this recording. The music is, in author Greg Kotis' own words, "unassailable," and he may be right. Aside from being a well written score, it also locks into the subject matter and medium with an evocative presence too often missed in modern musicals.Subject matter? For the uninitiated, the concept of the show revolves around a dystopian society in the not-too-distant future in which a water shortage has motivated the government to cooperate with an evil CEO (John Cullum) in regulating the cities toilets thereby making it "a priveledge to pee." In the traditional Brechtian spirit (of which this musical, all the way down to it's modestly sized orchestra, reeks wonderfully), the people rebel in order to restore freedom to their regularity.Both the plot and the music are a kind of revisionist version of Marc Blitztein's "The Cradle Will Rock," a conroversial depression-era musical revolving around labor and union politics. The brilliance of "Urinetown" is its self-realization at being a musical about revolution in an age of consensus. The result is a kind of anti-musical that seems to rail against itself while at the same time succeeding in its message. As an added bonus, the show pulls all of this off with a shocking overall omission of bathroom humor which one would otherwise think such a conceit would take solace in.I ultimately chose 5 stars as a final rating given what I think is the primary criteria for evaluation, but I might have easily have given it 4. The quality of the recording is somewhat lacking, and those particularly concerned with the like may find it difficult to get used to the rather hollow sound.By the by, as of this writing the musical itself is just now opening on Broadway. I've not seen the Broadway mounting, but I have seen it and it's easily worth the price of admission."
Don't be the bunny- GET THIS ALBUM!
Laura | Fostoria, Oh United States | 06/26/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have to admit, I had to think long and hard about buying "Urinetown" because of the title. I mean, really. Urinetown? But after I heard 'Run, Freedom, Run' at the 2002 Tony Awards, I went ahead and got it.I was pleasantly surprised to find that although the subject matter is a bit...er, strange, the hilarious lyrics, outstanding performances, excellent score and fabulous array of song styles made up for it. The songs all are influenced by different styles, such as 'Run, Freedom, Run' is gospel, 'It's a Privilege to Pee' is almost operatic, 'Follow Your Heart' is very much the Broadway ballad (if you cut out the snippets of dialogue), and 'Snuff That Girl' is jazzy and cool (I was immediately reminded of 'Too Darn Hot', from Kiss Me Kate, while listening to it). The performers are nothing short of excellent. Spencer Kayden, as Little Sally, kills me every time by just talking, and her singing in 'Tell Her I Love Her' suggests that she really *is* little. Hunter Foster has the best range I've seen in a male lead since James Barbour in 'Jane Eyre'. His voice is so powerful and he puts so much emotion into what he sings...no wonder he and Sutton are related. Laura Thompson has a gorgeous soprano voice that she uses to her benefit in 'Follow Your Heart'. Nancy Opel's *really* high soprano sorta freaks me out but remains in tune in 'It's a Privilege to Pee'. John Cullum is PERFECT as Caldwell B. Cladwell, head of the UGC, bringing the right combination of eccentricity, self-centeredness, and cruelty to his character. The lyrics in such songs as 'Don't Be the Bunny' and 'Cop Song' kept me laughing, while the lyrics of 'Follow Your Heart' and 'Tell Her I Love Her' almost brought tears to my eyes (the dialogue in them was too funny!). And the score is fabulous, especially in 'Snuff That Girl' and 'Look at the Sky'. All in all, this album is totally worth it. I've had it for three weeks and I'm still listening to it daily! You won't be disappointed!"
Wonderful!
Jeanette C. | Utah, United States | 07/15/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I picked this up expecting not to like it, after all, the subject matter rates pretty high in the ick factor. But, I love musicals so I wanted to give it a chance.
I was surprised. It's a little raunchy at times and I don't recommend it for children, but Urinetown is excellent. The tunes are catchy and the lyrics are absolutely hilarious - the cop song is a gem. And the cast is outstanding. They are completely believable in their roles, there is not one weak link or one weak song. Their voices blend perfectly but each performer still adds their own flair to the mix making this wonderfully whimsical, but extremely well-crafted. Get it, you won't be sorry."
URINETOWN: so brilliant, I wet myself!
Scott Weimer | Portland, OR United States | 08/11/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"You may have thought that odor in the air was of musical theater growing stale, but no; what you're smelling is the wonderful 'Urinetown'. This is the freshest, funniest, most clever, self-effacing musical to come down the drain in a long, long time. The music is inspired, the lyrics near-genius; I can't think of a smarter, more sharp-witted and deliciously evil musical number than 'Be The Bunny' -- very Sondheim-esque. I saw this show off-Broadway, just before its transfer to the Great White Way. It should do Broadway proud, and hopefully shake things up there a bit. Let the huddled masses have their "Producers" -- give me 'URINETOWN'!"
Track Listings (18) - Disc #1
