St James Theatre, Palace Street, London
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsrrBUFRgpQ
The first thing I fell for when I arrived to see ‘Urinetown’ last week was St James’ Theatre. I hadn’t been there before and was surprised at it’s warmth and it’s intimate feel. Not only is it very close to Victoria and ample restaurants but it also has a cracking pub next door. Win win win.
Entering the theatre the split set is seen, gloomy and dark, already a talking point. We’ve read the blurb, A Tony award winning musical about a shortage of water which means people have to pay premium prices to use public toilets and if they don’t, then they get carted off to Urinetown. Sounds interesting but not necessarily entertaining.
I like seeing things with no expectations. I was wowwed! I am new at blogging so I am not quite sure where to start, so I shall take a bit from the Urinetown website.
The citizens must now use the public, pay-per-use amenities owned and operated by Urine Good Company (UGC) – a private malevolent corporation run by the corrupt Caldwell B. Cladwell. Citizens who try to circumvent the peeing-fee by relieving themselves in the bushes risk being taken away to “Urinetown”, a mysterious place where many have been sent but no one ever returns.
The oppressed masses huddle in line at the poorest, filthiest urinal in town, Public Amenity #9, which is run by the rigid, harshly authoritarian Penelope Pennywise and her assistant, dashing young rebel Bobby Strong. With fee increases in the pipeline, the poor rise up under the leadership of Bobby to fight the tyrannical regime for the right to make the public amenities free for all to use.
URINETOWN is a hilarious and resonating tale of greed, corruption, love, and revolution in a time when water is worth its weight in gold.
The score is varied and entertaining and you hang on every word, the American cast is available on Spotify, however I am holding out from buying it as I would LOVE a London cast recording.
It is a real emsemble piece with no weak links. I was expecting good things from Richard Fleeshman and Jenna Russell who not only didn’t disappoint but exceeded expectations, soooo talented. Rosanna Hyland played a feisty determined heroine and Johnathan Slinger and Karis Jack were fantastic as Officer Lockstock and Little Sally who made narrating the tale a lot of fun. I was lucky enough to meet a couple of cast members afterwards at a ‘meet and greet’, you could see the pride they took in the piece and I hope all goes well for them.
Very rare is a musical so entertainingly unique that you are on the edge of your seat from the second the show starts. I do not want to give away the storyline too much because I hope that lots of people go and see it. Jamie Lloyd the director has created a masterpiece.
I have been mentally giving shows a ‘star rating’ for years and I guess that a theatre blog
screams out for me to show my hand. Hence it sounds very corny that I should give my first review blog a 5 star rating but I do. Yes…definately. I do hope that it transfers, it is a shame that it cannot extend at the St. James’ theatre, the close intimacy was part of it’s charm.
Now I need to find a nifty Star Rating Icon widgety thing to be a bit more visual. Any suggestions?
So have you seen Urinetown? What did you think? Do you agree with me or not? I’d like to hear your views.
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