The hills are alive with the sound of… pee?
The Hoboken Children's Theater Company debuted their week-long run of "Urinetown: The Musical," a cutting, offbeat satirical dramedy on Wednesday night to a full house at Monroe Theater Space.
The Tony award-winning musical, with lyrics by Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis, tells the story of a run-down town ravished by a drought, and run by the evil hand of Caldwell Cladwell (played by Joseph Scoccimarro Greiner, 17), the CEO of Urine Good Company, a giant corporation that regulates the town's pay-to-pee toilets.
Though the plot sounds a little far-fetched, the story is actually a biting satire of corporate irresponsibility and too much regulation, with more than a few deadpan jokes sprinkled in to keep it from being too serious.
"The kids are getting so much more sophisticated as we work with them," said producer, director and choreographer Chace Leyner, of the Hoboken Children's Theater Company. "We have to give them music that intrigues them and a subject matter that's interesting."
The young actors and singers, ranging in age from 10 to 17-years-old, had been working with Leyner on the production since September, meeting for five hours a week for 10 weeks. Greg Frens provided musical direction.
The crowd fell hushed as the lights dimmed and Michael Prussack, 14, taking the stage as narrator Officer Lockstock, described the plight of the people who were forced to panhandle for money just to afford to relieve themselves at Public Amenity #9, a dirty public toilet run by tough warden Penelope Pennywise, played to perfection by Samantha Alicandri, 17.
"I loved playing (Penelope) because she's so different than me," said Alicandri, "I'm very passive and she's so tough."
Soon the audience was introduced to the hero, Bobby Smalls, played by Noah Dunton, 13, who falls for Cladwell's ultra-peppy daughter Hope, played last night by Julia Small, 14 (the role is also shared by Peyton Kennedy and Nevada Koenig).
"He had good intentions, but he didn't always stop to think," said Dunton of his character.
Soon the poor and the law come to a head and there, the musical takes a much darker turn (though pint-size beggar Little Sally, played to a precocious T by Millie Novak, 10, manages to steal a few scenes with her self-aware wit).
We'll keep the ending under wraps—including the answer to the mystery of where the fabled Urinetown actually is—but we will say that things don't work out too well for any of the characters. ("But the music is so happy!" exclaimed a shocked Little Sally during one point of the show.)
The production received hearty applause, and afterwards in the lobby, Leyner and the young actors were bestowed flowers and congratulations.
Dunton was just glad his voice held out through the show: "I woke up sick. I was freaked out that I wouldn't be able to perform."
"There was so much talent, and so much drive," beamed a breathless Alicandri, surrounded by friends after the show.
"I loved it," said Jane Cotton-Novak, mother of Millie. "It was a pretty heavy subject matter for kids to do, but they really pulled it off."
"Urinetown: The Musical" runs now through November 21 at Monroe Theater Space, 720 Monroe Street, 2nd floor. Showtimes are at 7 p.m. nightly, with an extra 2 p.m. matinee show on Sunday. Tickets can be purchased at the door, and are $10 for students and $15 for adults.
