FPP: Urinetown

         So yes, this review is long over due. And no, there isn't any reason other than that I was incredibly slow in doing it. Urinetown holds a very special place in my heart - it was my senior year high school musical, and we did it very, very well. Not that I'm boasting, I'm just boasting. The show is an incredible, satirical, homage to musical theater throughout the years. It is, strangely enough, one of the more accessible shows on the theater circuit - Hate musical theater? GREAT! Laugh at all the things this show blatantly points out as terrible. Love musical theater? EVEN BETTER! You'll notice all of the references nobody else gets and you can walk out like the super knowledgable person you are.

"You're sooooo clever."

Company Presentation

          Sadly, there is only one word I can use to describe the advertisement for FPP's production of Urinetown. Failure. I'm sorry about it guys, but nothing released prior to the opening of this production actually made me want to see it. The oddly shot video promos that came out were like advertisements for a grungy version of Vogue that you hid under your bed because even your most effeminate friends would be ashamed to learn you owned it. And the poster? Black and white. Seriously? Black and white? That's what is going to grab the eye and pull me all the way over to the vern for a show with Urine in the title? I don't think so kids, I just don't think so.

Set

         What FPP lost in it's advertisement for Urinetown, it made up with the set. Urinetown is a tough one in that there are just so many different locations to cover. The set FPP created was both simple, and functional while at the same time achieving a level of flashiness and detail that the show requires. Laura DePaolo and whoever else helped to paint that set deserve a special shout out. Because they did a darn good job.

Lights

        This production had a great lighting design. It was dynamic and colorful, set a mood, and distinguished spaces in every way that it needed to. There were almost no holes on the stage (except for that pesky down stage right spot) and I found myself excited by it most of the time. Unfortunately, the cast didn't seem to know how to use it. I spent much of the show day dreaming about lassoing actors to pull them two steps downstage into their light. How did no one mention that during tech runs?

Acting

         Urinetown suffered from one of the problems that all medium to large musicals are afflicted with at GW - they just couldn't pull together a powerful enough chorus. While at times, the chorus jumped out and brought some energy into the theater (good job snuff that girl), the overall felt a little low energy. I've long since lost my program for the show, so bear with me on names and characters as I go forward here.

Fake Pregnant Girl - You get a special shout out because you were FIERCE. (Please read in the voice of Mr. Rick Westerkamp)

Jordan King - Jordan did a great job as bobby strong. His character was fun and light hearted, and Jordan seemed to really understand how ridiculous this show is. My one problem - I could barely hear him when he sang. For the leading man in a show not to be heard is a pretty big problem and Jordan was constantly drowned out by the band and chorus. Diaphragm my man!

Nina Lupan - Nina stole the show in a lot of ways. She was well cast and has a decent voice for the role. Nina's acting abilities didn't exactly blow me out of the water - but she did the role justice and was an obvious choice for this production.

Steph Brennan - Sadly, Steph just didn't live up to my expectations for Pennywise. The role is, most essentially, a belting role. Big powerful notes, and all the sass and attitude you can muster needs to go into Pennywise. Steph just didn't have that. Not to say she didn't play the role in her own, interesting, way. It just wasn't what I wanted from the production. She also had some difficulty with physicality - often moving her head as if on a swivel in an attempt to come across as sassy.

Erin Jones - Erin didn't have a huge role. But damn did she rock the role she had. Her comedic timing is near expert and I got more laughs from her than any other actor in the show.

Directing

         If Urinetown was Kolton's ice cream sundae, then he forgot to put hot fudge, nuts, and a cherry on top. The blocking wasn't bad. The choreography was pretty good. But Kolton sort of missed the point of the show. It seemed that he tried to make the show into a dark comedy, rather than what it is: a joke. Because let's face the facts here, Urinetown is one extended joke crammed inside of a full length musical. But what this show was missing (remember that hot fudge?) were the references. If you can think of a classic musical from the past fifty years, odds are it's in there somewhere. West Side, Fiddler, hell maybe even Anything Goes. It's in the music and it provides an excellent chance for some comedic choreographic and blocking jokes. Kolton missed every one of them.

Overall, FPP's Urinetown was an enjoyable production. It was fun to watch, generally funny, and didn't make me want to claw my eyes out (that's a pretty big compliment). But it wasn't the greatest musical around here. I look forward to Assassins this weekend from FPP and Cabaret from Generic next week.

Also, the Washington Revels opens their Christmas show in Lisner next weekend. It runs through the 16th, come check it out!

See you in the theater,

Ed