What people search:
 | Title : Urinetown
Author : Hollmann, Mark
Release Date : 20010807
Binding : Audio CD
Regular Price : $17.98
Amazon.com Price : $13.49
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Editorial Reviews :
'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.
Buyer Reviews :
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!
(by Laura Reineke)
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