The title of the spring musical at Lake Forest High School might give a potential audience pause.
“Urinetown,” which runs April 27, 28 and 29, is both a comedy and melodrama, said co-director Kelly MacBlane. But other than the naughty title, there’s nothing to fear.
“There’s no foul language,” MacBlane said. “It’s actually a pretty clean show. We hope people aren’t afraid of the name and they want to find out what “Urinetown” is about.”
The plot revolves around a 20-year drought that has led to a government ban on private toilets. Instead, paid public toilets are owned and operated by Urine Good Company.
“To regulate the water, the company charges money to go to the bathroom,” MacBlane said. “If you don’t pay, you get sent to Urinetown.”
MacBlane and co-director John Wanninger chose “Urinetown” for two reasons. First, each spring they aim to alternate musicals.
“Last year we did “Hello Dolly,” which is a very traditional musical,” MacBlane said. “This musical is very different from traditional musicals, and makes fun of traditional musicals.”
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“Urinetown” riffs off of such musicals as “Les Miserables,” “Guys and Dolls,” “West Side Story” and “Fiddler on the Roof,” MacBlane said.
“Part of the fun is it has so many allusions to other shows, along with mocking corporations and people who are unable to accept climate change and recycling and truly glaring problems like a water shortage,” said Gracie Stockton, who plays the love interest Hope Cladwell. “All of that gets thrown into a dystopian setting fill with unrest, and you get to watch it as the world burns.”
Second, MacBlane and Wanninger thought they had a cast that could handle melodrama and comedy.
“It is a different style of acting than we usually use in musicals, which often rely on realistic character creation and more realistic acting,” MacBlane said. “The students are used to that style of acting. There is so much timing when it comes to comedy.”
Adam Clayton, whose character Bobby Strong leads the rebellion against the evil Urine Good Company, agrees.
“I’m a more serious actor,” Clayton said. “Playing a satirical character is tough. Also, the singing portion is very different. I’m much more of a classical singer. This is more gospel and jazz and pop.”
Bryan Kingsley, 16, who plays Officer Lockstock, says there’s another challenge.
“It’s very physical,” Kingsley said. “There’s a lot of shifting and motion. If you’re not ready for the orchestra and actors, you’re going to get behind and it will throw everything off.”
Urinetown will be performed at 7 p.m. on April 27, 28 and 29 and Lake Forest High School, 1285 N. McKinley Road. Tickets are $10 for students and $17 for adults. For more information, go to www.lakeforestschools.org.
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