Customer Reviews

Urinetown (2001 Original Off-Broadway Cast)

5 star:		(65)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

It's been a long time since a show has had as memorable a score as Urinetown. Having seen the off- Broadway show twice I can say that the recording has preserved the fun and sprit of the show and performances. The cast headed by John Cullum is steller, every member is perfect and gives a standout performance. Mark Hollman and Greg Kotis must be given standing ovations for their score. You really leave the the theatre humming the score! Don't let the title turn you off - nothing is that offensive or crude -neither is the musical a one joke show overdone to death, it's a clever mix of Threepenny Opera meets The Cradle Will Rock with a generous helping of Broadway self parody thrown in for good measure. You would die with laughter if you only saw the number "Snuff that Girl" let alone the whole show. Hats off also to the orchestrator and the 5 musicians who sound like a full pit orchestra. If you get to New York after the show opens on Broadway RUN and get a ticket- but for now get the CD and start to relish a truly original, funny, tuneful, well sung and performed rare gem of a show.

...you'll have trouble not liking this recording. The music is, in author Greg Kotis' own words, "unassailable," and he may be right. Aside from being a well written score, it also locks into the subject matter and medium with an evocative presence too often missed in modern musicals.

Subject matter? For the uninitiated, the concept of the show revolves around a dystopian society in the not-too-distant future in which a water shortage has motivated the government to cooperate with an evil CEO (John Cullum) in regulating the cities toilets thereby making it "a priveledge to pee." In the traditional Brechtian spirit (of which this musical, all the way down to it's modestly sized orchestra, reeks wonderfully), the people rebel in order to restore freedom to their regularity.

Both the plot and the music are a kind of revisionist version of Marc Blitztein's "The Cradle Will Rock," a conroversial depression-era musical revolving around labor and union politics. The brilliance of "Urinetown" is its self-realization at being a musical about revolution in an age of consensus. The result is a kind of anti-musical that seems to rail against itself while at the same time succeeding in its message. As an added bonus, the show pulls all of this off with a shocking overall omission of bathroom humor which one would otherwise think such a conceit would take solace in.

I ultimately chose 5 stars as a final rating given what I think is the primary criteria for evaluation, but I might have easily have given it 4. The quality of the recording is somewhat lacking, and those particularly concerned with the like may find it difficult to get used to the rather hollow sound.

By the by, as of this writing the musical itself is just now opening on Broadway. I've not seen the Broadway mounting, but I have seen it and it's easily worth the price of admission.

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!

I picked this up expecting not to like it, after all, the subject matter rates pretty high in the ick factor. But, I love musicals so I wanted to give it a chance.

I was surprised. It's a little raunchy at times and I don't recommend it for children, but Urinetown is excellent. The tunes are catchy and the lyrics are absolutely hilarious - the cop song is a gem. And the cast is outstanding. They are completely believable in their roles, there is not one weak link or one weak song. Their voices blend perfectly but each performer still adds their own flair to the mix making this wonderfully whimsical, but extremely well-crafted. Get it, you won't be sorry.

To start off, I have to say BUY THIS CD! GO SEE THIS MUSICAL! I saw this show over spring break on broadway, and I can say, with maybe one or two exceptions, that it was the best show I have ever seen, or at least the best experience I have ever had at a show. The music is really fun, and at times it can even be beautiful. "Follow Your Heart" is one of my favorites. The recording, I thought, was really really good. The music sounds great, and there are several times when I found myself transported back to when I saw the show. But, the best quality of Urinetown is its comedic genius. The comedic timing of the narrator especially is right on. In fact, when I saw the show, I was crying because I was laughing so hard the whole entire time, and I find myself laughing that hard when listening to the CD, because the jokes never get old. Anyone, no matter if he or she likes theater, should see this show. The CD, I thought, was a very good representation of the show, and I would recommend it to anyone and everyone!!

You may have thought that odor in the air was of musical theater growing stale, but no; what you're smelling is the wonderful 'Urinetown'. This is the freshest, funniest, most clever, self-effacing musical to come down the drain in a long, long time. The music is inspired, the lyrics near-genius; I can't think of a smarter, more sharp-witted and deliciously evil musical number than 'Be The Bunny' -- very Sondheim-esque. I saw this show off-Broadway, just before its transfer to the Great White Way. It should do Broadway proud, and hopefully shake things up there a bit. Let the huddled masses have their "Producers" -- give me 'URINETOWN'!

Listening to this CD, I kept comparing it to "Bat Boy," another off-Broadway musical released in the past couple of months I believe by the same label. And unfortunately, "Urinetown" lost a star for the exact same reason "Bat Boy" did - there's something wrong with the quality of the recording -- both discs sound somehow hollow and muffled. Also like "Bat Boy," this was the ONLY reason I knocked the disc down a star - because this is a first rate musical. The score is excellent with some very strong songs (I especially love "Run, Freedom Run" which for my money out-gospeled "Joyful Noise" from "Bat Boy") and incredibly funny lyrics. I laughed out loud several times listening to the CD. It's rare that two musicals that are so similar in style come out close together and are both as strong as "Bat Boy" and "Urinetown." If you enjoy one, you'll like the other just as much. I would certainly recommend this CD to anyone with an interest in strong musical comedy scores (I just wish the label would clean up the quality of the sound a little bit!)

My son, a high school senior, told me his first show of this year's theatrical season was going to be "Urinetown". My response was something like ... No, really, what shows are you doing this year? Then he brought home a recording of it, and I was hooked right away by the lyrics. Over the years my son has been involved in many performances, but he and the rest of the cast had a real blast preparing for, and performing, this show! He wanted Lockstock, but was cast as Cladwell ... Owned it ... Loved it!
I am no Broadway expert by any stretch of the definition, but this show is wonderfully entertaining! You will see (and hear) snippets from other shows, you will pick up on some of even the more subtle stabs at musicals as a whole, you will groan, you will laugh and you will enjoy ... But only if you try not to take it too seriously.
Get past the title (in this case I certainly think it did not "...kill a show pretty good"), relax, and be entertained. And for goodness sake, if you have a chance to see it performed live, do so! A musical that pokes fun at itself? Yes, a refreshing departure from the norm, and worth the price of admission.

After reading Urinetown (never having seen it), I wondered what on earth it sounded like. Most of the book is just lyrics, and I had no idea what they sounded like. When I finally listened to the music, I found an incredibly complex, catchy, and moving CD.

The music isn't so much complex as it is creative and works with the lyrics. Keep in mind this is a comedy, but this comedy does have soaring melodies and very great simulataneous singing moments (I can't remember what that is specifically called, but think of "Tonight Reprise" from West Side Story). These songs not only entertained me, it moved the story along.

My favorite song is "Why Did I Listen to that Man?" as it is the song where everything comes together and reaches the climax (both in story-line and musically). However, I have a soft spot for every Cladwell song (and I haven't found a person yet who doesn't love "Don't Be the Bunny) as well as every song. What's best about this musical is the range of genres (but not so much as one would find in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat).

The cast is truly talented and can perform these songs. It's a very strong recording for what I feel (after finally getting to see it) is the best contemporary musical to date. Not only will your sides split, but you'll learn something too. Best of all, it's a musical for everyone. Unlike other equally hilarious comedies (*cough*The Producers*cough*), Urinetown never relies on "unappropriate" and "adult" material to deliver laughs, although you will have to get over the "really awful title."

DISCLAIMER: I've not seen this musical, I've only heard the CD (albeit about 20 times through :D).

Let's start with the weaknesses as I perceive 'em. The lyrics occasionally lack the wit, bite, and intricacy that I've grown spoiled by with Sondheim (e.g., "Into the Woods"). I found the "young" voices to be cute, initially, but generally somewhat annoying upon relistening.

The positives of this fine disc far outweigh the negatives, however, in my humble opinion.

First, my criticism above notwithstanding, the vocal blend is generally among the most outstanding I've EVER heard from a Broadway musical. There are no obnoxious divas vibrato'ing above the others, no slightly-flat tenors pounding their chests harming the harmonies. ALL the singers articulate well and are wonderfully warm.

Second, the music and lyrics are humorous and vivid even without me seeing a single picture or video from this production. I get a fine idea of the story, the characters, the general feel of this musical without having to be there (though I'd love to be there, of course!).

Third, I believe that ALL the songs on this album are pretty much "re-listenable" AND singable. There are no duds that "you just had to be there in person to appreciate." And unlike many of the more pretentious yet flat musicals out there, there were no songs that[were]overly treachly sentiment or pathetically predictable love airings.

Lastly, as a musician myself, I was strongly impressed by the balance and full-sound of the small musical ensemble on this CD. Combined with some tight cast harmonies, the band really made this musical come alive.

In a nutshell, then, this CD features music that is toe-tapping, engaging, fun, moderately clever, and just plain enjoyable!

And forget about the title; give this to your Grandma anyway, who'll no doubt ESPECIALLY appreciate the playful yet loving lampooning of Big Musicals, in the way that the movie Galaxy Quest both teased and affectionately spoke to Trekkies. :)