Marist Theatre’s “Urinetown:” A Review
Justin Peeney '24 (Bobby Strong) and the cast of Urinetown. Photo via Marist Theatre
On Feb. 23-25, the Marist Theatre program showcased their many talents through this year’s production of “Urinetown: The Musical.”
Those involved did an exceptional job bringing this story to life through impressive choreography and stellar performances from each cast member. Not to mention the relentless work behind the scenes to further enliven the story atop the spectacle occurring on stage.
The Marist College community of talented actors and musicians collaborated to tell the story of why a water shortage caused by a 20-year drought left the citizens of Urinetown paying for the “privilege to pee” at what they called “public amenities.” The underlying premise of “Urinetown” explains the consequences of excessive corporate greed and how it may lead to the demise of a community.
The student actors conveyed a serious real-world concern in a way that engaged the audience. The main antagonist, Mr. Cladwell, played by Joseph Sturino ’26, sang about his plan to extort the poor while his employees performed a kick line, which was one of the highlights of the show. That, in addition to Mr. Cladwell doing the moonwalk, of course.
One of the most attention-grabbing aspects of the entire show was the singing talent of Jacqliene Mangini ‘24, playing Hope Cladwell. Her ability to sing with such emotion during the song “Follow Your Heart” was moving.
It was intriguing to see the ways the different characters interacted onstage through spoken and sung dialogue. “Urinetown” is a unique theatrical production, partly due to its satirical humor and how it breaches the fourth wall. The characters consistently referenced the nature of the musical and the audience within their dialogue. This allowed the audience to connect with what was happening on stage and made the plot more coherent.
Furthermore, the live orchestra added to the emotional weight of each scene, while giving various characters a moment to showcase their singing talent. The musicians’ skillful performance and the acting skills of the thespians conjoined nicely to produce a phenomenal show that demonstrated the talent of both groups.
The musical numbers in this show effectively moved the story along, while showcasing the musical talent of the cast. For example, the song “Privilege to Pee” in Act I, sung by Penelope Pennywise, played by Emma Hersey-Powers ‘24, tells the story of what should be a basic right that has become a luxury that only the privileged few may obtain for free.
It is clear that the entire production team – from the set designer to the stage manager, lighting crew and much more – paid extensive attention to detail in helping to make “Urinetown” an esteemed theatrical production.
The humorous element of the musical was increased with frequent satire and exaggerated expressions, like when the ensemble would cartoonishly yell “What?!” every time anything remotely surprising happened. The portrayal of characters like Mr. Cladwell and Senator Fipp – played by Hugo Gizzi ’26 – succeeded in making several members of the audience laugh throughout the show. One notable mention is when the two characters “cha-cha” danced whenever “Rio” was spoken.
One of the funniest characters to watch was Officer Barrel, played by Luke Bruderer ’27, who danced comically alongside Officer Lockstock, played by Jerdan De Guzman ‘24. Throughout the show, he did comical things like wearing bunny ears, flexing his muscles and flirtatiously combing his hair, which got laughs from many audience members.
Overall, the high production value and talent of the Marist Theatre Program as a whole combined to make “Urinetown” a successful production.