Urinetown: The Musical

Who would go see a musical about urine?    I did.
Added to that, I would enjoy seeing it again.
The story begins in a dirty, grimy city where people are in line waiting for their turn to use the public bathroom.  Unfortunately, the first person in line doesn't have enough money to pay.  So he is not allowed inside.  Law enforcement takes him away to the mystical Urinetown where people are sent for not obeying the rules.  Simply put, you have to pay to pee.
The music is enthralling.  The tunes combines gospel, blues, jazz, bluegrass, and just fun songs masterfully sung, danced and played.   Urinetown is a delightfully funny show with a dark, uneasy feeling, not just legs being crossed, of what could happen in the near future where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
On the side of the rich are Hope Cladwell (Madison Hoge) and her father, Caldwell B. Cladwell (Ryan Eberhart). Caldwell owns the facilities and Hope has just graduated from school and is being hired into the family business to take over.   Assisting Mr. Cladwell are the policemen Officer Lockstock (Jon Flower) and Officer Barrel (Marcus Benzel) as well as Penelope Pennywise (Carrie Beth Stickrod) and Bobby Strong (David Ebke).  Who really understands the loyalties of the employees?
As the other cast members Brenda Smrdel, Erich Swartz, Luke Glaser, Bob Gilmore, Sara Finley-Willis, Kaitlin Carlson, Cathy Bass, Chris Witt, and Alice Swartz, all were fantastic.   I loved every character, especially Cathy Bass as Josephine Strong.
The music is great, especially under the direction of Jerry Brabec with his ensemble consisting of Stanton Harper, Noel Johnson, Michael Frederickson, and Jon Myre.
Those on stage know well that they cannot be successful without the support of those people not seen whether making the sets, creating the costumes, selling the tickets, arranging for the rights, plus more than can be listed, these people are each responsible for the success of the production.  These people include Gary Blankenship as director, Jerry Brabec as musical director, Kim Alger working as stage manager with Johnnie Richards as her assistant, Jason DeLong is the phenomenal choreographer, Ibsen Costume being responsible for the clothing, Darrin Golden for the lighting design and Maddy Adkins on the light board with JaimeKatzenstein and Sean Kelley running the spot lights, Dave Podendorf planning the sign design with Jaycee Wetenkamp being the sound board operator, Joey Lorincz is responsible for the scenic design with the set construction being completed by Joey Lorincz, Mike Jones, and Bob Putman, Rhonda Hall is handles the props design and the theater manager, Bob Putman.
Also, all the volunteers who usher, work the box office, and supply the food for the opening, each one deserves a special appreciation.
The timing of the show is about sixty-five minutes for the first act with the usual intermission and concluding the second act in approximately forty minutes.
This show continues through this weekend on Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.
The price of the tickets is $20 for adults; $16 for seniors over the age of sixty; and $10 for students.   The musical is expected to have an adult audience as children would probably not understand the innuendos throughout the show.
The Chanticleer Community Theater is located at 830 Franklin Ave.   Tickets can be reserved  by calling the box office at 712-323-9955.
Urinetown: The Musical is an example of the best of this talented community.