Urinetown: "Where It’s a privilege to pee!"

You might be looking at the title of this post and thinking, what is she talking about?! Believe me, when I first heard the name of this musical I thought the same thing. Urinetown; “What the heck is this? This is a musical about pee!? Who would write a play about that? That is so SICK!"
On Saturday I and Jonathan went to the Whittier community center with his family, to see Urinetown the Musical. This play was being presented by the students and musical arts teacher (Mr. David Carter, my old chorus teacher) at La Serna High School. Spencer had seen it the night before and said it was funny, so we all decided to see the Saturday Matinee at 2 o’clock.
This was the first play Jon and I have ever seen together. Urinetown is indeed a musical about pee!

There had been a horrible drought in the land for something like 20 years; because the drought, the people of this town, where no longer able to have toilets in their homes. Everyone was then forced to use the public Amenities (public restrooms) around town. Each public amenity has a tax placed on it by Mr. Caldwell, owner of the Urine Good Company. (U.G.C.) This meant that every time anyone in the town had to pee, they had to wait in line and they pay a fee in order to use the facilities. Anyone who could not pay the free and got caught “doing their business” outside of an amenity, was arrested. Repeat offenders were even sentenced to death! (Very sad I know. This musical was quite odd; funny though)
As you can imagine, in the poor parts of town times where tough; so that made it very hard for any residents to pay the fees. Especially due to the fact that Mr. Caldwell continues to raise the toilet tax. Joseph Strong, an old man who is continually unable to pay up to Ms. Pennywise, (the owner of public amenity # 9) is arrested and put to death. For in this town says Ms. Pennywise, “It’s a privilege to pee!”
After the death of old man strong, the people become even more TIRED of being controlled by Mr. Caldwell! A revolt led by Bobby Strong (son of old man strong) begun. The poor people of Urinetown capture the daughter of Mr. Caldwell and hold her hostage, in hopes that he will end the toilet tax. They threaten to kill his daughter Hope if the tax is not lifted!
Hope decides to lead the mob (after the death of bobby strong) She got the mob and the police on her side. They broke into her father’s company, took him down and had him arrested. Hope takes over the U.G.C. Little Hope lifts all the amenity fees and everyone can pee for free! Evan though the fees are no more, there is still a Big problem. Despite all the happiness in the town, there is still a major drought in the land! Due to the fact that the amenities fee is gone, the water reserve continues to become lower and lower until there is nothing left. Without any water many people become ill and pass away!
Wow, right? As the narrator says throughout the entire play, this was not a happy musical and it was never meant to be one. Yeah, I know this play is very odd! The humor was all in the acting. You had to be there to understand it all. It was so strange!
Jonathan and I just have to laugh, because the first musical we have seen together is about urine! NOW THAT IS A STORY TO TELL YOUR CHILDREN!! LOL =)

After the show, we went in such of a new place to eat. Crapes and Grape it was fairly good. We spent the rest of the day walking around and looking in the sops in uptown Whittier. SOOO FUN!!

(Photos shown here are from the Broadway production of Urinetown)