Urinetown the Musical, performed at the Little Theatre of Norfolk (LTN), was the first play I saw for the 2023-2024 season of community theater shows in Hampton Roads, and it did not disappoint. 

Urinetown the Musical is about a town in which the water supply has dried up, and the government has partnered with a local business (the “Urine Good Company”) to limit toilet usage by charging people to use the facilities, and outlawing private bathrooms.  Of course, having all that power in the hands of a monopolistic company and its corrupt owner Caldwell B Cladwell, played in a strong performance by Jeff Davis, leads to ever-increasing prices to pee.  Meanwhile, the poor of Urinetown struggle to come up with the necessary nickels to relieve themselves.  Soon, a low-level worker of the Urine Good Company named Bobby Strong, played by Michael McOsker, realizes it is time for a change, and he leads a rebellion, arguing that it should be free to pee.  McOsker and Mia Haymes, playing Cladwell’s well educated daughter Hope (who is sympathetic to the worker’s plight), shined brightest when they could show off their impressive voices in the musical numbers, highlighted by their moving and funny duet “Follow Your Heart”. 

It’s a story of David vs. Goliath and the importance of conservation, all narrated by the fourth-wall breaking Officer Lockstock and Little Sally, played respectively by Jessica Lahm and Talia Rosche.  Lahm was massively entertaining and very convincing on stage – her stage presence really sold the role (and the entire show, which relies on a big personality in that part).  I found myself looking forward to every time she spoke.  And her chemistry with Rosche was also very impressive, pushing these two supporting roles toward the top of the playbill. 

The acting was good throughout, but this cast and crew really sparkled during the musical numbers.  Right from the top of the play, the sound in the theater was perfect – both a credit to the Serenity Jones’ sound design and Andre Magalhaes’ work as musical director.  The first ensemble number – the eponymous “Urinetown” – was perhaps one of the best sound mixes I’ve heard in Hampton Roads community theater.  It is hard to get 1) an excellent sounding orchestra led by the fingers of Magalhaes on piano, 2) a talented cast of singers top to bottom, and 3) microphones to work and mix well, all using volunteers and the budget of a community theater, and really blow the audience away on the sound front.  But, LTN absolutely pulled it off, and the quality of the songs continued throughout.  Not only was the sound high quality, but this cast could dance, led by Amy Harbin as choreographer (she also directed the musical) and Sofia Magalhaes as her assistant.  There are a lot of big ensemble numbers in Urinetown, and the choreography was interesting and performed consistently well.  That is an element missing from many community theater productions, but Urinetown was up to the task.

In Urinetown, it may be a privilege to pee, but in Norfolk, it’s a privilege to see Urinetown the Musical at the Little Theatre of Norfolk.  I cannot wait to see what LTN has in store for us next!