Urinetown: The Musical

Greg Kotis, Mark Hollmann

• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Year: 2014
• eBook ISBN:
  9781780015118
• Topic: Literatura
• Subtopic: Arte dramático americano

In a Gotham-like city, a depletion of the Earth's water supply has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets. The privilege to pee is regulated by a single malevolent company that profits by charging for one of humanity's most basic needs. From amongst the people, a hero has risen who will lead them to freedom.

A grand, mischievous love letter to the conventions of musical theatre, Urinetown depicts a world wracked by ecological disaster, caught in the throes of corporate greed, and ultimately toppled by the best of intentions.

Praised by critics for reinvigorating the contemporary musical, Urinetown is one of the most distinctive, intelligent and jubilant theatrical experiences of the twenty-first century. It opened at New York City's Fringe Festival, then transferred to Broadway in September 2001, winning three Tony Awards, including Best Book of a Musical.

Urinetown received its UK premiere at the St James Theatre, London, in February 2014, later transferring to the Apollo Theatre in September, in a production directed by Jamie Lloyd.

This edition includes a preface by playwright David Auburn and extensive introductions by each of the authors.

ACT I

Scene 1

Early morning. The poorest, filthiest urinal in town. Above the entrance to the urinal hangs a sign that reads Public Amenity #9. THE POOR lie sprawled across the stage, sleeping quietly Music for “Urinetown” plays softly in the background, OFFICER LOCKSTOCK enters from the house, inspecting the theater for orderliness. Satisfied, he takes his place onstage and addresses the audience directly.

LOCKSTOCK: Well, hello there. And welcome—to Urinetown! (Pause.) Not the place, of course. The musical. Urinetown “the place” is . . . well, it’s a place you’ll hear people referring to a lot throughout the show.

(PENELOPE PENNYWISE and BOBBY STRONG enter. They carry with them a small table upon which rests a ledger.)

PENNY: You hear the news? They carted Old So-and-So off to Urinetown the other day.

BOBBY: Is that so? What he do?

PENNY: Oh, such-and-such, I hear.

BOBBY: Well, what do you know? Old So-and-So.

(Bobby and Penny set up their workstation, placing the table beside the entrance to the amenity as THE POOR begin to rise.)

LOCKSTOCK: It’s kind of a mythical place, you understand. A bad place. A place you wont see until Act Two. And then . . . ? Well, let’s just say it’s filled with symbolism and things like that.

(THE POOR sing the “Urinetown” theme on an “ooh” ever so softly as they prepare for another day. LITTLE SALLY enters, counting her pennies.)

LOCKSTOCK: But Urinetown “the musical,” well, here we are. Welcome. It takes place in a town like any town . . . that you might find in a musical. This here’s the first setting for the show. As the sign says, it’s a “public amenity,” meaning public toilet. These people have been waiting for hours to get in; it’s the only amenity they can afford to get into.

(LITTLE SALLY approaches LOCKSTOCK.)

LITTLE SALLY: Say, Officer Lockstock, is this where you tell the audience about the water shortage?

LOCKSTOCK: What’s that, Little Sally?

LITTLE SALLY: You know, the water shortage. The hard times. The drought. A shortage so awful that private toilets eventually became unthinkable. A premise so absurd that—

LOCKSTOCK: Whoa there, Little Sally. Not all at once. They’ll hear more about the water shortage in the next scene.

LITTLE SALLY: Oh. I guess you don’t want to overlo...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Contents
• Preface
• Introduction
• Original Production
• Characters
• Act One
• Act Two
• Acknowledgements
• About the Authors
• Copyright and Performing Rights Information