“Urinetown” Review

A Satirical Musical Critique on Corporate Nature 

St. Lawrence University’s most recent musical production, “Urinetown: The Musical,” is a gritty satirical comedy filled with pee-related puns and a plot that spoils itself within the first few scenes. The story consistently rides on the fourth wall breaks by narrator Officer Lockstock, portrayed by James Walker ’26, and the musical talents and acting prowess of several other performers, a few of whom are from outside the SLU bubble. Other leads included Nicolas Tiedemann ’25 as Bobby Strong and Brenna Welling ’28 as Hope Cladwell, and community members Hailey Hodge as Penelope Pennywise and Kyle Flint as Caldwell B. Cladwell.   

One standout performance was that of Walker. His fluidity of motion was particularly astounding, leaping from one end of the stage to the other with ease. Captivating were his dance moves as he swayed from side to side like a stalk of barley in the wind. Walker’s hips alone deserve an award. Jason Darminio ’27, singing-while-peeing expert, says Walker “was amazing. He’s gonna end up on Broadway, for sure.”   

The successes and failures of “Urinetown” can be attributed to its painfully satirical script. Even during the scenes in which the musical begs to be taken seriously, one waits for the next dumbed-down political jab or piss-related pun. The moments that are supposed to be the most impactful are just short of reaching the audience emotionally. Even scenes between the two token lovers, Strong and Cladwell, are plagued with clichés and predictable outcomes. It is impossible to care for any of the characters on a deep level, thus rendering the whole message useless. In a musical meant to portray the black comedic aspects of the political system in the United States, the importance of the theme is overshadowed by stereotyped characters and basic plot “twists” (surprise – there is no Urinetown).   

Some of the more redeeming factors were the set design and the casting. Tiedemann, for example, “was born for the role of Bobby Strong,” says Melanie McLean ’27. Another fan of Tiedemann, Sydney Curley ’25, stated he was “impossible to not fall in love with.” The scenic design, managed by Jennifer Baker, was nothing short of spectacular. Simplistic in nature, it was just the right combination of hopeless, monopolistic, and lavatorial.   

Ultimately, “Urinetown: The Musical” critiques the worst of our corporate nature and falls short of portraying the love we need to get through the hardest of times.