Photograph reproduced with kind permission by Andrew Ab.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
Cast: Shaun Holdom-Eyles, Amy Murphy, Jak Malone, Franki Burke, Jamie Barfield, Julie Evans, Andrew Jones, Chris Brockelsby, Alex Williams, Trev Fleming, Megan Key, Tom Lox, Steph Scrutton, Charlotte Wilson, Lily Mak, Martin Ellis, Eugene Tan, Jen Ramage, Zoe Thirsk,Elan Barfield, Steph Longmuir, Taylor Henwood, Jo Vickers.
Musicians: Jonas Tattersall, Andy Weaver, Jonny Knight, Ben Knowles, Callum Clarke.
The musical theatre experience is one that is held in such high esteem, it is almost an act of desecration to enjoy a moment on stage which parodies the form. It might be seen as a travesty, as a flippant insult to the craft and the dedication of countless millions of performers to offer a production in which the point of the story is to take issue with the realms of political and theatre structure in one fell swoop. Yet the musical experience, the chance to revel and feel good arguably has never been greater as an audience grasps the importance and delight of Mark Hollman’s and Greg Kotis’ Urinetown.
For What We Did Next, one of the best and exciting production companies around, Urinetown perhaps provides a new line in the sand, never afraid to go beyond the expected, never ones to shy from the curious, under the auspicious eyes of Ruth Dalton and Phil Birss, the whole creative team shone with absolute wonder.
Drawing parallels with the failures of both political extremes of Capitalism and Communism, the large cast and faultless musicians took the audience through the slums of the town, through the exploitation of the poor and the basic necessity of life, the need to pee and as freely as possible.
In all the years that Mr. Holdom-Eyles has graced the stage as a member of What We Did Next, it is impossible to think of a time when he has been more impressive. A stalwart of the company, a tremendous presence on stage in every production he has been in, he held the audience closely as both narrator and Officer Lockstock and gave the assembled audience inside the Unity Theatre the reasons to adore Urinetown. Alongside Franki Burke, Jak Malone, the sensational Amy Murphy and the whole ensemble cast, Urinetown is the hit crowds arguably never thought it could be. Dynamic, unselfish, riddled with depth and meaning, Urinetown is a dream of a musical and one that should be implored to all to witness unfold.
When the music and story line is this good in a production that is so anti-establishment, it cannot fail to leave a marvellous impression on the audience, charming, deep and the finest of parodies; Urinetown leaves others trailing in its wake.
Ian D. Hall