This year’s fall musical brought together comedy, politics and rebellion in an intentionally exaggerated way.
“‘Urinetown: The Musical’” offered an entertaining perspective with real-life and political undertones all set in a society where you have to pay to use the bathroom.
The production, directed by assistant humanities professor Dennis Henry, provided a comedic relief for the audience of more serious topics.
“Urinetown the Musical is set in the near future, and there has been a 20-year drought, and all private bathrooms have been banned,” Henry said. “You have to use public toilets, and they’re controlled by one company, and you have to pay.”
There were 35 actors on the stage, and around a dozen people behind the scenes. Henry noted that there is no theater major at Ferris so the crew was very diverse. There were people from over two dozen majors in the musical.
“We had several people where this was their first play ever, which is something that I really like about Ferris. It’s a great opportunity, since there are no theater majors for people who have been curious about theater but never done it before,” said Henry. “It gives them a chance to try it out without a large amount of pressure.”
Henry hoped the audience takes away not only the comedic value but also the message behind the musical.
“The comedy in it is outstanding. It is a very good satire of politics, corporate greed and government overreach,” said Henry. “I think when you’re there, it’s a lot of fun. Then, when you go away and think about it, it also makes some really good points about how we structure our society.”
Pre-optometry senior, Emma Ollinger, played Penelope Pennywise in the musical. She collected people’s money before they were allowed to use the bathroom.
This was Ollinger’s third theater production at Ferris, but she has been in theater productions since she was little. Ollinger found the musical to help her branch out.
“It’s definitely made me more creative. I have been trying to add little things here and there to add more to the character and the story as a whole,” said Ollinger. “I’ve met a lot of great people, and I love seeing everyone develop into their characters and make it their own.”
Ollinger hoped the audience understood the real-life undertones of the show, while also thinking, “Wow, that was a really fun, silly show to watch.”
Television and digital media senior Ben Muma played Tiny Tom in the musical and was also behind the scenes doing production work. Muma has been doing theater at Ferris for five years but has been involved in theater for 13 years.
Muma was excited he got to show a goofier side of himself in the musical, playing a funnier character.
“For a long time, I was always cast as the serious, mean or grouchy character,” Muma said. “But this time, I actually got to express my goofy side and fun personality, and it’s been refreshing as an actor to show both a grumpy side and a goofy side.”
Muma explained that the show has a great message.
“I hope the audience takes away the idea that you can fight for what you believe in, but that doesn’t always mean you’ll get a perfect outcome,” Muma said. “Also, the idea that even if a show’s theme sounds dark, it can have a really fun and energizing plot.”
The premise of the musical, while focusing on the townspeople having to pay to pee, also focused on aspects including inflation. The townspeople begin to rebel when the fee to pee was increased.
Public relations junior Mason Yarnell played McQueen in the Musical, the helper of the main antagonist Mr. Caldwell. This was Yarnell’s sixth theater production at Ferris, and he did theater in high school. Yarnell notes the positive experiences theatre has given him.
“I joined the organization Alpha Psi Omega, which is the theater honor society, so it’s a great way to meet new people and make more friends,” said Yarnell. “I think it’s had a really positive impact on me overall in college, even outside of just this one show.”
Yarnell hoped the audience could see the message that the show illustrates.
“I hope the audience takes away that it’s okay to fight for what you believe in, even if it’s going against something bigger or more powerful,” said Yarnell. “It’s always important to do what you think is right and what helps those around you.”
Forensic biology freshman Maya Kemp loved the show after watching it.
“The show in a nutshell is either exaggerated screaming, somebody dying or some kind of joke. But it’s not subtle, and I loved it,” said Kemp. “Usually, when people try to make good media, it’s like, it’s gotta be so flat out, developed.”
Kemp expressed that this was the first theater production she had seen at Ferris.
“It is ultimately a show that I had to suspend a little disbelief for, but I liked it a lot,” said Kemp.
The musical ended with the rebellions taking over, and ultimately shows the consequences of running out of water because there was no longer a fee which resulted in disease and death.
The next production will be the spring play, a “Midsummer Night’s Dream”.