`URINETOWN' FLUSH WITH GREATNESS.Byline: - Evan Henerson Ravenous Rottweiler Rottweiler (rŏt`wīlər), breed of sturdy working dog developed from a Roman cattle dog introduced into S Germany more than 1,900 years ago. It stands from 21 3-4 to 27 in. (55.3–68. , say hello to the porterhouse steak. And Interact Theatre Compapany, sink your teeth into ``Urinetown.'' Enjoy your stay at the Matrix, and here's wishing you a permanent new home again real soon. Long destined des·tine tr.v. des·tined, des·tin·ing, des·tines 1. To determine beforehand; preordain: a foolish scheme destined to fail; a film destined to become a classic. 2. for smaller houses, ``Urinetown,'' the goofy-titled sendup of musicals by Greg Kotis and Mark Hollmann, has found its near-perfect dance partner with Calvin Remsberg and the Interact. Remsberg's production, featuring John Rubinstein, Amanda Carlin car·line or car·lin n. Scots A woman, especially an old one. [Middle English kerling, from Old Norse, from karl, man.] and a boatful of regular Interact-ors, is as smart, cheery and certainly as professional as the Broadway tour that hit L.A. two years ago. What a concept Anyone remember it? Within a drought-stricken America, the Urine Good Company (UGC See user-generated content. ) corporation has taken over the administration of public toilets, forcing its residents to pay to use the facility. An amenity janitor leads a revolt among the downtrodden down·trod·den adj. Oppressed; tyrannized. downtrodden Adjective oppressed and lacking the will to resist Adj. 1. and falls in love with the corporate magnate's daughter. The material is played straight, although a cop/narrator and a street urchin Noun 1. street urchin - a child who spends most of his time in the streets especially in slum areas guttersnipe gamine - a homeless girl who roams the streets chat regularly about what a peculiar musical they're playing. The Matrix is a wide but not especially deep stage that, somehow, contains more than 20 cast members and some rather elaborate dance maneuvers choreographed by Tracy Powell. The ``Cop Song,'' executed by officers Lockstock (Matthew Ashford) and Barrel (Rob Kahn) includes the rhythmic clicking of nightsticks. The three-person band, parked behind the rotating wall of Public Amenity No. 9, gamely handles music director John Rubinstein's arrangements. How nice it is to find a musical that doesn't require body microphones of its singers. Rubinstein, doubling his role with Norman Large, tears gleefully glee·ful adj. Full of jubilant delight; joyful. glee  ful·ly adv.glee through oily UGC magnate Caldwell B. Cladwell. The character is a charismatic monster, and doesn't the performer just know it? Quite a cast of characters Rona Benson's Little Sally and Ashford's Officer Lockstock add a slick world-wiseness to the innocent rapport, and Carlin's Penelope Pennywise (a character lifted wholesale from the works of Brecht) is deliciously seedy as the amenity boss. Stealing the show -- as characters who play the role are wont to do -- is Kelly Lohman as ingenue in·gé·nue also in·ge·nue n. 1. A naive, innocent girl or young woman. 2. a. The role of an ingénue in a dramatic production. b. An actress playing such a role. Hope Cladwell. Perhaps too bossy bossy 1. in dog conformation, used to describe overdevelopment of the shoulder muscles. 2. vernacular pet name for a cow. to be a damsel in distress (she's a Cladwell, after all), Lohman gets a power-hungry little gleam in her eye when she finally gets to lead the rebellion. And Remsberg has wisely preserved the choice to have Hope join the gospel-tinged ``Run, Freedom, Run'' number, even though she happens to be gagged and bound to a chair. That's ``Urinetown'' for you. Interact does it proud. URINETOWN - Three and one half stars Where: Interact Theatre Company at the Matrix Theatre, 7657 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles. When: 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday; through Nov. 5 Tickets: $25. (818) 765-8732. www.interactla.org. In a nutshell: Still-homeless Interact resurfaces at the Matrix in a satirical gem. |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion