City Center's 24-25 Season: Ragtime, Urinetown, LaChiusa's Wild Party, Love Life — Page 16

I have always suspected that Urinetown is a bigger and more deliberate homage to The Simpsons than Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play ever was. The writing for it, the tropes used, the rhythms of the dialogue, even certain characters are pulled almost piecemeal from classic Season 2-9 Simpsons. I'm not accusing plagiarism or anything, as it's clearly being done with a big of a wink, but the parallels are difficult to ignore: among others, Cladwell and McQueen are pretty blatantly Mr. Burns and Smithers, just like Lockstock's stilted and patronizing narration to Little Sally is a Troy McClure and Jimmy homage as much as a real reference to midcentury educational films.

The pastiche is just dead-on: Urinetown, when it's done well, feels like a top 10 Simpsons episode. That's both a blessing and a curse, because instead of feeling fresh and new, it feels like pastiche, a deliberate throwback to a cult favorite comedy from thirty years ago. 

WiCkEDrOcKS said: "FWIW, it's a NY Times Critic's Pick. Not a rave, but very positive."

‘Urinetown’ Review: More Than Toilet Humor

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/06/theater/urinetown-review-encores.html?unlocked_article_code=1.u04.R-JM.NNu1AKVBx8ri

 

 

 

Keala Settle is out tonight. Tiffany Mann is on as Pennywise. 

Recently? Raul Esparza in "Oliver.

He did indeed. Gavin Lee came in and gave a great though different performance.

Updated On: 2/6/25 at 08:36 PM

AC126748 said: "Keala Settle is out tonight. Tiffany Mann is on as Pennywise."

Mann was probably better anyways.

Settle was much, much better in performance on Wednesday than in that video. 

I love this show (didn't see the original but have devoured the version on YouTube) but these reports and reviews are going to keep me away. I'd rather not be annoyed and let down by it. When the only person in the proper style and tone seems to be the Hope Cladwell, that's pretty dire.

Does Keala still think she’s British ? 

reviews here are tepid but i never saw the original, and would definitely check this out, but cant find any seats this weekend for under $150 even in the recesses of that monstrous mezzanine, so good for them.

Just came out of the show. Agree this is a good but not great revival. 

Stephanie Styles was the best part of the show. She really shines and makes every moment count. Great comedy, acting, and vocal ability. Does channel Glinda especially in the first Act but her character develops throughout the second act. She's so talented and really great in this role!  

Jordan Fisher was fine but was much better and funnier in the second act. His "Run, Freedom, Run" was definitely the stand out song of the show.

Looove Tiffany Mann as Penelope. She is truly a star! I think that woman can do anything. 

Most of the cast was excellent and the ensemble is very strong.  Jeff Hiller is hilarious. Agree that the weak link is the child playing Little Sally. Her singing was stronger than her acting. I just did not find her character very believable, as a poor street urchin who is supposed to be surviving off her wits. 

Overall the show was a good time. It just felt like something was missing, like maybe it was trying too hard to be funny. But it did have a lot of great moments and if you don't take it too seriously you'll enjoy it.

Wonder if this will indeed transfer to Broadway after the NYCC run. It's hard not to compare it to the truly spectacular Ragtime revival, although I recognize they are completely different shows.

 

Is Keala back?

How is Rainn Wilson? I feel I've heard absolutely nothing.