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

[darquegk]

Posted: 2/6/25 at 1:46pm

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]

Posted: 2/6/25 at 2:35pm

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

Updated On: 2/6/25 at 02:35 PM

[MezzA101]

Posted: 2/6/25 at 2:43pm

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

 

 

 

[Kad]

Posted: 2/6/25 at 2:45pm

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

Kind of a weird review overall, particularly for a critic’s pick. 

[AC126748]

Posted: 2/6/25 at 8:04pm

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

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/6/25 at 8:21pm

wow. When was the last time a star in an Encores show missed performances? 

[George in DC]

Posted: 2/6/25 at 8:24pm

Recently? Raul Esparza in "Oliver.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/6/25 at 8:32pm

Oh did he miss shows? I guess i don’t remember that. 

[George in DC]

Posted: 2/6/25 at 8:36pm

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

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

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 2/6/25 at 9:56pm

Gavin Lee stepping in was such a great story

https://www.instagram.com/gavinleeofficial/p/Cr9NNIevj6U/

https://www.instagram.com/gavinleeofficial/reel/Cr98UOgghiS/

 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 2/7/25 at 8:10am

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

Mann was probably better anyways.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 2/7/25 at 9:58am

ACL2006 said: "AC126748 said: "Keala Settle is out tonight. Tiffany Mann is on as Pennywise."

Mann was probably better anyways."

All things considered, she was fantastic. She was pitch perfect during "Privilege to Pee" and got a roaring ovation.   (Frankly, Keala's rehearsal video of the song...didn't do it for me. Mann sounded much cleaner and more effortless.)

The production, however, is fine, but flawed.  It's an odd pick for the cavernous City Center. The pace needs to be quickened, desperately.  Separately, it was 700 degrees in the theater last night, which was just plain uncomfortable. 

Updated On: 2/7/25 at 09:58 AM

[Kad]

Posted: 2/7/25 at 10:03am

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

[barcelona20]

Posted: 2/7/25 at 10:04am

ACL2006 said: "AC126748 said: "Keala Settle is out tonight. Tiffany Mann is on as Pennywise."

Mann was probably better anyways."

Mann crushes everything she's in.

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 2/7/25 at 10:05am

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.

[ChiDoc]

Posted: 2/7/25 at 12:49pm

I know this is off-topic from Urinetown, but any idea on when the Wonderful Town cast will start being announced?

[WldKingdomHM]

Posted: 2/7/25 at 12:52pm

Does Keala still think she’s British ? 

[itsahopi]

Posted: 2/7/25 at 7:01pm

WldKingdomHM said: "DoesKeala still think she’s British ?"

Keala Settle’s father is British and her mother was from either Australia or New Zealand. The question is more likely was she masking during her time in the states. Dunno why people are being so weird about her in this thread. It’s a gift to have her back on our NY stages

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 2/7/25 at 7:30pm

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.

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 2/7/25 at 11:08pm

Kaela out again tonight.  Tiffany Mann on as Pennywise.  Announcement made before overture. 

[hyangsoo]

Posted: 2/7/25 at 11:51pm

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.

 

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 2/8/25 at 1:07am

Having never seen the show and having very limited exposure to the music, I had a great time tonight.

I will say the way Encores handles understudy announcements is disappointing, to essentially not let people know Keala was out until just as the show started via announcement seemed a bit sneaky.

that said, Tiffany Mann was wonderful as Pennywise and I thought overall it was a great production, the second act and Run Freedom Run being a highlight

Sadly based on my conversation with a cast member it seems the transfer plans have been scrapped.

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 2/8/25 at 2:16pm

Is Keala back?

[OharaFosseWolfe888]

Posted: 2/8/25 at 2:38pm

Curious as well, if she is back? Will be more than happy to see Mann in the role though. Just snagged two tickets for $45 on the Theatr app for tonight!

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 2/8/25 at 3:03pm

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