"don't be the bunny" Urinetown?

[Hank]

Posted: 6/8/03 at 4:34pm

I have this Urinetown magnet on my fridge, and it has a bunny on it with the quote: "don't be the bunny". I saw this show Nov 01, and don't get the meaning. Can somebody please explain it?

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 6/8/03 at 4:40pm

I know that there's a song from Urinetown called "Don't be the Bunny." The mayor sings it to his daughter I think. But I'm not sure exactly what's meant by it.

[chasing_rainbows43]

Posted: 6/8/03 at 4:46pm

You knwo what? I've seen the show, and I have the cd and listen to it a good deal, yet I still have nooo idea what that means. Something about not getting shot, or stepped on....It's from a musical called "Urinetown". I think that says it all.

[ShineOn]

Posted: 6/8/03 at 4:46pm

Cladwell sings "Don't Be the Bunny" to his daughter Hope. It's symbolic for her being the little naive do-gooder. He's telling her she has to toughen up or she'll get stomped all over: "Bye bye Bunny-boo... hello Rabbit stew!" Basically, he wants her to take over his company, so she has to toughen up and recognize the value of a dollar.

Of course, Hope's a bit flaky (one of her many charms) and it takes her a whole song to catch on that her Daddy's a little money hungry bastard. :) "Even a daughter doubting her father?" Aww.

Daisy <3hearts<3 Urinetown.

Must... see... Carolee!!!

[Hank]

Posted: 6/8/03 at 5:17pm

Thanks Daisy

[Dollypop]

Posted: 6/8/03 at 6:25pm

How can anyone purchase a fridge magnet that bears a slogan he doesn't understand? And display it, no less! Do you realize it COULD have been obscene..or racist...or homophobic..or Anti-Semetic. I guess it just proves that PT Barnum was right: "There's a sucker born every minute"

[CapnHook]

Posted: 6/8/03 at 6:41pm

Mr. Cladwell is the greedy owner of "Urine Good Company," he is not the mayor.

[pacificnorthwest2]

Posted: 6/9/03 at 10:34am

Where did you find that magnet? I saw Urinetown with friends ages ago and that's the line we were quoting afterwards. Would love to get one for them.

[ShineOn]

Posted: 6/9/03 at 12:36pm

You can buy them at the gift shop at the Ford Center!! You can also buy cute little hand puppet bunnies! And shot glasses that say "Don't Be the Bunny" on them!!! WOO-YEAH for the shot glasses!!

[magruder]

Posted: 6/9/03 at 12:37pm

The song is an absurdist version of Social Darwinism ("survival of the fittest"). Cladwell, singing to his daughter, is trying to convince her "Don't Be the Bunny"... in other words, don't be a cute, meek, defenseless creature, but the exploiter of that creature.

Updated On: 6/9/03 at 12:37 PM

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 6/9/03 at 1:37pm

He's basically telling her, "Don't be a naive bunny, and go out into the hunter's forest and get shot. Be the hunter instead." He wants her to be a shrewd business person like him.

[JakeB]

Posted: 6/9/03 at 5:16pm

Love that song. Yeah, everyone else has mentioned the meaning of it so I guess I don't need to. I interpret it as 'don't be the bunny' as in greyhound racing where the greyhounds chase the bunny that goes round. Don't be THAT bunny.

[Hank]

Posted: 6/9/03 at 7:29pm

First off, I can't believe this thread is still running. I asked a simple question, and Daisy gave me an answer. And Dollypop, I like to collect magnets, I bought this one a few weeks ago at the store next door to the Marquis stage door while I was hanging around waiting for the Millie people to come out. I saw Urinetown back in Nov. 01, and this was the only one they had of this show. Yesterday I had some some family and guests over for the Tony's show and was asked about the bunny, and since I was kind of wondering myself, I just said "I know where I can find out", so here I am.