He's the all powerful pee-master Caldwell B. Cladwell; she's Penelope Pennywise, owner of the nastiest potty in town. At least, that's in Urinetown, the new Off-Broadway musical which opened May 6. In real life, they're Broadway's Nancy Opel and John Cullum.
Set in a gotham-esque city where the privilege to relieve oneself is regulated by a single corporation, Urinetown uses the basic melodramatic themes of greed, corruption and betrayal to portray a time where water is worth its weight in gold. Among the spunky, tongue-in-cheek songs are the title tune ("This is Urinetown!/Your ticket should say Urinetown!/No refunds, this is Urinetown!"), "Snuff that Girl," "A Privilege to Pee," "The Cop Song," "What Is Urinetown?," "Run, Freedom, Run" and "Don't Be the Bunny." Urinetown runs at the American Theatre of Actors through June 30.
