“Urinetown” by BIlborough College Drama
Bilborough College, Nottingham

In a Gotham-like city, a terrible water shortage, caused by a 20-year drought, has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets. The citizens must use public amenities, regulated by a single malevolent company, the Urine Good Company, that profits by charging admission for one of humanity's most basic needs.

Amid the people, a hero, Bobby Strong, decides that he's had enough and plans a revolution to lead them all to freedom with the choice to pee “wherever you like, whenever you like, for as long as you like, and with whomever you like”

Things get a bit complicated though when Bobby falls in love with Hope Caldwell, the daughter of the UCG boss, Caldwell B Caldwell.

As the narrator tells us though, this is not a happy musical. Never has such a tragic musical been so much fun. That's satire for you!

As soon as you take your seats you're involved with the play as the actors mill around in character and interact with the audience.

Edward Turner plays the people's hero Bobby which not only highlights his leading man status but also a pretty powerful singing voice as well.

Emily Wilkins plays Hope, a brilliant vehicle for her comedy side and, goes without saying, another wonderful vocalist in this musical. Emily is a busy lady at the moment as she is also appearing at the Nottingham Arts Theatrein "Beauty & the Beast".

Fiona Kinsella plays Penelope Pennywise, the woman in charge of collecting the money from people wanting to pee. Not only is she a lovely little comedy actor she has a wonderful voice with great range and power.

Eleanor Carty is another brilliant comic actor ans as Little Sally is an integral part of moving the narration on via the fourth wall.

Ellie Mai Jackson is the baddie in this piece and plays Caldwell B Caldwell, looking like Kid Creole with the slick suit and the moustache. A brilliant fun role for Ellie and a fun role to watch.

Lydia Messam, as Officer Lockstock, also doubles as the narrator in the most revealing police outfit I have ever seen and as a double act with George Le Blond James - what a great name - who plays Officer Barrel. If you watch Barrel carefully he's a bit of a letch, which may have been missed by many of the audience members as I don't think it received the comedy reaction it deserved . This pair are well matched as characters because the comedy shared between the two is often subtle at times but always smile inducing.

The rest of the cast/ensemble are just as brilliant as the leads and carry the comedy well, both through the script as well as the musical numbers.

It would be easy to mistake the soundtrack music as being recorded but no, the six piece band are excellent under the baton of Jack Bratby and the Musical Direction of Jack and also Will Huxtable.

The soundtrack itself is catchy and is laced with some very funny lyrics which you mat have to listen to, to get the full extent of the comedy. At times not the easiest of soundtracks to perform but this cast did a cracking job, and, having not seen this musical before, they brought the soundtrack to life for me.

The musical is well directed by Izzie Gatford-Ball and Sam Hamilton and the pace of the musical is kept up really well.

There's some very good choreography thanks to Luke Rouse and this is well carried out by the whole cast.

Produced by Sharon MacInnes.

I've had the pleasure of reviewing Bilborough College Drama for the last five years and every year they get better and better, which isn't easy when I think of the incredible shows they have put on like "Cabaret", "We Will Rock You", "Our House" and "Les Miserables".

“Urinetown” is being performed at Bilborough College, Nottingham until Friday 7th December 2018.