Urinetown: The Musical is like no other. It contains hilarious, dark comedy, a serious message, and a pessimistic final scene.

While in Paris without the necessary coins to pay to go, Greg Kotis was inspired to write the script and lyrics for a show set in the not-too-distant future when, due to a shortage of water, politicians have taxed the toilets. Everyone must pay to use washrooms.

Amenity #9, owned by the Urine Good Company, could have been located at the junction of Main and Hastings and Ted Roberts' drab set makes it look like "the poorest, filthiest urinal in town".

The guardian of this facility is Ms Penelope Pennywise played by Barbara Barsky giving a ruthless, manic, over-the-top performance. This soprano demonstrates that she can effortlessly hit high notes in her numbers, including the brassy, menacing "It's a Privilege to Pee."

All the cast members sing tunefully, enunciating Kotis' lyrics to Mark Hollman's music. David Adams as Police Officer Lockstock uses his deep baritone to sinisterly narrate and sing. He and side-kick, Policeman Barrel (Ryan Reid) whose high kicks are balletic share their first song and dance number, "Cop Song", with cast members looking like rejects from a Monty Python skit.

Tracy Neff as Hope Caldwell and Matt Palmer as Bobby Strong play the naïve lovers. Their duet "Follow Your Heart" has their soprano and tenor voices blending and soaring beautifully.

Portly, middle-aged Jay Brazeau plays evil businessman Caldwell B. Caldwell. He is able to dance, sing, climb up and down as do the younger cast members.

Tara Cheynne Friedenberg's choreography is a delight. She has the cast members using the entire stage while parodying numbers from shows including the Fiddler on the Roof, West Side Story, and other musicals, including spirituals, jazz, and rock and roll.

The show's musical director is Ya-Wen Vivienne Wang. She, on her upright piano, and her band are away under a balcony on stage. The equally talented members of her band are Cailein Domhnullech on saxophone and clarinet; Jason Overy on drums; Roderick Murray on trombone; and Russel Sholberg on bass.

James Proudfoot's lighting is superb. Barbara Clayden's costumes make an accurate visual statement between the rich and poor.

Donna Spencer's direction is tight. Stage manager Angela Beaulieu and her assistant Lori Parker ensure that the pace between scenes and numbers is flawlessly fast-paced.

Go see this musical. You'll leave the Firehall humming the tunes, remembering the action, and heeding the message.

© 2006 June Heywood