Urinetown

“And this year’s award for the show with the most obnoxious title goes to ... Urinetown the Musical!” Even the play itself makes fun of the title when Little Sally remarks to Officer Lockstock, “Nothing like a bad title to kill a musical.”

The show opens with Office Lockstock and Little Sally talking about the water shortage, explaining that places of private amenity, i.e. toilets, have been banned in order to conserve water. What’s left are places of public amenity which are heavily taxed by the UGC (Urine Good Company) with large amounts of graft going to Senator Fipp, Officer Lockstock and this trusty side kick Barrel (of course).

Our hero Bobby Strong works for Penelope Pennywise who holds the public amenity franchise in the poorest, most disgusting part of town. Bobby is outraged when is father is arrested and taken to Urinetown for going and not paying the fee charged by Miss Pennywise. His outrage is temporarily challenged when he meets Hope, the daughter of UGC President, the resplendent Caldwell B. Cladwell. Hope urges Bobby to follow his heart and revolution ensues.