It was chaos.
Students ran up and down the stage stairs. There were loud calls and costumes being taken off the backs of chairs.
It was tech week at Moscow High School (MHS) for their upcoming performance of “Urinetown, the musical.” The satirical play is set in a dystopian, futuristic Seattle. All of the water has dried up and people have to pay in order to pee. There are no longer any private restrooms in order to control for the use of water.
Four students were diligently at work on their parts and their dancing, which still takes place in a future without water.
Anthony Plummer, a freshman, is one of the performers working on his dance routine. Plummer plays Caldwell B. Cladwell, or Mr. Cladwell, one of the major characters. Plummer said his character is the head of the corporation Urine Good Hands, which controls the right to pee in this dystopian future. He has been working on his routine in his suit.
Timothy Malm, a sophomore, choreographed the dances. He said it has been fun and stressful to choreograph for the entire staff.
“A lot of kids don’t dance, so I didn’t do anything awkward,” Malm said.
Malm said it has been cool, yet nerve-wracking, to be a choreographer as an underclassman.
“It’s knowing I’m responsible and trustworthy enough,” Malm said. “It means a lot to me and it’s a good feeling to have.”
Josh Croyle, a junior, was cast as the lead character Bobby Strong, a custodian at the main place of action, Amenity #9. Croyle said his character is a dependable guy in the beginning, but decides to lead a revolution for the right to pee for free.
Croyle said this is his first play with MHS, as he moved to Moscow in November. He said he hopes people, students and community members alike, will come to see the show.
“It’s dripping with satire, get the pun there?” he said.
Ashley Mattson plays the love interest of Strong and the daughter of Mr. Cladwell, Hope. Her character becomes conflicted after falling for the leader of a revolution and has to choose between her father and her lover.
Cathy Brinkerhoff, the school’s drama director, said they hope to develop the performing arts program by taking on the ambitious play. Brinkerhoff hopes the administration will be proud to see the students can do this.
“The students have shown a lot of cohesion and maturity,” Brinkerhoff said.
Malm said the play breaks the fourth wall by having interactions with the space off stage and near the audience. He said while it is depressing, the songs are happy and it’s a fun performance.
“This play was a risk to take,” Mattson said. “It is a hard play to pull off, but we want to show that we can do this.”
MHS is partnering with Palouse Clearwater Environmental Institute (PCEI) while putting on the performance. Brinkerhoff said PCEI will hand out knickknacks before the performance to help raise awareness about the aquifer consumption rate.
The play will take place at 7:30 p.m. May 15 and 16 in the MHS auditorium. There will also be a matinee performance at 2 p.m. May 17. General admission is $11 and for students it’s $8.
The students are excited to perform. Plummer, Mattson, Croyle and Malm all said people should come and see and the play, and that it will be fun to watch.
“We put in a lot of work,” Malm said. “This is a sense of pride. We did this.”
Claire Whitley can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @Cewhitley