Urinetown, the Musical

["Devine, James" <jdevine@xxxxxxx>]

I finally saw "Urinetown, the Musical" (though my bronchitis had turned into pneumonia -- the musical helped my current recovery). Don't worry: I'm not going to give away any of the details (and the humor is in the details). But it's interesting that it's the probably only musical ever made about economics. Perhaps that's because economics is boring, or maybe because people are afraid to face the truth? ;-)
 
Anyway, it's about a town (one "like any town found in a musical") that suffers from a severe water shortage. Instead of charging a lot for water or rationing the water in some way, the premise is that there are draconian limits on urination. Private toilets are out (unless one can afford the tax) and it's illegal to pee in the woods. 
 
The _status quo_ is neo-liberalism: the toilets are owned by a privately-owned profit-seeking monopoly (the Urine Good Company) which uses its political connections to dominate and exploit the People. The head of the company (Caldwell B. Cladwell) expresses the social darwinist philosophy: "don't be the bunny" (a handsome critter who'll get shot); instead be the shooter. 
 
Anyway, there's a popular revolution (lampooning "Les Miz")  against rising rates at the toilets. Eventually, the Good Guys take over and allow free peeing. But then the town dies due to lack of water. 
 
Naturally enough, this Malthusian nightmare misses the possibility of managing scarce resources democratically rather than monopolistically or anarchistically. But it's still quite funny. 
 
Jim Devine