Weekend Showcase: Park Center Senior High’s “Urinetown”
Park Center Senior High School’s spring musical “Urinetown” depends on smart timing and delivery to make to the comedic aspect of the show work.
“Urinetown” is a satire and it’s been a long time since we’ve done something comedic in nature,” said director Kate Kallevig, Park Center’s theater instructor. “It really stretches our students.”
Two actors who have the comedic aspect of their characters down are Little Sally, played by Kaycie Johnson, and Officer Lockstock, played by Dominique Drake.
“I could practice it. I tried out different like ways I could approach the how I said something. So, like, I’d wait a bit and then deliver my line, or I’d change my facial expression. Just whatever fit and whatever I got a reaction out of,” said Kaycie Johnson, playing Little Sally, a street urchin about 12 years old.
“I’d like to say that part of it is natural talent but, its going over the whole entire script and like reading it, and figuring out what the type of comedy is. And so, from that you learn with it, and you deliver the lines in different ways each time,” said Dominique Drake, who plays Officer Lockstock.
“A lot of them are jokes for kind of people of our age, adult people. And so to get high school kids to understand timing and delivery and overacting, because this show is essentially overacting. It’s comedic Saturday Night Live sketch type acting,” said Kallevig.
Park Center has taken a potentially dark, dystopian satire and found the subtle humor that really makes the play work.
“They get to step out of their own body for 3 hours every night,” said Kallevig. “We rehearse. We talk about character. And it’s really more than just a show. It’s about developing confidence,.”
“Urinetown” is onstage at Park Center High School through March 14th.
“Urinetown” Showtimes are:
Friday March 6, Saturday, March 7, 2020 @ 7:00 pm, Sunday, March 8, 2020 @ 3:00 pm.
Thursday March 12, Friday March 13, and Saturday March 14, 2020 @ 7:00 p.m.
Tickets:
$8 adults, $6 students/seniors
763-569-7673 ticket hotline
Park Center Senior High School
