Urinetown the Musical

In the near future of Urinetown the Musical, having a private toilet is a crime. A long-lasting drought has dangerously depleted the world's water supply, leaving public pay toilets as the only sane option for the citizens' relief. But the CEO of the company that runs the toilets wants to raise the rates again, which will make the daily tinkle an unaffordable luxury for the poorest citizens. And don't even think about whizzing in the streets — that's a crime punishable by lifetime banishment to the grim peenal colony (tee-hee) called Urinetown. Greg Kotis and Mark Hollmann's dark satire of modern life follows the heroic Bobby Strong as he attempts to free the people from the grip of corporatized urination. The Washington University Performing Arts Department presents Urinetown the Musical at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday (October 20 to 29) at Washington University's Edison Theatre (6465 Forsyth Boulevard; www.edison.wustl.edu). Tickets are $10 to $20.