1. Describe an important moment in the show that shows this sense of cynicism. Is this moment a “grenade”? How do you think audiences react to this type of cynicism? What does the cynicism of Urinetown say about American politics?
Playwriting, in order to be good and valid, has to encompass a number of aspects and socio-political issues that help to point towards specific malicious sides of the society. A clear and direct political message is often veiled under the guise of a satire or hides under plain humor. The current paper looks into two different plays by two play writers and tries to determine the political validity of the same and to analyze the success of them.
The first play is Urinetown, written by Mark Hollmann with lyrics by Greg Kotis. The plot of the play is set in a parallel universe in the 1900s, where one company, Urine Good Company, run by a businessman has privatized the urinals as a severe draught situation has hit the lands and the people are forced to take care of their personal hygiene in the public urinals, which again charge them exorbitantly high to gain access (Kotis Greg and Hollmann). The entire play is narrated by the different characters. The play is absolutely apparent about the issue that it is addressing and this is delivered in a form of mockery towards the modern social stigma that is present in every community across the world. The play is straightforward, but fails to achieve marvelous success as the premise of the play is laid out right at the beginning of the play.
Reflection of American politics in the play Urine town
This play Urine town reflects on the American socio political scenario. It brings out the harsh picture of how the poor were tortured by the rich people. The play outright looks at the issue of how the poorer sections of the society is oppressed by the wealthier groups and it does not try to hide the fact that this oppression is not hidden itself. The characters of the play are all named very cleverly that represent specific groups of the society and are portrayed how are they used in this process of constant subjugation of the poor(Kotis Greg and Hollmann). Despite the play not being overly enchanting or interesting, its representation of the actual social issue that runs amok everywhere makes it a strong play that successfully achieves its purpose.
Reaction of audiences to the play Urine town
There was more or less a positive reaction available from the audiences. This play made a good work in the musical arena and at the same time it also addressed the social issue that was prevalent in America during those times. The play depicted the harsh treatment of the poor at the hands of the rich sections of the society.
2. While these characters represent individuals, in what ways does the playwright make them archetypes and as archetypes, what is she saying about being an African American male in the United States? What is Parks saying by naming her characters Lincoln and Booth? 3. We can view all works of art as political statements. How do these two playwrights use story telling and genre to express a political message? What political messages do we get from these plays? Do the playwrights offer solutions to these issues? If so, what are the solutions? If not, do their works clarify or change our position on the issues? How do they do this?
Depiction of the characters as the Archetypes
These two brothers have been depicted as the archetypes of the bloodthirsty human beings.
Topdog/Underdog, the second play, written by Suzan-Lori Parks, is a play that tells the story of two African American brothers who are struggling to have a proper life. The names of the two brothers have been chosen very carefully and are very significant in the entire storyline of the play, which reflects upon the relationship the actual people with the names had with each other: how one was murdered by the other.
Opinion of parks
The climax of the play summarizes everything about why these names were chosen and almost has a voyeuristic feel to it, which shows that the humans are indeed blood thirsty and would not hesitate to kill even their brother if they feel cheated (Parks). Lincoln, being overwhelmed by a sense of vindication, uses his three card monte skills to make Booth loose his money (Parks).
Political message given by the play
The play rightly signifies what it still means to be an African American in the country and how are their lives still a struggle to make ends meet every day. The socio-political structure of the country and how are minorities still shunned in the society has been shown in the play under a very, apparently misogynistic at times, drama that revolves around clouded family relationships. The drama, in its own sense, is a success as it points towards an issue that is relevant and needs to be addressed as soon as possible
What we can do about the political message given by these two dramas
We must take a lesson from these two dramas about the political unrest. We must try to strike a balance between the rich and the poor people of the society. We must see to it that there are equal rights and opportunities given to all the people living in the society. We must render our support to the poor and the weak sections of the society rather than exploiting them.
References:
Kotis, Greg, and Mark Hollmann. Urinetown: The Musical. Macmillan, 2003.
Parks, Suzan-Lori. Topdog/underdog. Dramatists Play Service Inc, 2002.
