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DECEMBER11,2006-Page 12 COMMENTARY College telemarketers have amazing tales ly did not want to be bothered able and willing to talk to us. others discuss whether they about working at the call cen- at 8:30 at night. I work there We have to bond with the should hang up with their ter is all the funny stories we Mondays and Tuesdays every alumni about their major; spouse, still others don't even have. week for about three hours. about what it is they are doing let you talk, and they will just We have had people pick up We caU alumni, parents of with their loves now and any- hang up. the phone while having sex; alumni, and friends of the col- thing else we can think of. We I have developed a new some have told us that they lege. have two goals for the call; respect for telemarketers. were going to picket the col- Each of these groups are one, to bond with the alumni Even though technically I am lege if we ever called again divided into three groups, and to update their informa- not a telemarketer I get treated and even some who have told Non-donors, SYBUNTS (gave tion in the computer and two, like one every shift. us that they weren't going to some year but unfortunately to ask if they will give to the I treat their phone call s give because they lived in not this year), and LYBUNTS annual fund with a little mote respect Westminster. (gave last year but unfcrtu- Non-Donors are the worst because I know how much it The call center, even though nately not this year). We, people to call. They are the sucks to get hung up on all the very frustrating and some- callers, prefer to call the most unwilling to give and are time, everyday. It gets rather times depressing, is a place 1 work in LYBUNTS and SYBUNTS most likely to hang up on us. depressing. After about an where we collect funny stories here at McDaniel. Let's just because they have given in the In one shift we get hung up on hour and a half we all start to and develop friendships with say it is very difficult to past and are probably more at least ten times. Some are talk to each other about the each other. remain sane and optimistic willing to give in the future. nice enough to tell you they stories of OUI phone calls. when calling people who real- They are much more person- are going to hang up on you, One of the good things Urinetown isn't a place, 'we just kill people' room, audience members ]EN HARRJNGTON were greeted by a lobby STAFF WRITER draped with toilet paper, and "It's a dollar for a piss," the concession stand boarded Officer Barrel drawled, his up to resemble the set's Irish accent resonating with amenities. each word, his police stick Directed by Professor pointing at a donations box Elizabeth van den Berg, the located outside of the bath- show drew most of its energy room. ''What? This is crazy. from audience understanding They can't do that to us," one and participation. Senior man grumbled, reaching into Chris DeRose played Officer his wallet to pull out a dollar. Lockstock, who navigated Tension was building among both the characters in the play those in line, the injustice of and the audience through a having to pay for a toilet backwards town where resi- adding onto resentment for dents have to pay to pee. the long bathroom line. The characters in the musi- During most musicals, an cal were segregated into two upbeat rallying song would groups: those employed by have interrupted, breaking the Urine Good Company, and tension. But this musical was the poorer townspeople. The anything but ordinary, and plot centered on the idea that after all, it was intermission. Urine Good Company con- Welcome to Unnetown. trolled several amenities end of Act 1 it is revealed behind Urine Good Company. was created in the 19905 by Bobby and Hope stand togeth- George Kotis, after he traveled Upon entering Alumni throughout the town where (accidentally by Officer in Europe and Hall the week of November the residents must pay to pee. Lockstock) that Urinetown is er against Caldwell, and rally as a student a pay per use actually a metaphor for death. the rest of the town together encountered 15, it was clear that After all, sings Ms. Old Man Joe's son, Bobby during the strong gospel num- commodity. "Urinetown" is "Urinetown," which ran every Pennywise, played by Junior Strong (played by '04 alumni ber (and show highlight) night from the 15 to the 18, Alex Neiman, "it's a privilege an absurdtst piece, making was going to be an interactive to pee." AJbert Perc) decides to take a "Run, Freedom, Run!" fun of itself, its title, the corpo- performance. Officer Barrel, The action in the play stand against the company in Bobby is captured and rate world and conventional played by Junior Ryan Brown, begins when Old Man Joe, order to avenge his father's killed during the fight, but his musical theatre. It's impossi- was one of many cast mem- played by Sophomore Joe death. Through several ghost continues to haunt one ble to take seriously a musical bers designated to man the Byrd, rebels against the instances of good timing and more song in a bizarre flash- whose opening number is lobby toilets during intermis- amenities by peeing outside. awkward musical moments, back where the remaining "Too Much Exposition." sion. Donations were optional, Old Man Joe is then arrested Bobby Strong meets and falls townsmen (and Hope) cling to Nonetheless, and benefited Alpha Psi by the police and taken to in love with Hope CladweU, his memory. After a tong fight, "Urinetown's" large cast of 2] Omega, the theatre honor Urinetown. The characters in the daughter of his archene- the townspeople succeed in actors worked well together. society. In addition to a dona- the play believe that my, Caldwell B. Cladwell. kicking out Caldwell, and Correlating with the uncon- Caldwell is the devious man tions box outside of the rest- Urinetown is a prison; at the Hope takes over the company, ventional nature of the musi- allowing the townspeople' to cal, the choreography was pee freely. strong and creative. Strong Little Sally, played by performances were given by Junior Meghan Carlton, com- Senior Tony Cimino, who ments to the audience halfway played the conniving busi- through the show that a musi- nessman Caldwell B. cal, a true musical, should end Cladwell, and Sophomore happily. "Urinetown" doesn't follow Nina Kompanek, who played through on its own promise; Cladwell's daughter, Hope. Senior Two students, the .show ends harshly by Chris DeRose and [unicr leaving the town in a severe Meghan Cariton, received water shortage. The final iron- [rene Ryen nominations for ic twist at the end arrives their performances. Both stu- when the characters realize dents will be competing in they were better off before the January at the American revolution, the way things were at the start of the show. COllege Theatre Festival held "Urinetown," ran on in New York. Soph~more Broadway from September George Moorehead, who Members of the cast of Urinctoum gaze longingly at Public Amenity Number 9. 2001 through January 2004. It played Hot Blades Harry, was nOmmated as an alternative.