the activities
Urinetown Description: Students will analyze the contemporary play, "Urinetown," about "for pay" bathroom facilities. Studetns will encounter differing cultural perspectives on water scarcity and solutions. Seeing water as a valuable, yet dwindling resource is difficult in today’s society. It seems for Americans, water is always on tap… Go directly to:
Students will experience the ‘what if’ situation concerning water scarcity through the people and situations of the play "Urinetown." Students will broaden their understanding of water as a treasured resource. Through these activities students will have opportunities to change their point of view regarding water use in relation to water scarcity. According to Paul Simon in the educational documentary, "Troubled Waters: The Illusion of Abundance,", "The intelligence agencies, the CIA, the military intelligence agencies, the others got together. They do this periodically for the President. They give an assessment of where it is will be in 15 years and their assessment was that in 15 years the great resource shortage, in the world is not going to be oil, but water and regional conflicts are likely to take place over water. And it is clear since that report three years ago, that we are headed in that direction." Water seen as more precious than oil? You're probably asking yourself how this can be… Think about how much water you use per day. Do you leave the faucet on when you brush your teeth? Do you leave the hose on when you wash your car? Your water use, and the water use of the people in your community, your town contributes to a growing problem of water scarcity. Lack of water for the basic needs of towns and communities is becoming a serious problem. But what would it be like? What would it feel like to live in a place, in a time when water was such a commodity that even going to the bathroom to use a public toilet was considered tragic? It's not all that far fetched to think that one day we might have to pay to use bathroom facilities. In fact, many European countries use this practice to maintain quality facilities as well as recoup monies for water/sewer programs. Through the activities in this project, you will become a part of "Urinetown" to experience the critical issues our city, state, and nation will soon face - water a resource to be treasured! 1. Read a brief history on water… http://www.awwa.org/advocacy/learn/INFO/HISTORYOFDRINKINGWATER.CFM Next, compare and contrast information regarding the various provided historical time periods in a 1-2 page reflection. How did people feel about water as a resource? How do these ideas compare to how you perceive others' thoughts about water today? 2. Read - Urinetown, by Greg Kotis Review provided by Broaway.com www.broadway.com "A terrible water shortage has crippled the Gotham-like town that serves as the setting for Urinetown. In a mad attempt to regulate water consumption, the government has outlawed the use of private toilets. The citizenry must use public, pay-for-use amenities owned and operated by the corrupt and iron-fisted Caldwell B. Cladwell. The privilege to pee is expensive, draining and dangerous. Anyone who refuses to pay to pee is immediately and without question hauled off to Urinetown. What is Urinetown? Nobody knows, for those who are sent there are never heard from again. But it's really a love story and there's a revolution all before the end of Act I. Will the revolution succeed? Can true love be found in Urinetown? All these questions and more are answered in Urinetown." Assignment specifics - Read Act I of Urinetown. [Up to three days] Respond to the following:
b. Cladwell says, "With no rules, and no more fees to pay, things would be looking up! But too bad the water that we share could fit inside a cup…our resources are as fragile as a newborn baby's skull! Think of tomorrow, Mister Strong!" Cladwell touches on an important topic - although regulations and fees are at times unconventional and a bit cumbersome to us, but they are protecting our livelihood for our future…our future use of water. Consider that the people of Urinetown continue to use water needlessly and wastefully. Discuss your thoughts on what would change in this town. Provide possible changes in characters. Respond to the following:
b. Respond to Bobby's comment, "…from this day forward, no man would be denied his essential humanity due to the condition of his pocketbook." Think about what this means in a global sense. People all over the world desperately need water to live. The UN estimates that thousands die everyday due to lack of water or poor water quality. For poorer countries like India, what does Bobby's comment mean? Think about the situation in the Middle East and India and respond to Bobby's comment. c. Think about what Sally said at the end of Act II, "Tell all the people, tell them the time is now. Tell them to fight for what they know is right." What could you tell someone else about the problems with water scarcity in a town like Urinetown. What would you say to someone who said that water is not a precious resource? Use thoughts from Lockstock in the end of Act II for inspiration. It might just be… In fact, many European countries have policies regarding payment for use of bathroom facilities. Read more to catch the scoop! http://www.bicyclegermany.com/misc_.htm Timothy J. Burleigh writes, "An important thing to know about toilets in Europe is that some of them cost money. Not like the pay toilets in America, although those exist too, but in some restrooms, you will find a person sitting at a table with a dish on it. You are expected to put about €0.30 in the dish or on the tray. These people probably do not speak English and may not even speak German. In some cases, the woman at the table is in full view of the stalls and/or urinals. This is a cultural thing you have to get used to. In fact, many times the public has much more view into the restrooms than Americans are used to. But, if you have to go, go. No body will hold it against you, I hope. An American tourist cannot discuss the subject of toilets without discussing the toilet paper. Yes, they do have American style toilet paper in Germany and the 4-star and 5-star hotels have it. No, you will not experience much discomfort with German toilet paper. Yes, German toilet paper resembles either sandpaper or a blotter (if your lucky, you get the blotter kind). No, you don't have to carry your own toilet paper. Yes, Germans use it themselves. Yes, there is a reason, toilet paper is cheaper and more efficient - think about it. How many sheets do you normally use? If you use that many sheets of German toilet paper, you'll really hurt yourself." http://www.epinions.com/trvl-review-3799-6842B94-395A1F29-prod1 "The Bottom Line European toilet facilities can be quite different from American; read this to avoid culture shock at the most inopportune time. Pay toilets In Europe there are many places where you have to pay to use the toilets, especially around train stations and high tourist areas. Understandably high tourist traffic is a major drain on sewer systems, maintenance, and bathroom supply when thousands of people are using a particular facility. However, what is a tourist to do without the right currency to use these facilities? If there are locks on the doors, don't expect to get around the lock unless it is broken. The stalls are not like the stalls in America, with a nice gap to wriggle under. These go right to the floor. However, people understand, and if you beg for a dime (or the equivalent) they will be glad to help you out. Often people will leave a stall and hold the door open for the next person. However, sometimes there are bathroom monitors who will watch you. Usually if there is monitor, you have to pay first, and then you walk through a turnstile. 4. If this wasn't enough…catch some information about a MUSEUM dedicated to a little bathroom humor. Read more and visit the Sulabh Toilet Museum by clicking the link below: http://www.sulabhtoiletmuseum.org/pg02.htm The situation presented through the play "Urinetown" isn't that far-fetched. As Dr. Bindeswar Pathak said, "The toilet is part of history of human hygiene which is a critical chapter in the history of human civilization and which cannot be isolated to be accorded unimportant position in history. The toilet is a critical link between order and disorder and between good and bad environment. Despite the focus we can place on this comment, it becomes very clear that our use of water is a serious one. 6. Penelope Pennywise - Chief Custodian or Revolutionary? Remember Penelope? She begins our journey through Urinetown with the song, "It's a privilege to pee". What are your thoughts on the privileges we have regarding water use? Can you imagine our community undergoing this same situation? Reflect on these ideas in connection to the research you have conducted above in a 1-2 page reflection. 7. A Community like ours… "In late 1998, Greensboro experienced serious drought conditions. September was the driest on record, and no rainfall occurred the remainder of the year. By December, reservoir levels had dropped alarmingly low. If the drought continued, city managers estimated the reservoir might run dry within 80 days. They considered closing schools and businesses." If it could happen in a fictitious town, it could happen to any city in North Carolina. In fact, Greensboro was faced with a similar situation. Read more from a case study conducted by ANLA to learn more. Greensboro's community leaders even passed a mandate on water usage. Click here to read the mandate. Communities throughout North Carolina and the United States are undergoing these same conditions, these same situations. Something must be done to protect our water resources. In other countries in the world, drought is devastating. It doesn't close schools and businesses…people loose their lives. In India, people fight a daily battle with water quality and lack of water resources. Because we are not confronted with situations like these, we can not similarly understand and sympathize with global situations. However, it is critical that we become more educated in the issues surrounding water scarcity in order to help others view water as a truly precious commodity. 8. Re-write a scene of "Urinetown." Based on your understanding of water scarcity issues, re-write a scene(s) of the play "Urinetown" or create a scene of your own. Will the revolution fail? Does Bobby find true love? Change characters, time, and/or place for this assignment. Be sure to use creativity and your knowledge of water scarcity issues and its connection to societal structure to convey your own message. **You might want to add yourself into a scene. Can you talk Mr. Cladwell into changing his mind about the policies in the city of Urinetown? Might you save the day by inventing a device that solves the problem of the citizens of Urinetown? Evaluation Completion of all activities results in successful completion of this project. Students have the opportunity to produce suggested products, but are not limited by these recommendations.
Internet Resources American Water Works Association http://www.awwa.org/ Lower Cape Fear Water and Sewer Authority, http://www.lcfwasa.org/
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