“Urinetown” opens at the Boothbay Playhouse Thursday, June 28.

Set in a distant future that looks oddly like our own distant Depression Era past, "Urinetown" finds the citizens of a major metropolitan area caught up in a wrenching 20-year drought. Public urination has been made illegal – the penalties if caught are surprisingly dire – and the corporate fat cats and their leader Caldwell B. Cladwell capitalize on humankind's most basic of needs by maintaining "public amenities," forcing the masses to pay to do their business.

Not enough money today? Tough, hold it in. Those who disobey are carted off to Urinetown.

Eventually, the overtaxed bladders take a stand – led in a spontaneous revolution by a handsome, foolishly heroic custodian named Bobby Strong. They rise up against the corporate toilet, with results that are not what you might expect.

"Urinetown" is a satire through and through, as it not only pokes fun at itself but allows the audience to laugh at the follies of the characters it portrays. "Urinetown" is also good clean fun. It may deal with a somewhat unusual subject matter but it's never crude, rude or lewd. It really is PG rated.

Shows are June 28-30 and July 5-7, 11-14 at 8 p.m. and there's one matinee on Saturday, July 7, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the Boothbay Playhouse box office, at Boothbay Harbor Framers in the Meadow Mall, or by calling 633-3379.