By JESSICA NEU
Sitting amidst a hazy theater, I was scrolling through my phone when I heard the beat start. I immediately put my phone down and smiled. Then I heard the first few “La da da da da da’s.” Afroman’s “Because I Got High” was signaling the start of Little Lake Theater’s production of Reefer Madness: The Musical. A placebo effect kicked in, and I started giggling as though I had consumed an edible instead of a few sips of Sauvignon Blanc.
Based on the 1936 cult-classic film of the same name, director Patrick Cannon brings this exuberant musical to Little Lake Theater. The show is also set in the mid-1930s, and the storyline is relatively simple. The Lecturer (Andy Coleman) leads the cast in the opening title track number. Sounding like Nancy Reagan during her “Just Say No Campaign,” the Lecturer commands us to take action against a leafy substance that is destroying the youth of America. The Lecturer labels Marijuana or “reefer” as a violent narcotic and public enemy that is deflowering the good ole’ U.S. of A. The Lecturer also introduces us to strait-laced high school student Jimmy (Adrien-Sophia Curry) , who is smitten with his ditzy yet wholesome classmate Mary Lane (Samantha Hawk). They fall for one another as Jimmy attempts to tutor Mary on Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet. As young love blossoms between Jimmy and Mary Lane, Mary Jane reigns supreme in the sleazy Reefer Den. The den is run by Jack (Jeremy McCawley) and his partner, Mae (Alexis Hawk), whom he treats more like property. Mae’s character is established early on as a woman with a conscience, but she is also dependent on reefer, which she sings about in her solo standout moment, “The Stuff.” Jack controls her supply and thereby controls her with access to blunts and with his fist.
If there is a location completely diametrically opposite to the ominous reefer den, it is the innocent five-and-dime store—a place where everyone is as sweet as the ice cream sundaes for sale. However, the ol’ five-and-dime store serves as a trafficking network for the reefer den. With the help of den resident Ralph (Harry Hawkins), Jimmy is the latest teen to fall victim to the den’s powers. As Jimmy ventures down the proverbial rabbit hole and enters the den, he meets Sally (Audrey Chester), a fiery red-headed temptress eager to deflower the young teen.
At this point in the show, the antics that unfold become fantastical, hysterical, and somewhat cautionary. With one hit of reefer and a brilliant lighting cue (Nicole White), madness does, in fact, ensue as Jimmy becomes hooked on the magical green leaves. The numbers “Jimmy Takes a Hit” and “The Orgy” highlight the paralyzing feeling one faces when provoked by intense peer pressure. The Lecturer, who also has a strong religious presence, uses Jimmy’s addiction to deliver a sermon-like speech on how quickly addiction can consume one’s life. We watch as Jimmy’s picture-perfect 1930s life falls apart as he succumbs to his need for a quick high. Before you know it, Mary gets involved in the madness, Sally makes desperate decisions, Jesus appears (also played by McCawley), a car is stolen, and overall chaos erupts.
In true Little Lake Theater fashion, every actor in the show, including the fourteen-member ensemble, commits to their characters and delivers high-energy Broadway-like numbers that create more fun than smoke haze on stage. There is a wide variety of dancing (Cait Crowley Krug) and costumes (Alexa Freeman) that accentuate the fast-paced show. Each lead has their own moments to shine vocally. Curry transitions perfectly from virgin to pot-head, while McCawley’s Jack is devious, while his Jesus is rather heavenly. S. Hawk and Hawkins’ Act 2 duet “Little Mary Sunshine” is a vocal highlight, and A. Hawk’s desperation remains palpable through the end of the show.
Cannon and the ensemble cast also lean into the fact that Reefer Madness is a musical that clearly represents the early 2000s entertainment zeitgeist. In the style of Super Troopers, Evil Dead: The Musical, and even South Park, Reefer Madness is kitschy, gory, and satirical, requiring impeccable delivery of over-the-top physical comedy, which they execute with flair. The comedic elements of the show keep the plot from being too heavy-handed as the Lecturer does just that – lectures us about the dangers of Marijuana. He’s not wrong. Despite all of its hilarities, Reefer Madness is one of the most anachronistic shows I have seen to date, and Cannon’s direction makes this a truly thought-provoking farce. Although the musical debuted in 2001, it still takes place in the mid-1930s, as this is when the original movie was made. The show’s discussion on addiction and framing Marijuana as a gateway drug was undoubtedly ahead of its time, as this discussion continues to this day. Reefer certainly had its renaissance in the late 1960s. Still, the pros and cons of the drug remain a heavily debated topic amongst everyone from politicians to curious youth to those who wish to be “California sober.”
The side effects of reefer are also on full display. Midway through the show, the Lecturer comments on the jazz music being played in the reefer den. He deems jazz musicians’ agents of evil who are squeezing race notes into their voodoo music to hypnotize white women. This line made me question whether I was watching a musical set in 1936, listening to an interview about Elvis Presley in the late 1950s, or reading the latest post about Bad Bunny headlining next year’s Super Bowl. The ultimate psychological time-warp comes from the show’s final number, “The Truth.” The cast sings about recognizing and understanding “the truth” for the good of yourself, your neighbor, and patriotic pride. The chilling lyrics written in 1936 were timelier and more culturally relevant than any song I can recall hearing recently (sorry, Swifties).
Cannon and company provides an entertaining show that certainly gives us the giggles, but also taps into that deep philosophical place we venture to in our brains after a few hits of reefer.
TICKETS AND DETAILS
Little Lake Theater’s production of Reefer Madness: The Musical runs now through October 19th. Tickets at: https://us.patronbase.com/_LittleLakeTheatre/Productions/146/Performances
Categories: Arts and Ideas
Leave a Reply Cancel reply