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Saturday, Jul 04, 2009
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Reefer Madness: The Musical, gets high marks |
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| Reefer Madness: The Musical, gets high marks | ||
| by Miryam Gordon -
SGN A&E Writer Reefer Madness: The Musical By Kevin Murphy and Dan Studney Directed by Kate Jaeger RK Productions at Live Girls Theatre Through March 22 If the 1936 movie Tell Your Children! was the truth, we'd all probably be dead by now, killed by the demon weed! According to this government propaganda, marihuana makes you crazy, makes you sexually subversive, makes you want to screw your parents, and other incredible urges - all just after smoking one joint! One has to wonder if, even in 1936, the parents who the film was targeted to scare were even partially convinced of the powers of this drug. The film was resurrected in the 1970s as Reefer Madness, to become a cult classic that is so funny, there's no need to explain any of its bizarreness. So, it was no surprise when a Broadway musical was developed to take advantage of its campy ridiculousness. RK Productions, a new independent theater company, is mounting the Seattle premiere of this musical at Live Girls' Theatre venue in Ballard. It's campy, it's funky, it's a bit unpolished, but it's great, great fun! Musical production from a small live band is under the direction of Micah Ellison as The SpaceCakes. They do a nice job keeping the cast humming and providing properly ominous music, among other sound effects. Though costumes are uncredited, I have to say they are ultimately amazing - mostly because there are just sooooo many of them! Each of the multiple members of the ensemble (it's a very large cast) has to change in and out of costume at minimum six times. I couldn't count. Women had to change in and out of white tights, black tights, fishnet tights, and that was just the socks! You have to wonder what backstage looks like during a performance! Just keeping it all straight is a heroic effort. The cast is headlined by Robert Scherzer as The Lecturer, who makes sure you know how dangerous this drug is and who keeps the show on track with the story; also Heather Gautschi as Mary Lane and Ryan McCabe as Jimmy Harper, the young couple at the center of the story; and a scenery-chewing songfest from Kate Jaeger as the House of Weed Mistress, Mae. Mary Lane loves Jimmy and he and she are quintessential good kids who say "gosh" and don't chew gum in school, until Jimmy is lured to have a marihuana cigarette and everything goes to hell in a handbasket at once, for him. The press release tells you, "YOU WILL BE SHOCKED as the reefer seduces him into a world filled with sadistically wild orgies, junkie zombies, homicide, and the devil himself!" Jimmy even meets Jesus (a profanely funny performance by Luke Walker), who doesn't care that Jimmy is going down the tubes, since Jimmy hasn't asked for any assistance. The company feels it necessary to post numerous signs declaring the sexual content, adult humor, religious parody, suggested violence and that no one will receive a refund based on disliking the content of the show. They advise no young children should be present. Of course, it's a given that all the horrors of the known universe are placed at marihuana's door. It's enemy number one! The campiness of the production and the zaniness of the song and dance numbers allow some marginal singers to get away with not being tops, but it doesn't matter, since it all adds to the atmosphere. The ensemble is enthusiastic and energized, the choreography by Hailey Hays is fun and appropriate, and all in all, you'll laugh madly. At least many in this audience did. For more information, go to www.brownpapertickets.com or call 800-838-3006 or go to www.reefermadnessseattle.com. Comments on reviews go to sgncritic@gmail.com. |
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