"Reefer Madness: The Musical"
The movie "Reefer Madness" came out in 1936 with an over-the-top depiction of the perils of smoking marijuana: manic laughter, sexual promiscuity, manslaughter, murder, suicide and insanity. Congress criminalized marijuana the year after the film came out.
Later audiences recognized the absurdity of the film's depictions of the effects of marijuana, and it became a cult favorite of the "so bad it's good" variety, lauded for its unintentional hilarity.
So how do you satirize a story that's already ridiculous? By being even more outrageous, as in the production of "Reefer Madness: The Musical" from Minneapolis Musical Theatre.
The campy nature of the show is just what you would expect from the title. But it's so easy to make fun of the old propaganda movie that doing so feels expected and lacks the more satisfying comedy we get from the overly serious and extreme cautionary film.
The music fits the silly, melodramatic nature of the show without providing anything too memorable, except perhaps for the brief, recurring "reefer madness" musical phrase.
The plot of the musical is similar to the original movie, following the story of squeaky-clean sweethearts Jimmy (Kurt Bender) and Mary (Amanda Weis) and their downfall from reefer. First one and then the other get lured to an apartment where they are hooked on marijuana at the first puff. All kinds of mayhem follow.
The strongest comedy comes from the new elements, including a running gag around "Romeo and
Juliet" and appearances by Jesus (Daniel Ray Olson), who tries to turn Jimmy from his evil ways while backed by a chorus of angels during the number "Listen to Jesus, Jimmy." A portly satyr with dangling fake genitalia also shows up when Jimmy is first seduced by the drug, getting laughs for the excessive portrayal of haze-filled AC/DC debauchery.There's humor in the oppositional pairing of roles for two of the actors. Olson is Jesus and the villain of the piece who pushes reefers, and Garrick Dietze is the serious lecturer demonizing weed when he's not the sexy satyr.
Because the original movie was filled with overacting, director Steven Meerdink bumps that up a notch to cartoon-caliber dramatics in the spoof, with lots of twitching, meaningful eye-popping stares, overdramatic pauses and manic physicality.
Maggie Mae Dale is the poster girl for super-exaggeration with her portrayal of Mae, who's the victimized and victimizing lover of the villain, torn by her need for weed and her wish to keep kids from getting addicted as she was.
Darren Hensel's amusing set features a back wall covered by gigantic movie posters that echo the lurid feel of a carnival show with copy such as "Devil's Harvest: a good girl until she lights a reefer," "Assassin of Youth" and "Marijuana Girl: she traded her body for drugs and kicks."
You may not be mad about "Reefer Madness," but you'll certainly get the level of humor the title suggests.
What: "Reefer Madness: The Musical"
Where: New Century Theatre, City Center, 615 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis
When: Through Feb. 24
Tickets: $23-28 (add $10 for online fees and taxes)
Information: aboutmmt.org
Capsule: A cartoony spoof of an already comical propaganda film.
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