The moral and mental depravity wrought by the leafy green assassin marijuana is a silly, stupid, campy and fun musical, Director Dorinda Toner said in the program notes. (Pictured above is Alex Youngblood as the innocent 16-year-old Jimmy and his righteous girlfriend Makena Barnane as Mary Lane.)
"Reefer Madness The Musical holds the key cords of the original storyline, based on the 1936 propaganda film, "Reefer Madness." Much bravo for Theatre in the Grove for its sensationally bizarre presentation of this iconic film.
Teenagers who imbibe cannabis become hooligans and whores, engaging in weird orgies and wild parties with unleashed passions. Despair, sorrow, crime and shame follow. The Devil's harvest is the smoke of hell, leading to drug crazed abandon. Killing a cat with a chain saw and lusting after your mother are just some of the debaucherous debacles caused by cannabis. I didn't write the script, but the origins of the intended scare tactics have spawned into a laugh fest.
Athena Leanard, Placard Girl / Ensemble
Director Dorinda Toner and choreographer Alicia Turvin sagaciously guided the entire cast in this musical written by Kevin Murphy and Dan Studney.
Murphy and Studney added some very sly elements to the plot, and made it their own, and the singing and dancing was very solid. The chorus carried the leads and vice versa.
I sensed a sincere happiness between the cast. Alex Youngblood portrayed Jimmy with melodrama magnificence, as did all the actors. A special shout out to Trevor Sanderson with his wonderfully raucous portrayal of Ralph who becomes clinically insane from his toils of toking.
Annabelle Stern as Sally and Trevor Sanderson as Ralph
Nick Serrone was the blissfully baleful pimp Jack who peddles the Devil's lettuce to teenagers and dual roled as Jesus, portraying both with aplomp.
Nick Serrone as Jesus and Jack
Leslie Inmon as Mae
The characters Jack, Mae and Sally leading Jimmy into a marijuana maze of mayhem and lascivious lunacy.
Annebelle Stern was hilarious as Sally, the leading lady of prostitution addicted to the leafy green assassin.
To be perfectly honest, I'm not a true fan of theatre. I prefer movies over plays, it's just a simple fact embedded into my senses of entertainment. This cast and crew proved those senses wrong. The only disappointment about "Reefer Madness The Musical" was attending only one show.
My sister's husband Ron gifted me a front row seat to this laugh out loud satire I didn't know existed. Thanks again Ron!
Cruising the coastlines of California and Oregon on my extended weekend brought me to Forest Grove on a whim and bravo again for this magnificent matinee of mature mayhem.
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