'Reefer Madness' at the Nancy Marine Studio Theatre - My Review

If one believes that just about anything can be made into a musical, then Reefer Madness somehow makes sense. The book by Kevin Murphy and Don Studney is based on a 1936 American propaganda film that demonstrates with huge doses of melodrama what happens when high school students are lured into trying marijuana. The two also wrote the lyrics and music for this unlikely award-winning musical.

“The film was ‘rediscovered’ in the 1970s and gained new life as satire among advocates for cannabis policy reform,” writes Keith Paul, the director of the current production playing at the Warner’s Nancy Marine Studio Theater through next weekend. The quirky show is dripping with satire and campy humor and I laughed a lot. Some in the matinee audience did not, but most did stick around after intermission. The teen who insisted that we make it to a performance had to back out at the last minute and probably would have loved every minute.

The powerhouse opening number of the title tune set the tone and the rest of the multi-hued pieces were quite good. Music Director TJ Thompson led the small orchestra and the small cast sounded great with the talented group of musicians.
Melissa Greaves periodically brought out placards with dire warnings wearing glitzy getups. Holly Martin (Songs for a New World) played a tall and alluring gal who won’t ever win Mother of the Year. Rodney K was her baby and both manic and hysterical as an addict named Ralph. Lana Peck as the abused Mae and Meric Martin as Jack Stone, the evil pusher, round out the inhabitants of the dope house.

Mr. Martin doubles as Jesus and was almost unrecognizable in his getup and very funny. Cole Sutton played the lead role of the earnest Jimmy in what he calls his “all time favorite musical.” Katie Brunetto was even more earnest and adorable as Mary Lane...until they aren’t. Then things get seamier and decidedly more adult. Kudos to those brave souls that had to show lots of skin.

New to the Warner and returning to the stage after a ten year hiatus was Joshua Newey, a fine character actor who cased the audience before the show and played the Lecturer, Five and Dime Owner Mr. Poppy and Goat Man (not a typo.) A “long dormant actor working hard to whittle off the rust,” this guy was great as all three and also joined the fine dancers in the ensemble at several points. I look forward to seeing him whittle off more rust in other roles.

The great ensemble bounced from zombies to high school kids to angels all in the same show. Oh and they tap danced, too. Luckily they were all young enough to carry it off.

The lighting at the Nancy Marine is always great and this time featured leafy shapes. Props by Karla Woodworth were memorable and it isn’t often that the theatre is scented. The set designed by Sharon A. Wilcox was just right for the space (as was this show, in fact) and the sound was flawless. Costumes designed by Lesley Nilson Bowman were campy of course, with wigs by Elizabeth Cippolina. There was the usual great choreography by Sheila Waters Fucci.

Reefer Madness is not for the young but teens will more than likely get a kick out of it. I’ll admit that I kept an open mind and liked it more than I expected.

Pictured: Members of the cast of Reefer Madness Photo courtesy of the Warner Theatre