Reefer Madness: The Musical - Review

Reefer Madness: The Musical - Review

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Posted 2016-11-29 by Fiona Andersonfollow

Fri 25 Nov 2016 - Sun 04 Dec 2016

Reefer Madness: the Musical is currently playing at Chapel Off Chapel , 12 Little Chapel Street, Prahran. The show officially opened on 25th November to a full house and a well deserved standing ovation.



Reefer Madness: the Musical is a satire loosely based on the 1936 cult film of the same name. It first opened in Los Angeles in 1998. The show opens with 'the Lecturer' (played by James Cutler) on stage, a conservatively dressed man who effectively narrates the story as it progresses. Initially, with almost religious fervour, he warns the audience of the dangers of a new drug - 'marihuana' (always pronounced with an 'h' through the show) - that has the potential to destroy the youth of America. To illustrate his point, he introduces us first to a sweet, innocent teenage couple, Mary Lane (Grace O'Donnell) and Jimmy Harper (Ben Adams) who together are studying Romeo and Juliet.

By contrast, we then see the evil 'reefer den', with its hostess Mae (Rosa McCarty) so dependent on the 'weed' that she tolerates an abusive relationship with her pusher boyfriend, Jack (Jared Bryan).



Jack is trying to attract new business for the reefer den when he encounters Jimmy. On the promise of helping Jimmy to become a better dancer, Jack lures Jimmy to the den. Jimmy succumbs to pressure to take the drug and there follows a wild scene of hallucinatory images. From there, it is all downhill for Jimmy. Can divine intervention save him? You'll have to see the show to find out!



This show is absolutely brilliant and one of the best musicals I've seen in a long time. The cast is outstanding, including the ensemble members who sing, dance and cavort their way through some technically difficult scenes. Many cast members play multiple roles, and do so convincingly and seamlessly.

We laughed our way through the clever scripting and over the top characters, and I found myself humming the music when we left - even though it was the first time I'd heard it. I had to wonder why we hadn't seen this fabulous show before.

There was an unfortunate microphone glitch involving uncomfortable static on the night we attended, leading to 'Jimmy's' mike being turned off for a short time towards the end of the first act. Overall this did not greatly detract from the show, and it is a credit to Ben Adams that his voice was still generally audible, at least from where we were sitting, mid-theatre.

Please be aware that the show contains drug use and drug references, swearing, smoke effects, violence and a simulated sex scene.



Don't be a 'dope', go and see this show! You are guaranteed to leave on a 'high'.

Reefer Madness: the Musical is playing until Sunday 4th December. Session times are: 7.30pm Tuesday to Saturday, 2pm matinee on Saturday 3rd December, 6.00pm on Sundays.

Tickets are $49 full, $45 concession (transaction fees may apply). Click here to buy your tickets online, or call the Box Office on (03) 8290 7000.

The show running time is 140 minutes including a 20 minute interval.

#comedy
#humour
#inner_south
#music
#nightlife
#prahran
#theatre
#theatre -reviews
#theatres
#things_to_see
#november
!date 25/11/2016 -- 04/12/2016
%wnmelbourne
171670 - 2023-06-15 09:17:35

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