Reefer Madness
But this performance by the 303 Collective was a breath of fresh air in the stagnating socio-cultural quagmire in Saginaw. The authors Kevin Murphy and Dan Studney admitted that the play could have been about any twisted theme or controversy that is subject to hysterical scapegoating. It could just as well have been about a Republican senator using a wide stance.
A quick synopsis of the play will give you a clue as to the intent of the authors. The setting is small-town America and the year is 1936. The plot involves the absolute corruption of two sweet teen lovebirds Jimmy Harper and Mary Lane that fall prey to the evil effects of Marijuana. Mary is murdered and her lover Jimmy is sent to prison. Is there no redemption?
The central character is not Jimmy or Mary it is “The Lecturer” played to stunning perfection by Todd Berner. The lecturer introduces the sequences of the play and lays out the anti-drug premise - Marihuana is a scourge and a menace – that gives foundation to character motivation and development and provides substance to the basic plotline. Berner keeps the audience in stitches with his dramatic recitations. He takes us into us to various settings such as the Reefer Den and the Five & Dime where the treacherous drug-addled denizens of the night recruit their hapless victims. We get to know the vulnerability and good heart of the reefer-den hostess and the violent anti-social behavior of her pusher-man boyfriend. The placard girl, the sexy hot Lisa Purchase Gould has a gleefully wicked role in pointing to huge signs that reveal the moral of a particular scene. - something like: Marijuana Gives You the Munchies; or Marijuana Makes You Sell Your Baby. It is a surprisingly funny counterpoint in this wondrous production.
The play’s lead actors Paul Kosrzewa as Jimmy and Natalie Myers as Mary are superb. They both sing well and have impeccable comic timing.
I LOVE THEM.
Special kudos to Christy Horn who “gots what it takes and knows how to use it” and to the ensemble who sang, shook and shimmied their way across the stage with such provocative sensual heat that I was standing up in my seat, salutin’ the flag and wanting more. Ooh baby! The music was well performed and never in the way. Matt Besey’s understated yet dynamic guitar work stood out as did Loren Kranz’ two handed ivory-tinkling jazzed-up keyboard explorations. Cool Breeze.
But what was it about Reefer madness that seemed to resonate so clearly for me? It was certainly a laugh fest of the first order…
Perhaps it helped relieve my aching existential gloom and curmudgeonly ways, if only for a moment - my glass is too often half empty. But for a brief time, in the afterglow of Reefer Madness, my glass was damn near half full with the sweetest nectar of the gods. Thanks to the multi-talented and gifted director Stassi Schaeffer and her cast and crew…. thanks for the smiles.
Peace
Bo White