[NEohioPAL]Berko Review: REEFER MADNESS @ BECK CENTER

[Roy Berko]

‘REEFER MADNESS’ FAILS TO TOTALLY LIGHT UP BECK

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--

Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News
Times--Olmsted-Fairview Times	


>From 1936 until well into the 1970s, a movie named
‘REEFER MADNESS’ was shown in health classes in many
schools.   Originally financed by a small church group
it was intended to scare the living bejeebers out of
every youth and parent who viewed it regarding the use
of maijuana. 

Soon after the film was shot it was purchased by the
notorious exploitation film maestro Dwain Esper who
took the liberty of putting in salacious insert shots
and distributed it to movie houses.  After a brief
run, the film lay forgotten for several decades.  

Enter Keith Stroup, founder of NORML (Nation
Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws).  In 1971,
he bought a print of the movie for $297, cleaned it up
and started showing it at pro-pot festivals.  It was a
gigantic hit.  Today, the film is a cult phenomenon
dwarfed only by ‘THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW.’

In April, 1999 a musical theatre version opened. 
Written by Kevin Murphy and Dan Studney, the
co-authors of ‘LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS,’ the theatrical
version fleshes out the “story’ with music and dance. 
The show was an instant hit in LA where it opened and
moved to Broadway to rave reviews in October of 2001.

As the play opens in 1936, THE LECTURER, a severe
authority figure, informs the audience of the new drug
menace, "Marijuana," which threatens the American way
of life!  His warnings are reinforced by the placard
girl who throughout the play holds up large signs that
clearly state the moral of what we've just seen, eg., 
“destroys will power,” “incites immorality,” and
“causes insanity.” From his podium, The Lecturer warns
that action must be taken immediately, before “the
Good Ol' U.S.A. succumbs to the Demon Weed!”   We then
see the “true” story of two pure youths whose lives
are ruined by the drug.

Critics on both coasts loved the productions.  The
Beck production is more to be liked than loved.   The
staging though acceptable, never reaches the
fevered-pitch necessary to make the material so
ludicrous that it becomes hysterically funny.   

Most of the cast is good, if not exceptional.  On the
outstanding level is Matthew Wright, who was superb in
Beck’s ‘FIX’ and again proves what a super talent he
is.  The Lecturer is a sweat-it out,
change-into-lots-of-costumes and be-many-characters
part, that demands a lot.   Wright pulls it off with
ease and polish.  Betsy Kahl, a young Renee Zellweiger
look-alike, is adorable as the innocent turned
innocently-evil Mary.  Her rendition of “Lonely Pew”
is wonderful.  

Michael Hezog portrays the giggling pot-headed,
zombied-out Ralph in a perfect over the-top way.   
Josh Armstrong displays exceptional dancing abilities
and abandonment as a member of the male ensemble.  

Aimee Collier’s “The Stuff” was well sung, though her
characterization of the put-upon gun-moll Mae, came
and went.  Geeky Enji Reid tries hard as Jimmy, the
good-boy gone-bad, but doesn’t have the stage savvy to
pull off the role.  Curtis Young makes a great Jesus,
but doesn’t menace enough as Jack, the drug dealer.

Many of the spoken and sung lines are drowned out by
the over-zealous band.   The usually dependable
musical director, Larry Goodpaster, needed to keep in
mind that if the audience doesn’t hear the words, they
don’t know what’s going on.  This is not a rock
concert, the band is playing back-up.

The highlight of the show was the creative and
well-conceived choreography of Martin Cespedes. 
Cespedes has a way of gauging the talent level of his
cast and building doable numbers for them to perform. 
Especially effective were “Down at the Ol’ Five
and-Dime” and “The Orgy.” 

CAPSULE JUDGMENT: The musical ‘REEFER MADNESS,’ which
will soon be made into a movie, is getting its local
debut at The Beck Center.  The production is fun in
parts, but doesn’t let loose enough to make it the
hysterically funny romp it could be.  As a  teenager
sitting behind me said to a friend at the end of the
show, “So what’s the big deal?”   That’s not the
response director Scott Spence wanted.

‘REEFER MADNESS’ runs through June 20 at Beck Center. 
For tickets call 216-521-2540 or visit
www.beckcenter.org.   A special midnight performance
will be staged on Saturday June 19. 



=====
Roy Berko's web page can be found at royberko.info and many of his theatre and dance reviews appear on artscleveland.net.


	
		
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