I have never entered a show more blindly than I did for the IU Department of Theatre, Drama and Contemporary Dance’s production of “Reefer Madness.” I hadn’t heard of the musical with a cult following until the 25th anniversary concert in Los Angeles this summer.
The musical, directed by IU assistant professor Richard Roland, is a satire of the 1936 propaganda film with the same title. The show follows Jimmy Harper and Mary Lane, an all-American high school couple who end up getting hooked on “reefer.” It is a truly insane tale and boy am I glad I caught this one.
The original 1936 film intended to invoke fear in youth regarding marijuana use. Over the years the film has turned into an ironic cult classic, which popularized in the 1970s. “Reefer Madness” which has been referred to by Danny Peary, the author of book “Cult Movies,” as “the ultimate camp film,” turned into a musical in 1998, opening at the Hudson Backstage Theatre in Los Angeles.
The show begins with the Lecturer, played by senior musical theater major Jeremy Clark, sternly informing the audience of a new drug craze: marijuana or as he pronounces it “marihuana.” He spews his propaganda by way of a play starring members of the fictional Benjamin Harrison High School Drama Club.
Clark is the perfect choice for this role, a master of the transatlantic accent and a performer who, in each change of character, transforms himself. Yes, he plays the lecturer, but he is also Mr. Poppy — the owner of local teen hangout the Five and Dime, — and President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, to name a few surprise cameos. His performance in the titular number is ominous, perfectly setting up the audience for the intense and menacing yet fun tone of the show.
The musical follows Jimmy, played by senior musical theater major Marco Molldrem, as he falls into marijuana addiction. Lured by drug-pusher Jack, he finds himself in a seedy reefer den with a strange cast of characters including ex-college kid Ralph and absentee mother Sally. By the end of Act I, Jimmy steals money from the church, abuses a puppy and worst of all, tries to kiss Mary with his tongue.
These over-the-top moments are expertly handled by Molldrem, whose facial expressions are hilarious and whose tenor belt is out of this world. He makes it look so easy. My favorite moment from him was his ethical battle in song “Mary Jane/Mary Lane,” where he runs around the stage pledging his love for the ever-sweet Mary Lane and denounces reefer. At the end of the day, all he wanted at the beginning of the show was swing dance lessons.
Drug-dealing couple, Jack and Mae, are portrayed by sophomore musical theater major Seth Jacobsen and junior musical theater major Lucy Ferguson. Their chemistry, although darkened by Jack’s abusive nature, has a vintage feel reminiscent of a 1930’s film couple. Jack targets younger victims like Jimmy, while Mae wants to keep the clientele adults. In the song, “The Stuff,” Ferguson shines singing about wanting to leave Jack, though her desire for reefer keeps her with him. I am personally obsessed with Ferguson’s voice. She is a clear powerhouse, and I can’t wait to see what comes next.
Jacobson does double duty as he portrays Jesus in the crowd-pleaser number “Listen to Jesus, Jimmy.” He is backed by a choir of angels while dressed in a mesh top and leather pants. It is the purest form of camp to watch, and Jacobson treats the number with utmost respect.
Senior musical theater major Laura Rong is pure joy to watch as she embodies Mary Lane. She is wide-eyed and innocent, the perfect counter to Molldrem’s wild portrayal of Jimmy. Her acting as she takes a simple song like “Lonely Pew,” elevates it into a number that stands out and left the entire audience giggling. Rong is more than just Lane’s sweet side, in Act II after accidentally inhaling reefer: She does a complete 180 that is empowering and humorous.
For Rong, this role was a big step.
“I always kind of saw myself doing ensemble work,” she said. “When I got this role, there was a little bit of imposter syndrome”.
Rong said, with the support from IU Musical Theatre faculty, she could fully embody the role of Mary Lane.
“I’ve had connections with everyone on our creative team,” Rong said. “With Ray (Fellman) our music director, with DJ (Gray) our choreographer and with Rich (Roland) our director. I feel just as supported as a young artist who’s still growing, but also in my personal life, in my training and in my education”.
Rong shared a saying her mother often tells her, which rings true after seeing this performance.
“Every minute a performer spends on stage is 10 years of work behind the scenes,” Rong’s mother said
Junior musical theater major Mia Stewart, who plays the dance caption and placard girl, is a great example of the hard work behind the scenes. In addition to her ensemble work, she comes onstage holding humorous signs, one stating “Reefer makes you sell your babies.” It’s not just the signs doing the work, Stewart’s face is delightfully deadpan and by the end of the show she is riffing her face off.
Stewart and Rong agreed the purpose of Head of IU’s B.F.A Musical Theatre Program, DJ Gray’s choreography is to tell a story. Every song is extremely different in tone, leading to a plethora of dance styles.
“I have really been working hard on making sure that everyone is on the same page of how the choreography is not only supposed to look but feel in your body,” Stewart said. “I will be standing outside somewhere waiting for the bus and I’ll just be moving, it’s a good way to remember the choreography”.
Rong shared her hopes for what audiences might take away from Reefer Madness.
“I really hope people have a great time. That way it really honors the joy we’ve had in this process,” she said. “Yes, we do this for ourselves and for our community, but it’s great when people leave our show feeling glad to have spent the night with us.”
Reefer Madness is a wild, fever dream of a show and the perfect way to spend your next theatrical experience.
The show is being performed from now until Nov. 2 at the Ruth N. Halls Theatre. Tickets are available on the Ticketmaster website.
