Reefer Madness - WARNING - This review contains bad language, adult themes and attempts at humour

Ok...hands up if you know what a “reverse cowgirl” is ... anyone? ... anyone? Well, if you go see Reefer Madness and you still can’t pick it, then ask the delightfully sweet “butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth” darling of musical theatre, Louisa Fitzhardinge  after the show and I am sure she could explain it to you.

Louisa is one of the SHIT HOT cast of Black Yak’s new musical, Reefer Madness which is currently on at Midland Junction Arts Centre. It is SO inappropriate and politically incorrect! It’s cheesy and feral and you may see more of Morgan Phillips than you ever imagined you would, but I LOVED it!!

The moral of the story is “drugs are bad” and Angie Sullen occasionally parades her fine, buxom, bodiced, booty past the audience to drive the message home as only Angie can. I found myself hanging out for her to return to the stage, thinking in anticipation of the hilarity, “what’s she going to say next?”

The Matt Austin “stamp of authenticity” is clear throughout (he’s awesome, don’t act like you don’t know who he is), especially in the final number, which he arranged himself. It leaves us with an appreciation for the music which might otherwise have been overlooked during the show because the performances were so distractingly good.

It wasn’t just the lead characters who were outstanding; there were some pretty kick ass moments from the ensemble too. One that springs to mind is from Jesus (Michael Keith), in the “in your face” reprise section of “Listen to Jesus, Jimmy!”  Chris Southall’s cameo role as Sally’s baby was priceless and of course Phoebe Jackson’s operatic vocals had their starring moments.

Real life couple, Louisa and Morgan played innocent sweethearts on stage with deliciously, sappy goodness but then, once they became victims of the “unspeakable scourge” that is marijuana, they abandoned each other for the nearest person, box or door frame they could satiate their lust with.  

I have to say that I was really impressed by the vigour with which each person on stage attacked their role. Daniel Kershaw stood out as the college kid deranged by drugs and Martin Lindsay as the Lecturer/Devil/Jimmy’s mom because they showed complete disregard for modesty and humility and gave it all up to us.

The chorus work involved some fancy pants dance moves (well done to choreographer Joanne Neesham) and some very tricky harmonies. They were rarely off stage, and bounced around with such enthusiasm and commitment to character that they should be commended. Charlotte Kenyan is a little fire cracker dancer and my hot tip is she’s one to watch in the future.

The best thing about the strong direction from Lorna Mackie, the lighting design by Nick Donald and the set, props, hair, make-up and costumes by various talented others, is that I didn’t really notice them. They were just right.  It’s quite a skill to create a truly cohesive show where one part or person doesn’t draw focus, and this show has it.

Go see Reefer Madness at the Midland Junction Arts Centre this week. Then go and see it again when it moves to Phoenix theatre.

Midland Junction Arts Centre (cnr great Eastern Hwy and Cale st, Midland)
14, 15, 16 at 8pm
The Last two weeks of the season is at Memorial Hall - aka Phoenix Theatre (cnr Carrington Street and Rockingham Road in Hamilton Hill)
October 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30 at 8pm and October 24 at 2pm

Disclaimer: Adam Shuttleworth threatened to trap me in a cannabis infused dutch oven if I wrote a bad review :p