Reefer Madness

"Reefer Madness...Ree.fer Madness". It's hummable, it's catchy and it opens this enliveningly irreverent cavort into pleasantville...with bad guys and babys and Shakespeare and Jesus and angels and tarts and underwear and NO underwear and oh, cannabis too and you should go see it!

YAY to Blak Yak for putting their necks on the block again and choosing something and someone different to produce another unquestionable success. Big yays to behind the scenes gurus Adam Shuttleworth and Nick Donald. Bouquets to Director Lorna Mackie, Musical Director Matt Austin, Choregrapher Joanne Neesham and Stage Manager Bec Alosi. A slick production indeed.

And now to the magnificent cast. Wow. Rarely are the audience treated to such a professional attitude from all involved AND they all sang like Greek sirens!!! No idea what goes on behind the scenes but on stage, you worked like a company who's been touring for many, many months (not just a few weeks). Morgan Phillips and Louisa Fitzhardinge as Jimmy and Mary were no less than outstanding and for their tender years, completely understood this pastiche piece. It's not always easy to land the right combination of caricature and empathy but these two nailed it and looked like they loved every minute of it which is truly infectious for the audience. Everybody was extremely well suited to their role and the chorus wasn't to be outdone either. I applaud everyone's tremendous focus - didn't see the flinch of an eyebrow that wasn't well placed. Congratulations to you all and well done to Lorna again for an excellent casting job.

So I urge to all to get along to Phoenix Theatre's GORgeous venue and just take it all in and be swept along with this exhilarating show. It was a pleasure to relax and be taken for a trip which is, of course, exactly the aim of this entire experience.