Pubdate: Fri, 16 May 2008
Source: Corvallis Gazette-Times (OR)
Section: The Entertainer
Copyright: 2008 Lee Enterprises
Contact: http://www.mvonline.com/support/contact/gtletter.html
Website: http://www.gazettetimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2976
Author: Jake TenPas, The Entertainer

MARIJUANA MAKES YOU SELL YOUR BABIES AND KILL OLD MEN

Corvallis Community Theatre Warns Us All About the Dangers of a 
Deadly Illegal Drug With 'Reefer Madness'

I was on the road to ruin. I was considering trying the new fad of 
"toking up," "getting high," "freaking out," "beaming up," "bugging 
out" and "tripping the light fantastic."

All the kids are doing it, I told myself.

Fortunately for me, as well as babies, teenagers and old men 
everywhere, I had the common sense to attend a showing of Corvallis 
Community Theatre's new educational musical, "Reefer Madness."

The curtain goes up at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 16, with additional 
showings at 7:30 p.m. May 17, 22, 23, 24, 28, 29, 30 and 31, and at 
2:30 p.m. May 18, 25 and June 1. Tickets cost $12 for adults and $11 
for seniors over age 65, students with ID and children under 18. But 
really, what price can you put on your sobriety? Remember, you're 
never too young nor too old to learn about the insidious, creeping 
menace that is marijuana addiction.

A quick note, however: While you might never be too young to learn 
how to avoid becoming a slave to the madness of marijuana, you can be 
too young for some of the mature subject matters presented in "Reefer 
Madness." Parents are advised to think twice before bringing young 
children to this provocative exploration of the dangers of hard-core 
drug abuse.

Now that we've got that bit of unpleasantness out of the way, let's 
talk about what exactly makes "Reefer Madness" such a useful tool for 
sidestepping the bondage of pot addiction.

It's a Great (and True) Story

The musical follows the misadventures of little Mary Lane (Ashleigh 
Howington) and Jimmy Harper (Kyle Cowgill), two teen sweethearts 
perched on the precipice overlooking the valley of young love. Little 
do they know that the evil specter of marijuana is lurking behind 
every shadow, waiting to pounce on young love and tear out its heart 
like a cat on a songbird.

The Lecturer (Drew Davidson) recounts the sad -- and, he assures us, 
true -- tale of Jimmy's descent into addiction and madness, fueled 
simply by his innocent desire to learn how to dance so he can impress 
Mary. Lured in by nefarious dope pusher Jack (Dan Rayfield), Jimmy 
soon finds himself carousing with damaged woman Mae (Lindsey Earp), 
foxy floozie Sally (Sophie Jubert) and straight-up, stone-cold dope 
fiend Ralph (Tommy Dye).

Before long, he's taking part in all the rituals of reefer culture, 
from having underage sex out of wedlock to giggling for no good 
reason, from trading his class ring for drugs to killing defenseless 
old men. Not only that, but he even manages to pull poor, sweet, 
innocent Mary into his terminal downward trajectory.

Director Miranda Prince has truly performed a public service by 
bringing us this play. She has the courage to look unflinchingly into 
the gaping maw of the beast that is pot culture, and refuse to feed 
it when it gets the munchies.

The Actors Set a High Standard

Cowgill brings the fervor of an evangelical missionary to his 
performance as the good-hearted but misdirected Jimmy. With the looks 
of James Marsden and the physical comedy technique of John Ritter, he 
transforms Rivers Cuomo's character from Weezer's "Buddy Holly" video 
into a living, breathing indictment of drug culture.

At his side is the lovely Howington, who matches Cowgill 
step-for-step in portraying the full range of behavior hopheads can 
go through in the cycle of their addiction. As the doe-eyed Mary of 
the first act, she's sweet enough to make you crave a glass of 
grapefruit juice. As the depraved demon of the second act, she'll 
have you running in terror from her wanton sexual depravity.

Speaking of, Jubert is perfect as the reefer-soaked harlot Sally. 
She's got a voice on her like a siren, and it's easy to see how a 
poor, naive boy such as Jimmy might be pulled into her orbit. Sally 
is sexy, vacant and seductive, like the demon weed itself.

Perhaps best of all, however, is Dye, as the dried-up husk of a man. 
With his insane cackling, beady eyes, twitchy mannerisms and messy 
hair, he's the very portrait of a man who's succumbed to the siren 
song of The Chronic. Even when he takes on the role of a dope-addled 
baby or a sadistic executioner, he darn near manages to steal the show.

You Can Bug Out to the Funky Beat

When Jimmy first tries the weed, he's instantly sucked into a world 
of dancing pothead pixies. The chorus (Amanda Bounds, Katie Kalk, 
Valerie Carson, Daryn Bergsma, Emily Robinson, Shannon McInally, 
Jordan Herrington, Jacob Bonnett and Matthew Shivers) cavort around 
the stage like the depraved, soulless husks of humans they represent.

The music, played by a live band consisting of Isaac Jones (bass), 
Ray Drupek (piano), Andy Weiss (drums) and Ron Koken and Don Phillips 
on woodwinds, creates a dark, intoxicating, Middle-Eastern-tinged 
disco beat that will have you practically leaping out of your seat to 
join in the bacchanal. But remember: That's just what marijuana wants!

Elsewhere, the title song will get stuck in your head like a stoned 
rat in a complex maze, Jesus shows up to sing about getting high on 
Him, and peer pressure is distilled to its purest essence in a 
multi-part chant. It's all enough to make you want to follow Jimmy 
into pet-beating, fur coat-stealing, mother-loving madness. Don't 
give in to its wicked exhortations!

Coda: The Big Comedown

Finally, some people will say that you shouldn't glorify marijuana by 
putting on a play about it. Those people clearly have never 
experienced the solemn, serious message of "Reefer Madness." It will 
scare you so straight that you won't even remember what crooked 
looked like anymore. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake