From out of the haze comes ‘Reefer Madness’
- "Reefer Madness"
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Past Event
- Friday, May 1, 2009, 8 p.m.
- Oakland Center for the Arts, 220 W. Boardman St., Youngstown
- All ages / $10 - $15
- Get tickets
The 1936 anti-marijuana film “Reefer Madness” has long been a staple comedy among pot lovers and on college campuses. Filmed in black and white and ridiculously overacted, even for its era, the flick was originally made as a warning for parents, but wound up as an exploitation film in its day.
“Reefer” was rediscovered in the 1970s and became a campy cult classic. It is unintentionally hilarious with its mad-puffing dope fiends, and it has been absurdist fodder for a few generations.
A stage version premiered as an off-Broadway musical in 2001. Thanks to the Oakland Center for the Arts, it will make its Mahoning Valley premiere this weekend.
Robert Dennick Joki is directing the Oakland production. He shed some light on “Reefer Madness” in this question and answer session.
Q. Is “Reefer Madness” just like the movie, or only loosely based on it? And what do you use in place of marijuana?
A. The basic plot line from the original film remains intact. The writers have added a few characters and subplots to make it a little more sensational — Jesus, Satan, Franklin Roosevelt, Joan of Arc — as well as a chorus of flesh-eating zombies. Zombies have kind of been a recurring motif this year at the Oakland. In place of marijuana, we are using hand-rolled herbal cigarettes.
Q. Have you seen it before on a stage?
A. I have not seen the show onstage. It was playing at Oberlin College a few weeks ago, but I decided not to go see it. When I direct a show, I prefer to go off my instincts rather than borrow from other productions. That way, Youngstown theater patrons get to see a show they will truly only see at the Oakland.
Q. Why did you select this play? Because it is a lighthearted offering for a spring evening?
A. The show is very funny, off the wall, and pretty lighthearted. But, as with all of my shows, it is not just about entertainment. It’s about social change. “Reefer Madness” is more a parody about time, culture and media fear tactics than it is a show about smoking weed.
Q. Do you play it straight, a la the Oakland’s recent “Night of the Living Dead,” and just let the audience take it in?
A. It is definitely not like “Night of the Living Dead.” The actors are portraying their characters with sincerity. But this is far from stark zombie drama. The over-the-top, back of the hand to the forehead as you stare into the spotlight, silver screen acting style of the ’30s and ’40s is a running joke throughout the show.
Q. Can you describe the set?
A. I don’t want to give too much away, but I will say that the design was inspired by the black light-responsive posters I used to see in dorm rooms when I was in college.