REEFER MADNESS the Musical at the Refer Den in LA

REEFER MADNESS has become a cult musical that has been around for decades.  Originally made in  1936 as a propaganda film to scare the public senseless with the pitfalls of partaking in the hedonistic habit of toking on a doobie. The consequences for pursuing what was an illegal and immoral drug at the time were so extreme as to lend itself to being parodied. The musical first opened in LA in 1998 written by Kevin Murray and music by Dan Student. It has since spawned into an international cult classic that has been performed and promoted by A list performers including Alan Cummings, Cristian Campbell and Kristin Bell. REFEER MADNESS now playing at the Refer Den in LA opens with the voice of Alan Cummings offering a warm welcome the portends a good time as does the aroma of pot wafting through the cabaret style staging. This production is ingeniously staged as the talented cast of singers/dancers and actors gyrate and sidle through the tables, stairs and sets in an audience immersive experience. The story follows the romance of Mary and Jimmy, an all American, wholesome high school sweethearts in the 1930s. Their budding future and romance are waylaid when Jimmy succumbs to the doobie and becomes debauched and self-destructive having fallen in with the riffraff and lowlifes. The farfetched consequences are outrageously comical and winsome. The choreography is exceptional as are the dancers who are adept showing versatile styles of tap, modern and Broadway dance. The directors/choreographer Spencer Liff and Max Reed have garnered numerous Emmy nominations for choreography for FOX "So You Think You Can Dance," and have choreographed for the Soars, Emmy Awards and numerous Broadway shows. The earnest performances are all engaging and exhilarating. Overall this is a performance not to be missed for its fun energy and clever production with or without mood enhancements. A recent announcement was been made that a revival production will be restaged sometime this year that will star Alan Cummings and Kristen Bell. I sure as hell will be coming.