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Reefer Madness - a propaganda parody

Friday, 26 April 2013 13:29

Phoenix Ensemble is set to take audiences on a wild trip of drugs of debauchery – but it’s all in the name of poking fun at propaganda.

Reefer Madness, playing at Beenleigh’s Pavilion Theatre for five weekends in May and June, is a hit parody musical inspired by a 1936 educational film of the same name. The Phoenix production marks its Queensland premiere.

reefer madness 1 web Over-the-top and campy, Reefer Madness features a lecturer warning against the new drug menace, marijuana, by telling the story of a high school student whose life is turned upside down by the ‘demon weed.’

Director Morgan Garrity promises a night of comedy and catchy songs, and says while the boundary-pushing satire is all about laughs, it does have an underlying message. ‘That message isn’t pro or anti-marijuana, but it is anti-propaganda,’ Morgan says.

‘It makes fun of the ridiculous lies placed upon society. Using scare tactics and one-sided research, propaganda films are usually over-acted and their messages slammed down the throats of viewers. This show makes a point of making light of the deadly seriousness of these films.’

Morgan cut her teeth on The Gordon Frost Organisation’s professional production of Annie: The Musical, starring Anthony Warlow, Todd McKenny, Nancy Hayes and Chloe Dallimore, as the assistant to the director Karen Mortimer.

She’s now relishing the chance to share what she learned from the experience with her Reefer Madness cast and crew and aims to bring the same level of professionalism to this production. Her creative team also includes award-winning choreographer and director, Kimmi Reynolds.

Morgan discovered Reefer Madness by fluke and fell in love with its songs, punchy choreograp reefer madness 5 web hy and zany, lovable characters.

‘Everything about this show is unique: it has a huge range of musical styles and tackles a subject matter no other show has dared explore. Once people see it, I’m sure everyone will be riding the high!’

With its outrageous humour, Reefer Madness is not for everyone. ‘It’s for adults who love a good laugh and to let their hair down and open their minds,’ Morgan says.

‘Audiences do need to use their judgement with their children, though, as there are lots of adults moments in the show, including drug references, drug use and sexual references.’

Note: Reefer Madness is a highly stylised and satirical political commentary. It contains adult humour, religious parody and drug use, as well as suggested violence and sexual explicitness. It therefore may be inappropriate for younger audiences.

Venue: Pavilion Theatre, Beenleigh Showgrounds, James Street, Beenleigh

7.30pm: 17, 18, 24, 25, 31 May; 1, 7, 8, 14, 15 June

Tickets: $26 adult; $24 concession

Bookings

Cast
Lecturer : Pat Dickson
Jimmy Harper: Scott Johnson
Mary Lane: Greta Brinsley
Jack Stone: Andy MacFarlane
Mae Coleman: Karen Oliver
Sally: Jodie Lee Scott
Ralph Wiley: Frog Johnson
Jesus/Goatman: James Gauci/Scott Muller
Placard Girl: Jermia Turner
Miss Poppy: Becky Morgan

Ensemble:
Carole Bennett
Teagan Beetham
Kellie Niebling
Ashley Youles
Byron Philp
Donovan Wagner
Darcy Morris
Clay English

Last Updated on Friday, 26 April 2013 15:14

Pop-rock musical about surviving life-changing moments

Phoenix Ensemble’s opening show for the year is a critically acclaimed off-Broadway pop-rock musical about those moments in life when everything seems perfect – and then disaster strikes.

Songs For A New World opens at the boutique Pavilion Theatre in Beenleigh on February 22, and will play every Friday and Saturday night for five weekends.

Directed by Zane C Weber, the production is a collection of songs, each dealing with a major life decision and how that decision affects the character’s life.

He says the show, written by Jason Robert Brown (best known for The Last Five Years), will resonate with audiences because everyone has struggled in some way with a big moment in life.

“This is a show for anyone who has ever agonised over a decision, anyone who has ever wanted to escape from responsibility, anyone who has loved or been loved, spurned or been spurned. Everyone will be able to relate to something in this show.

“Each performer follows a different path through these stories and experiences the changes differently, but all of them explore the dichotomy of hope versus regret on their journey.”

Zane says Songs For A New World also looks at relationships between men and women and between parents and children.

“It tries to show how these past relationships can affect our present decisions and how important it is to learn from our mistake and also the mistake of others.”

Every song in the show is about those moments of profound change: loss of a loved one, the end of a marriage, imprisonment, unexpected pregnancy, even suicide. But it’s also about how we survive those moments. How we regroup and learn to live in new circumstances – in a new world.

Zane was initially attracted to the show because of its music and the characters’ journeys, including those of a Spanish sailing ship captain, a widow of the civil war, an unwed teenage mother, and a college-aged commitment-phobe – all told through song.

This style of musical (referred to as a song cycle), presents unique challenges in production.

“My main challenge was finding a reason that these people are in the same room singing these songs and justifying that around the set text of the songs themselves,” Zane said.

“My performers have been invaluable in this. They have all played an active part in devising their characters and their characters’ stories.”

The director is excited for audiences to experience the vocal talent he has brought together for the show.

“They represent some of the best talent the greater Brisbane area has to offer. Each and every one truly owns their performance of this astonishingly challenging and complex show. Audiences can expect to laugh and cry with these characters.”

Cast
Josh Daveta
Nick Hollamby 
Rhiannon Moushall
Alex Fiefers  

Understudies 
Simon Chamberlain 
Sam Huybregts 
Kate Doohan 
Georgina Purdie

Venue: Pavilion Theatre, Beenleigh Showgrounds, James Street, Beenleigh

7.30pm: 22, 23 February; 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23 March

Tickets: $26 adult; $24 concession

Bookings

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