Mad Reefer

In the 1930s, a church group tried to warn us of the dangers of cannabis with Tell Your Children, a film which was then purchased by Dwain Esper, the infamous director of irredeemably bad cult classics, who cut it into what we know today as Reefer Madness. Fast forward to...

By Erica K. Landau

March 25, 2010

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In the 1930s, a church group tried to warn us of the dangers of cannabis with Tell Your Children, a film which was then purchased by Dwain Esper, the infamous director of irredeemably bad cult classics, who cut it into what we know today as Reefer Madness. Fast forward to 1998, and Reefer Madness the musical was born. Opening with a lecturer warning the audience of a new threat (“marihuana”) and ending with “Tell Them the Truth,” a number sung by various historical figures including Franklin Delano Roosevelt, George Washington, and Uncle Sam, among others, the musical encompasses all the campiness and over-the-top theatrics that made the film a cult favorite. Reefer Madness plays at 8 p.m. Saturday at Rising Action Theatre (840 E. Oakland Park Blvd., Fort Lauderdale) and runs through April 11. Tickets cost $35. Call 954-561-2225, or visit risingactiontheatre.com.
Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sun., March 28, 3 p.m. Starts: March 27. Continues through April 11, 2010

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