By Jeff Strichart
Contributing Writer
From first toke to last choke, this is one performance that will have you rolling in the aisles. (And, if you follow the example of the cast members, there will be plenty of other types of “rolling” going on as well.)
Writer and director Virginia DeMoss brings to The Found Theatre a side-splitting spoof on one of today’s hottest issues with the aptly titled Medical Marijuana Telethon, which sets out to raise money, as well as awareness, for the existing medical marijuana dispensaries around the country, and to promote the legalization of medical marijuana in all 50 states— a comedic approach to showing the lighter side of a very serious social debate.
Amusing characters played by a brilliantly artistic cast kept the audience roaring with laughter. Hosts Dr. Kenny Kushner (Allen Sewell) and Edna McMahon (Jane Hansen) introduce misfits such as Charo, the Latin bombshell (Brenda Harris), Buzz Freely and Axl Thorn (both played by Ron Grigsby), and Mary Jane (Melinda Weinstein), as well as many more pot-promoting performers. From burned-out ’60s rocker to a ’70s-based lounge performer, they’ve got all the tunes covered.
There’s a successful entrepreneur pushing her ganja-based goodies and a Girl Scout (played by the adorable young actress Sophia Spirus) who, realizing her true target market, brags about setting up shop outside a marijuana co-op to sell her highly sought-after stoner goodies— Girl Scout cookies. And perfectly timed “commercial breaks” (my personal favorite) present a new action star, Surgyver, who feverishly searches for a way to smoke his stash while stranded on a desert island. A couple of foreign correspondents also give their take on legalizing medical marijuana in the U.S.
Will they achieve their goal in raising money and awareness for the legalization of medical marijuana? Will there one day be a “joint” on every street corner where everyone will be able to freely purchase the magical herb to cure what ails them?
I implore you to find out for yourself.
Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:30pm through Saturday, May 22. (So drop that bong and go buy a $15 ticket already, dude.) The Found Theatre is located at 599 Long Beach Blvd. Call (562) 433-3363 or visit foundtheatre.org for more info.
