Cryptid Entertainment

Straight dope from the Cryptid crew

PWJW_Indy Reviews, Stage , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

By John Lyle Belden

Before you read any further, please go to IndyFringe.org and get your tickets for Cryptid Entertainment’s production of “Reefer Madness: The Musical,” this and next weekend (May 2-4 and 9-11) at IF Theatre, and quickly, as performances have been selling out.

Did you score some of this good stuff? Awesome. Here’s what you can expect.

It was high time this campy cult hit – based on the “informative” film from 1936 – returned to Indy, years after its 2007 debut at a venue that has since changed its name (coincidence?). The victim of that production, a young Tony Schaab, has recovered from his habit of wearing strange furry suits to lead the Cryptid cast as the valiant Lecturer, warning us all of the dangers of…

MARIJUANA!

With the help of wholesome young actors, he relates the fateful story of The Harper Affair, in which Jimmy Harper (Chris Ritchie) forsakes his girlfriend Mary Lane (Melissa Mellinger) and the innocence of the Five and Dime soda fountain for the sweet temptations inside the Reefer Den run by Jack Stone (Justin Klein) and his stoned lady Mae (Jessica Hawkins). There, college dropout Ralph Wiley (Daniel Draves) can’t wait to hook more teens and seductress Sally (Addi Koehler) adds carnal pleasures to the mix.

Schaab also watches events unfold as friendly soda jerk Mr. Poppy. Other endangered youths are played by Cameron Hicks, Drake Smith, Kelly Hutchings, Kennedy Wilson, Kylie Schweikarth, and Linda Thompson. As it turns out, the pull of the pot is so strong that perhaps not even Jesus himself (Klein) can help. Only death and destruction – and a bizarre chase scene – can be the result.

From time to time, Abby Morris carries informative placards, including one that says, “REEFER MAKES YOU GIGGLE FOR NO GOOD REASON.” Fortunately, with this cast, under the direction of Bradley Allan Lowe, we have many good reasons to laugh. Music is by the two-person orchestra of Billy Scharfenberger and Elliott Smith. The incredible set is by Dakota Lumley.

Within the badly-made moralizing ‘30s film and the book and songs of the 1998 musical by Kevin Murphy and Dan Studney, there is a cautionary tale (exaggerated as it is) that letting yourself get drawn into addictive behavior can lead to a downward spiral of bad consequences. It could also be noted that the issue with destructive habits isn’t the substance – one could get in these kinds of trouble with legal gambling or alcohol, or whatever consumes your time and attention – but how much we understand the true dangers, and that the desire by some to control you won’t necessarily stop with that one “bad” thing.

Or… never mind – just laugh yourself silly at this over-the-top musical adventure with the most dangerous weed since that Little Shop play that was in town last year.

Big thanks to Cryptid artistic director Dakota Jones for bringing “Reefer” back to Indy, and to stage manager Ariel Laukins for helping me get the info for this review.

Wow… Can you imagine what it would be like if The Stuff actually became legal? Like in maybe about half the U.S. states in one form or another, including all the ones that border this one? *[exhales]* Uh-oh.  

Cryptid heroes return to Fringe stage

PWJW_Indy Reviews, Stage , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

By John Lyle Belden

Cryptid Entertainment engages audiences with explorations of what it would be like if fantastic mythical creatures lived among us. Such stories might be closer to the truth than we suspect – there is reliable evidence, for instance, that the being known as Theodore Roosevelt may have at one time actually existed.

In 2022, Cryptid presented its masterwork “Bigfoot Saves America” during that year’s IndyFringe festival. While a success, the company were all in agreement that sequels to plays are a terrible idea, thus inspiring playwright and director Dakota Jones to instead expand the show to a second act, with the solemn mission of, in his words, “a cheap attempt at a laugh.”

Presenting: “Bigfoot Saves the World!”

Tony Schaab returns as the super sasquatch, agent of H.A.I.R. (a Top-Secret government office that assures us it doesn’t exist). Jo Bennett is also back as the evil Mothman, who has kidnapped Mr. Foot’s ex-wife, Dr. Love Interest (reprised by Kyrsten Lyster). Aaron Henze also returns from deep freeze as the lycanthrope-infected President Teddy Roosevelt.

This time around, Kaya Dorsch and Thomas Sebald portray the gay hench-moths as well as Agents in black, joined by the expendable Charlie Rankin.

And, again, this show is sponsored by pharmaceutical miracle and crude plot device Sexadryl (“Sex-A-Drill”).

Since it worked the last time, the first-act plot – bizarre humor and all – is essentially the same as the original Fringe show (for what happens, note its title).

The sequ- I mean Second Act reveals a plot by the Soviet Union (this takes place during the Cold War, after all) which involves Robo-Stalin (Sebald), Agents Hammer and Sickle (Dorsch and his right hand), femme fatale Ras-Poontang (Lyster), a sexy yeti (Rankin), and an even more glorious Mothman.

Will Bigfoot rise to the challenge? According to the title, yes, but he may need an assist from MOLAR OF THE MOLE PEOPLE (Dorsch again – they are so versatile).

Because you can’t have too much talent in such a cheesefest, there are special appearances by Doug Powers and David Molloy, as well as the services of the world’s greatest stagehand, Lillian Eisenbraun. Brilliant costumes are by stage manager Marina Turner.

Once again, these hijinks are funny, silly, and very “Adult Swim,” including “going for the hard ‘R’” with a bit of furry burlesque. It’s self-aware and unabashed, a great time for anyone (teenage and older) who doesn’t take endangering and saving the world with mythical beasts too seriously.

Further, we are assured that there will be absolutely no third chapter (until Dakota is finished writing it).

“Bigfoot Saves the World” Thursday through Sunday, July 25-28, at the IndyFringe Basile Theatre, 719 E. St. Clair, Indianapolis. Get tickets (before they sell out) at indyfringe.org.