MUSICAL THEATER, KUSH VIBES AND LOVE
REVIEW: WEED SHOP THE MUSICAL
BY RYAN M. LUÉVANO
We are currently in a renaissance of new musicals—it’s a new golden age of musical theater. Perhaps, like Oklahoma was in 1942, Hamilton was the shot heard ‘round the world announcing that musicals are cool again. It also let producers know that there’s money to be made if you bet on the right musical pony. So here we are in 2019, when writing a musical is hip and marijuana is legal in eleven states. And when you combine these two things you get Weed Shop the Musical by Madelyne Heyman and Becker Grumet. This show premiered in 2016 at the Eclectic Company Theatre and the then was nominated in multiple categories at the NoHo Fringe Festival. This hilarious new musical is back for a three-week run at Thymele Arts in Los Angeles.
Weed Shop the Musical is a is a love story set in two weed shops in Los Angeles in 2014, and it has all the makings of a cult classic—there’s something about it that feels retro in the best kind of way. Director Madelyne Heyman does a commendable job transforming the large room at Thymele Arts into a theater space that really makes this musical come to life, complete with weed shop accoutrements, moody lighting and fog. The choreography by Katy Marcella adds rich layers of movement that make this musical sizzle—psychedelic 60’s moves, Fosse inspired dance, jazz steps, and even Jewish traditional dance make up the types of dance in the show that’s all thoroughly engaging.
Weed Shop boasts a cast of ten, and there is not a weak link to be found among them. Amanda Charney returns to the role of Alicia in a well-rounded performance that brings so much depth to this otherwise insipid character. Charney is an obvious musician singing these original songs with a vocal facility that’s crisp and satisfying. Nate Werner as the other lead Dave, is another enjoyable actor whose portrayal is refreshingly honest—he rides a fine balance of aloof and genuine—we follow his story the closest because he makes us care. One of the most well written characters in the show is the ex-girlfriend Stephanie, played by Leah Knauer. Knauer is a compelling comedic actress. She’s the full embodiment of this character, and when she’s on stage we can’t look away, or stop laughing. Her performance in the songs “I Always Get What I Want” and “Girl Fight” are some of the finest moments in the whole show.
In its current state Weed Shop has so many good things going for it and there’s no doubt that audiences will enjoy this version of the show. It successfully creates a world with well-defined characters, clever lyrics, funny songs and an overall vibe that gives the show an enjoyable milieu. However, upon closer inspection there’s still work to be done.
With any new musical it always comes down one question: how well does the “book” hold up? And for Weed Shop, this is where the writers need to revisit. At the heart of Weed Shop is a love story, not a story about weed, or even about a weed shop—it’s about lonely people looking for love. If the whole show was rewritten and refocused with the idea of “Stoners in Love” (one of the songs already in the show) the show would be wholly more engaging. As is, the conflict comes too late, the stakes are too low, and there are too many passive characters, except for Stephanie who is always taking action. This show has the potential of an off-Broadway hit, or cult classic that can make it’s rounds at college theatre departments all over the country, all it needs to do is spread the love.
WHAT ABOUT THE MUSIC DIRECTOR?
Music director Lauren Gaynor makes her music directing debut in Weed Shop the Musical and skillfully leads the four-piece band from the keyboard, Lauren is a natural. All the musical elements of this original musical run like clockwork from beginning to end.
Take a trip to Thymele Arts in Los Angeles to experience Weed Shop the Musical, it’s a fine blend of musical theater, Kush vibes and love.
TICKETS AND MORE INFORMATION
PRICE: $20
GET TICKETS: https://weedshoptix.brownpapertickets.com
DATES:
Friday, November 22nd, 2019 @ 8PM
Saturday, November 23rd, 2019 @ 8PM
LOCATION:
THYMELE ARTS
5481 Santa Monica Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90029
