Review: Reefer Madness The Musical
I got high with strangers inside a van on Hollywood Blvd.
I scored tickets to the new celebrity produced 25th anniversary revival of “Reefer Madness The Musical” this week. This campy musical is based on the infamous 1936 anti-drug PSA where “dopesters lure children to destruction.”
The original Reefer Madness PSA was part of a decades-long anti-c*nn*bis propaganda campaign that started in the 1930s steeped in racism, led to the war on drugs, and shaped our perception and stigmas about “marihuana” even today. The first musical adaptation premiered in Santa Monica in 1998 as a parody of that original PSA. It became a movie starring Kristen Bell, Neve Campbell, and Alan Cumming in 2005.
Back to the van though, where there’s a tortoise named Mango and you can get h*gh (on good w**d) for free… Come inside the “Reefer Madness The Musical and Reefer Den” experience with me, and I’ll tell you everything you need to know before you go.
What was it like?
Is the show worth going to?
What’s the food and drink inside the reefer den?
Can you partake in reefer at the venue?
Where to find the good w**d?
Now playing through August 18 at The Reefer Den on Hollywood Boulevard.
Review: Reefer Madness the Musical
I heard good things about “Reefer Madness The Musical” but didn’t know what to expect. I stepped past the urine-stained streets of Hollywood Blvd. and through the velvet curtains into the Reefer Den.
I kept walking down the long hallway that got darker and dimmer the deeper I went, until I saw my reflection and an old piano to the side. Inside the room opened up into an immersive musical dining theater production with a stage in front, tables in the center, a speakeasy bar to the right, and raised amphitheater style seating around the room. I was high af and not prepared for what came next, because the entire room became part of the show.
From beginning to end, the show is campy, over-the-top delightful, fun, high energy, and full of unexpected surprises. The room was shaking with uproarious laughter the entire time, and the performances were simply spectacular. I give props to any performer who can sing with enormous vocal range, dance their hearts out, change outfits at the speed of light, and tap dance with the soul of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, while barely breaking a sweat or ruining their makeup. The cast was radiant – living la vie bohéme.
The wardrobe and set design was a feast for the senses with 1930s speakeasy appropriate style blended with juicy, ethereal textures. “The Brownie Song,” “Listen to Jesus, Jimmy” montage, and the sexy bondage bunny scene had me genuinely fully belly laughing and crying til my sides hurt. There were so many magically delightful moments in the show that I don’t want to spoil them for you.
Definitely worth the ticket for a fun night out.
💮 HOT TIP: Choose a more relaxed, low-key Indica-Hybrid for this show to help soften and receive the immersive high energy performance. For those who are prone to panic attacks and anxiety while high, this could feel overwhelming and intense with the loud noises and lights. Pick a seat that’s closer to the doors if you’d prefer to watch from afar rather than be immersed inside the center of the performance.
You can’t smoke inside the theater. Edibles, drink mixes, joints, and v*pe pens are my recommended ways to discreetly indulge before or after the show. I’ll tell you the best spot to enjoy your j.
July 30 — Reefer Madness The Musical Reunion Concert with Kristen Bell and Christian Campbell (One-Night Only!)
Food & Drink at the Reefer Den + Victory Garden
I arrived early to grab a bite to eat inside the Victory Garden, a lush green oasis with cute vintage garden speakeasy vibes, next to the theater before the show started. You can also order food and drink inside the theater to enjoy during the show if you’re seated at the tables.
It’s a basic menu with Americana snacks and refreshing cocktails. I had the sliders, pretzel bites with cheesy dipping sauce, and a non-alcoholic matcha lemonade cocktail. I oogled the bowl of french fries, kale and quinoa salad bowl, coconut shrimp, and brownie sundae at the tables next to me.
There’s creative cocktails but lacking on non-alcoholic drinks or mocktail options. Which is a missed opportunity to provide options to the Cali sober crowd and highlight hemp beverages.
The garden is open before and after the show to hang out and enjoy a drink. No smoking is allowed here, but there is a hidden smoking patio by the Reefer Den. But this cozy corner in the parking lot isn’t the ideal spot to enjoy your j… there’s a better option. Keep reading.
💮 Spilling the Tea: TBH the food is just okay and expensive for what it is. But I tipped extra anyway because the service was excellent and I knew what I was signing up for. Splurge on a few table snacks and a drink, but save room for Jamaican food after the show.
The best food of the night was the goat curry and beef patties from the food truck parked right in front of the theater. Trust me and get the $5 beef or jerk chicken patties. The golden yellow curry patties were magic. The woman who runs the food truck and her sons are there every night from 5 p.m. to 6 a.m. She’s cool, and a hell of a cook.
Thanks to my friend inside the sesh bus, Lilli and her tortoise Mango, for the hot tip!
Inside the Reefer Van + Sesh Bus
F*ck hiding in the back of a parking lot to smoke a j. We’re gonna enjoy that j in front of the theater, openly and freely inside an stylish reefer van with the door swung wide open.
Lilli invites me to step up into her sleek sesh bus @the_rolling_retreat. There’s cute smoking accessories and a couple prerolls neatly arranged on the coffee table. A tiny disco ball glitters in the corner while her tortoise and pitbull snooze together in the front seat.
We’re free to light up here inside her van and enjoy the vibes as tourists walk by and stare with curiosity. The strangers I’m smoking with? Two senior ladies in their 60s.
Yes, the matte black exterior makes it look suspicious at first, and you may be wondering if this is legal. Don’t ask these questions, just chill and enjoy the moment. Okay?
I’ve met Lilli several times at different c******* events in LA, introduced through mutual friends, and she’s come over to hang out at my house. She’s also a talented photographer whose spectacular puff portraits have caught my eye over the years. As we’re chatting and hanging out inside her van before the show starts, a guy walking by shouts at us.
“I sell you a zip for $65!”
Please. For the love of Mary Jane, do NOT buy w**d from the dude walking down the street. Nor from the tattoo/smoke shop next door. If you must, stop by a legit shop like The Kind Center, Pineapple Express Hollywood, or MMD Hollywood nearby. Best to plan ahead and bring your own supply. And now you know the Reefer Van parked out front is the spot to visit. Tell her Fruit + Flower sent you.
The Reefer Van is parked in front of the theater on show nights, and available to rent for private events. Send her a DM on IG to inquire about availability and rates.
Reefer Madness the Musical — Now playing in Los Angeles through August 18
Thank you Amirose for hooking me up with the tickets to the show. And extra thanks to Lilli for giving me the nudge I needed to come see “Reefer Madness The Musical.” Knowing that you’d be there with the good za’za and safe space to consume made it all the more enjoyable.
XOXO, Christina W.
