 "Photo: Photo by Jordan Pollard, illustration by Dan Doxtater")
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To inhale or not to inhale is the question the cast of Chico Cabaret's "Reefer Madness: The Musical" has asked itself.
"We'll use marijuana-scented herbs to create the illusion of reefer," said Phil Ruttenburg, the director of "Reefer Madness" and co-founder of Chico Cabaret.
For the past 20 years, Phil and Sue Ruttenburg have been producing musical theater in Chico with shows such as "Guys and Dolls" and "The Rocky Horror Picture Show."
"Reefer Madness," which runs Thursday through Sept. 27, hopes to bring attention to the issues of fear and control with lots of laughs along the way.
"I love the musical because it has a directly paradoxical way of pushing the issues," Ruttenburg said.
Using tongue-in-cheek song lyrics and dialogue, "Reefer Madness" has taken the issues of yesteryear and reminded audience members how fear and propaganda are used to control our thoughts and actions.
"My all-time favorite line from the play is 'When danger's near, exploit their fear,'" Ruttenburg said. "This show cuts into the core of what the Bush administration has done, controlling people with fear."
But all political undertones aside, "Reefer Madness" is a show that Chico Cabaret is proud to present. This will be the first time Ruttenburg is directing with his wife, Sue, and son, Sam, a senior at Chico High School, who also plays the show's main character, Jimmy.
The family production incorporates jazz, rock 'n' roll and traditional Broadway sounds into a fast-paced and raunchy romp through the crazy world of sex and drugs.
Ruttenburg expects the show's name to attract many college students, but said it provides something for everyone from the pre-teen to the post pothead. He remembers seeing the original 1938 "Reefer Madness" in high school health class as an anti-drug public service announcement and knows there will be a few audience members who remember the same way.
But this show was revamped.
"People will be blown away," said Kelsey Fossum-Trausch, who plays a sultry reefer den regular named Sally. A passion for musical theater and risky performance has driven Fossum-Trausch to adore "Reefer Madness."
"Every number is a production, and the intimate space of the theater will give the audience a personal experience with the actors," she said.
She isn't the only cast member who thinks that "Reefer Madness" will make an impact on Chico Cabaret regulars.
Conan Duke, who plays the drugged-out reefer addict Ralph, loves the variety and intensity of each musical number. Duke also serves as the assistant costume designer and enjoyed crafting the look of the show.
"I'm more nervous about how people will react to the characters' costumes than my own performance," he said.
With tons of artistic freedom from the Ruttenburgs, the close-knit cast feels as if it had a large part in making this show one of the best Chico Cabaret has ever produced.
And whether the actors perform to a packed house or an empty theater on opening night, they will be just as excited and give their best performance because they have poured their hearts into the show, they said.
Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Creative Apple for $15 or $16 at the door. Students receive a $5 discount on Thursday night performances.
Doors open at 7:00 p.m., and the show starts at 7:30 p.m.
Kenna Hunt can be reached at khunt@theorion.com
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