At the 2019 Toronto Fringe Festival
1930s America. Commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, Harry J. Anslinger, grapples with a growing sense of internal conflict. Prohibition has ended, and alcohol once again flows freely through the veins of the nation. Meanwhile, the country is gripped by the worst economic depression the world has ever seen.
Swarms of unemployed citizens scatter the streets. They seek refuge from these terrible times by any means necessary - tobacco, alcohol, opium. Joining this list of American consumables is a newly declared evil. A "Mexican weed with roots in hell" known as "marijuana", that is used by various people of colour in the U.S.
With the help of a savvy advertising man, Anslinger sets out to tarnish marijuana's image by linking it to everything that white Americans fear most: minorities, immigrants, and even the devil himself.
As marijuana spreads through the nation, Anslinger is prompted to seek help from sources in the field. In a covert sting operation in Louisiana, he will require a WWI black veteran Gary O'Neill, to investigate the Jazz community and destroy the source of trafficking. Changing the public's opinion will require the help of John and Jane, anti-drug christian activists who will lead the creation of marijuana propaganda.
The plan is convoluted, dirty, and racist-the perfect mix for effective change in the U.S. Ignorant to Anslinger's true agenda, O'Neill and John & Jane are made to believe they are doing God's work on earth; but Anslinger's unholy alliance will prove to sow nothing but greed and destruction in the ever- decaying land of the free.
Check out images from the show below!
Total attendance of 400
Fundraised over $2000
Fights by Stunt Coordinator Steve Wilsher
Two sponsorships by Tasty Buds and Friendly Stranger - and support from High Canada Magazine
We created this film and showcased it during our 2019 Fringe Toronto production of Reefer Madness: Origins.
Our inspiration came from Harry Anslinger’s notorious quotes and a memorable scene in the original Reefer Madness (1936), where a couple smokes a joint and plays the piano with wild abandon. In the scene, the man violently kills another person while the woman laughs in a manic, ecstatic trance at the murder.
In our film, we parodied this unsettling moment, but it’s crucial to recognize the contrast between how the scene was received by our audience—who laughed freely—and how audiences in the 1930s would have reacted. Back then, they would have taken this scene seriously, falling victim to the era’s pervasive propaganda. While our film provided comic relief, it also underscored the much darker, more serious consequences for the characters, highlighting the tragic impact of such manipulation.
This comedic ad blends footage from various cigarette ads spanning the 1930s to the 1950s. It was projected during the live production of Reefer Madness: Origins at the Toronto Fringe Festival. It’s striking to see how alcohol ads from that era portrayed dangerous behaviors—like driving while intoxicated—something that would be unthinkable in today’s advertising landscape.
This comedic ad combines footage from various cigarette advertisements from the 1930s to the 1950s. It was projected during the original live production of Reefer Madness: Origins at the Toronto Fringe Festival. It’s striking how aggressively these ads promoted cigarette use at the time, offering a sharp contrast to how cannabis is treated today.
CREDITS
Dana Carrabon as Thomas Devlin
Koldin Collie as Harry Anslinger
Liam Kinahan as John Smit
Nicole Moller as Jane Smit
David Wilson as James "King" Holloway
Juan Otero as Agent Nicholas Soto
Barry Kelleghan as Agent Vern Schultz
Ezera Beyene as Sgt. Gary O'Neill
Gregory Hertel as Father Robert Woodrow
Executive Producer/Co-Writer: Dana Carrabon
Lead Writer/Producer: Mehdi Sidali
Director: Andrea Pestana
Producer: Vitan Pravtchev
Production Manager: Sophia Fabiano
Stage Manager: Patrick Lynn
Lighting Designer: Sarah Buehner
Head of Sound & Sound Designer: Diego Varela
Sound Designer: Michael Merrithew
Costume Designer & Head of Wardrobe: Alessia Urbani
Projection Designer: David Docherty
Videographer: Damian Murphy
Social Media Manager: Tori Barrett
Set Designer: Ronald Remegio
Rehearsal Stage Manager: Aslı Özüak
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