cannabisnews.com: 'The Marijuana-Logues' Light Up New York 'The Marijuana-Logues' Light Up New York Posted by CN Staff on March 30, 2004 at 15:17:13 PT By The Associated Press Source: Associated Press New York -- The narrow, winding staircase that descends into the subterranean theater at off-Broadway's venerable Actors' Playhouse goes a bit deeper underground these days. At the bottom, the new three-man comedy "The Marijuana-Logues" is emitting an air that is slightly subversive and laughter-inducing. Comedians Arj Barker, Doug Benson and Tony Camin parody Eve Ensler's hit, "Vagina Monologues," with fast-moving stories, sketches and observations about the life of a pot smoker. They begin the show by unashamedly and lovingly repeating the m-word in express resistance to societal taboos and drug laws. The actors, all seasoned stand-up comics, have the appearance of passive revolutionaries - shoeless and dressed entirely in black except for thick, white athletic socks. Besides scoffing the illegality of their subject, the men defy basic conventions of stand up by performing from high stools and reading their material from bulky black binders. One monologue flows seamlessly into the next under the direction of Jim Millan, best known for his work on the television series "The Kids in the Hall." But this talented and complementary trio breathes new life into pot humor. The inventive writing includes a sketch on things pot would say if it could speak, Camin's rationalizations for smoking so much and Barker's "herb-an" poetry jam. Barker also puts on an irresistibly funny British accent to take us back in time 300 years to attend a wild "Bach concert." The show comes with the disclaimer that it doesn't intend to glorify drug use but rather to bring to light the funny peculiarities of "cannabis culture." At the outset, the performers explain the monologues are based on countless interviews with stoners of all denominations, allowing themselves a certain theoretical distance from the characters they portray. Unlike Ensler's play, the M-Loguers offer very little serious substance behind their smoky subject. There are fleeting moments of political pretense, such as interludes about the irony of tough drug laws in the otherwise hedonistic state of Nevada, the alcohol industry's anti-marijuana advertising and the war on drugs. But these allusions are always made with tongue firmly planted in cheek and serve the purpose of hilarity more than any pro-marijuana platform. The cast rambles on for about 80 minutes without coming up for air. The strict adherence to the subject of all things reefer may require more endurance and higher tolerance than some theatergoers can muster. But "The Marijuana-Logues" seems likely to find an audience that craves its special brand of comedy. And when polled at a recent preview performance about whether pot should be legalized, a large majority of the late-arriving but eager crowd burst promptly into applause. Source: Associated Press Published: Tuesday March 30, 2004Copyright: 2004 The Associated Press The Marijuana-Logueshttp://www.marijuanalogues.com/CannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #12 posted by E_Johnson on April 01, 2004 at 17:31:25 PT We make them laugh while they make us cry.That doesn't sound fair. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by E_Johnson on April 01, 2004 at 17:28:43 PT Why don't we stop entertaining people???? Let's stop being Amos and Andy.And start being Eve Ensler.We can talk about rape. Why don't we? [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by FoM on April 01, 2004 at 15:32:12 PT Related News Article from Newsday.com The Marijuana-Logues: Giggling Over Grass By Gordon Cox Gordon Cox is a regular contributor to Newsday.April 2, 2004The stoner vibe hits you like a big puff of smoke. It's a little disorienting at first, at least for anyone expecting the three comics onstage to indulge in standard, manic stand-up comedy.But then, the show is called "The Marijuana-logues," so its downtempo mood shouldn't come as much of a surprise. In this mildly amusing production, which opened Tuesday night, a trio of writer-performers riff on the highs and lows of life with their favorite illicit substance. The predictable range of topics includes common slang for Mary Jane, the intricacies of scoring weed, the romantic compatibility of those who indulge and those who don't, and dumb things potheads do. (Its most surprising joke may lie in the fact that the Sunday matinee starts at 4:20, in reference to 420, another nickname for ganja.)Set and lighting designer Gregory Allen Hirsch, employing tie-dye and projected shadows of marijuana plants, lights the stage as if it were a Haight Street head shop. In contrast, Jim Millan (who also works with Kids in the Hall) directs with deadpan restraint, lending a humorously unexpected air of propriety to this chat about drug use. For most of the show's 90 minutes, the three men, dressed in black, sit at desks with scripts in front of them. Even flashing lights and sirens announcing a periodic "Fun Fact" can't dispel the mellow atmosphere.Tony Camin, the most consistently funny of the trio, shows off a reliably quirky wit, explaining that THC stands for "The High Causer." With average-Joe affability, Doug Benson delivers his understated humor from behind the heavy lids of a perpetual stoner. Arj Barker displays the closest thing to intensity and improvises the most, with mixed results."The Marijuana-logues" may take its cue from Eve Ensler's "The Vagina Monologues," but its creators have none of Ensler's political ambitions. They just want a good time, man. It's all as agreeably useless as a lazy afternoon giggling at things that, in sobriety, aren't that funny.THE MARIJUANA-LOGUES. Written and performed by Arj Barker, Doug Benson and Tony Camin, directed by Jim Millan. The Actors' Playhouse, 100 Seventh Ave. S. between Christopher and Bleecker. Seen at preview Sunday afternoon. Copyright: 2004 Newsday, Inc. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by E_Johnson on April 01, 2004 at 14:17:27 PT Well... He can't possibly appoint enough new judges to outvote the ones who already hate his guts now. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by billos on April 01, 2004 at 12:31:55 PT: E_Johnson.... how about Bush's idea to put William Meyers in the ninth circit court? The same court that was just deemed a rogue court by Mark Souder. Bush is trying to change their tune. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by E_Johnson on April 01, 2004 at 09:10:17 PT The judges would draw a firm line Don't worry, the First Amendment is not going down.Besides, Bush has few friends left in the federal judiciary after his attack on their sentencing powers, and his medical marijuana prosecutions that left federal judges feeling conscience-stricken and/or politically endangered. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by billos on April 01, 2004 at 05:08:54 PT: How long will this play when...................... the feds censor any talk on cannabis. They make criminals out of people who are found to have known about a plant growing somewhere but didn't report it. Schools are now able to forbid certain colors because they may be somehow related to gang or drug use, and the REAL criminals, the ones who make glass pipes are going to prison for it. How long before Walters tries to shut down this play? [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by mayan on March 31, 2004 at 18:20:34 PT sukoi... I did enjoy the link! That was very interesting. Hemp is our only hope.The way out is the way in...9/11 Families Statement on Rice's Testimony & White House conditions: http://www.911citizenswatch.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=164&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0Is Fix in at 9/11 Commission? http://antiwar.com/sperry/?articleid=2209White House Whitewash -- Conflict of interest at heart of 9/11 Commission: http://www.911citizenswatch.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=165&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0Elephants in the Barracks: The Complete Failure of the 9/11 Commission: http://www.propagandamatrix.com/articles/310304completefailure.htmPreparing For Condy Rice: http://www.rense.com/general50/condid.htmCONTACT INFO TO "SUGGEST" QUESTIONS FOR CONDI RICE: http://bigeye.com/urgent.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by fearfull on March 31, 2004 at 10:06:55 PT Not just cultural war But attempted genocide, one group trying to eliminate another completely! You're right E_Johnson WE HAVE NO HUMAN RIGHTS! [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by E_Johnson on March 30, 2004 at 20:38:30 PT Of course potheads never get raped Our human rights are a joke.We're not even human, to people like whoever who wrote this review.Go pat yourself on the back, you're probably a Democrat worried that women will lose their right to choose. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by medicinal toker on March 30, 2004 at 16:30:40 PT M-logues is cool I saw the Marijuana-logues in Madison WI a year ago January. It was very entertaining, but what was even nicer was to hear the word used in a positive way, instead of in the police report. It is really sad that the war on pot is a culture war. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by sukoi on March 30, 2004 at 15:24:57 PT I thought that you all might enjoy this! Cannabis issue lands at doors of Parliamenthttp://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2004/s1072206.htm [ Post Comment ] Post Comment