by Charlsie-Kern Kruger

Ask me if “Cuckoo Edible Magic” is a good show, and I”ll say “You bet!” Ask me if the audience exploded with laughter, and I’ll say, “And how!” Ask me if you ought to go and I’ll show you an enthusiastic “thumbs up.”

But ask me “What was it all about?” and I’ll shrug my shoulders, giggle, and say, “Gee, um, I dunno. But it’s funny! Really funny!”

The general idea is that a couple of Asian stoners are called upon to save the world from monstrous invaders. This is accomplished, more or less, by mastering the proper way to appreciate rice, relying on family, martial arts, Asian humor, some island magic, a touch of hula, queer pride, and a wild commitment to improvisational comedy. Yes, and . . .

It’s goofy. It’s hip. It’s full of Asian cultural tropes. It’s queer as all get out. And it’s presented with an infectious enthusiasm that will leave you a very pleasant contact high and a tendency to giggle when you member the best moments.

Those best moments include an absolutely hilarious hula dance by the great Rudy Guerrero (just off his recent triumph as the MC in Theatre Rhinoceros’s production of “Cabaret”) as Unk (aka Auntie), a Kuma Hula with grace and attitude and perfect comic timing.

The action is fast, incomprehensible, stoned, Queer, improvisational and fun. Yes, there are boring moments. Certainly there is confusion—lots of that—but the cast is having such a blast that it is easy to forgive all flaws.

Just relax, and go with it, like you do if you eat one too many edibles and find yourself higher than the proverbial kite without having planned on it.

Buy your ticket, let ‘er ride, and you’ll have a fine time.

“Cuckoo Edible Magic” continues at the Magic Theatre through March 8. For further information, click here.

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Rating: *** (For an explanation of TheatreStorm’s rating system, click here.)
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“Cuckoo Edible Magic” by Reed Flores. Produced at the Magic Theater by San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Company. Director: Michelle Talgarow. Sound Designer: James Ard. Costume/Hair/Makeup Designer: Madeline Berger. Props Designer: Heidi Button. Fight Choregrapher: Landyn Hikaru Endo. Lighting Designer: Ray Oppenheimer. Projection Designer: Joan Osato. Scenic Designer: Mikiko Uesegi.

Cast:

Mai: Nicole Apostol Bruno. Jay/The Villainous Ofrces/Ensemble: Gwynnevere Cristobal. Pop/Unk/Ron/Ensemble: Rudy Guerrero. Sam/Ensemble: Lisa Hu. The Villainous Forces/Ensemble: Julie Kuwabara. The Vallaionous Forces/Ensemble: Amanda Le Nguyen. Ren: Dom Refuerzo. Worker/Ensemble: Mickey Skinner. Lin/Ensemble: Paula Vercudia.