Longtime Portland-based filmmaker and playwright Anthony Orkin (HELLO FROM NOWHERE) will be sharing his latest work of musical theatre in April at Fertile Ground festival of new works.
The Poison Squad is a musical comedy based on a true story, about men used as guinea pigs in a quasi-experiment on the effects of untested preservatives on the human body. In the early 1900’s, Dr. Harvey Wiley, head chemist at the Department of Agriculture, wanted to pass the Pure Food and Drug Act, and he needed some colorful evidence to persuade Congress.
Well, these poor boys gave it to him. Formaldehyde, borax, sulfites and sulfates, all went down their gullets, with spectacular results. Filled with catchy melodies and toxic meals, The Poison Squad is a steampunk trip through one of the greatest legislative battles in history, whose results we’re still living with today!
WHO: The Fertile Ground festival of new works
WHAT: THE POISON SQUAD
Written and directed by Anthony Orkin | Original music by Curtis Cooper
WHEN: April 12 at 12 PM, April 13 at 7:30 PM
WHERE: Coho Theatre, 2257 NW Raleigh Street, Portland OR 97210
RUNTIME: Approximately 2 hours with one intermission
TICKETS: $10 https://fertileground.tix.page/e/the-poison-squad
This is super exciting, cant wait to see. I love musicals and food and drug law has such a crazy history – snake oil salesmen still abound!