![\"Vaping](\"https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/edmontonjournal/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/vaping-gay_304767551.jpg\" "\\"Vaping")
Vaping Gay
5 stars out of 5
Stage 19, Mill Creek Cafe, 9562 82 Ave.
Wilbur Blue and Johnny Purpledude are mixing up something strangely addictive in this absurd satire of Breaking Bad. I’ll admit that before I entered the theatre, I had a hard time seeing the vision. Happily, I was wrong.
It all begins with an anti-vape, pro-gay school seminar. Two seminars just aren’t in the school budget, and the messaging got a little mixed up. Slipping into a Booster Juice uniform before second shift, the principal doesn’t have time or energy for the fallout. So the problem gets punted over to Wilbur, an underpaid and overworked teacher whose wife died in a tragic lime scooter accident. But Wilbur doesn’t see a problem; he sees an opportunity to get blue raspberry vapes to market.
If you’ve watched Breaking Bad, you’ll recognize the cast of characters, but there’s also someone new: Wilbur’s sister-in-law Dani Smith, a politician whose anti-gay agenda ranks slightly higher than her anti-vape agenda.
Vaping Gay is ridiculous in the best way. The writing and casting is great, and Amelia Newstead deserves special credit for wearing many hats and pulling off insane dialogue with a straight face.