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Legoland
Penny and Ezra Lamb are home-schooled by their parents on a hippie colony near Uranium City until the police discover it also happens to be the largest marijuana grow-op in Saskatchewan. “Legoland” is how their pot-smoking elders always described the outside world, and the Lamb siblings are dying to get there.
Once the commune is busted and their parents are sent to prison, sixteen-year-old Penny and her younger brother Ezra, each seething cauldrons of repression, are enrolled in a Catholic private school, where they are instant social outcasts. Penny, ostracized for being a weird “lesbo” (she’s not gay), is vulnerably but brilliantly depressive until a classmate gives her a copy of boy band Seven Up’s CD and she becomes obsessed with singer Johnny Moon. The self-absorbed Ezra, fixated on German nihilism, plays with his Jeffrey Dahmer puppet, wears white stockings and pops a mind-altering combination of Ritalin and Dexedrine to combat his ADHD.
When Seven Up breaks up, Johnny Moon remakes himself as a misogynistic gangsta rapper. Penny, heartbroken but determined to save him and bring back the “real” Johnny Moon, persuades Ezra to accompany her on a pilgrimage down to Orlando to confront her idol. The Lamb siblings run away from school on a bus tour of the Wal-Marts and McDonald’s of the continent, financing their trip by selling the Paxil and Ritalin they’ve been prescribed.
Arrested and deported for assault after their hilarious encounter with her pop icon, Penny has been ordered to give public service speeches to atone for attacking a celebrity. Dressed in a private school uniform and under the supervision of her social worker in order to avoid doing community service, Penny delivers her hyperactive sermon on juvenile delinquency, including a description of sex as “the Devil’s Pilates,” punctuated with the scattergun codas of her deadpan brother.
Once the commune is busted and their parents are sent to prison, sixteen-year-old Penny and her younger brother Ezra, each seething cauldrons of repression, are enrolled in a Catholic private school, where they are instant social outcasts. Penny, ostracized for being a weird “lesbo” (she’s not gay), is vulnerably but brilliantly depressive until a classmate gives her a copy of boy band Seven Up’s CD and she becomes obsessed with singer Johnny Moon. The self-absorbed Ezra, fixated on German nihilism, plays with his Jeffrey Dahmer puppet, wears white stockings and pops a mind-altering combination of Ritalin and Dexedrine to combat his ADHD.
When Seven Up breaks up, Johnny Moon remakes himself as a misogynistic gangsta rapper. Penny, heartbroken but determined to save him and bring back the “real” Johnny Moon, persuades Ezra to accompany her on a pilgrimage down to Orlando to confront her idol. The Lamb siblings run away from school on a bus tour of the Wal-Marts and McDonald’s of the continent, financing their trip by selling the Paxil and Ritalin they’ve been prescribed.
Arrested and deported for assault after their hilarious encounter with her pop icon, Penny has been ordered to give public service speeches to atone for attacking a celebrity. Dressed in a private school uniform and under the supervision of her social worker in order to avoid doing community service, Penny delivers her hyperactive sermon on juvenile delinquency, including a description of sex as “the Devil’s Pilates,” punctuated with the scattergun codas of her deadpan brother.
72 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
October 20, 2022
OK, FIRST OF ALL, WHO WAS GOING TO TELL ME THIS WAS THAT GOOD?????
I normally go into prequels thinking it's going to be like the worst, but this was actually so entertaining!
It took me a bit to get into, but when I got into it, there was no stopping me.
There are multiple references to RTC, but I loved how you didn't need to watch RTC to read this.
All in all, I give this 4/5 stars (8/10) exactly. It was super good and I totally recommend! It's a "play" so just know that it's written in script (personally, I love script but ik there are ppl that don't rly like it so yea.)
I normally go into prequels thinking it's going to be like the worst, but this was actually so entertaining!
It took me a bit to get into, but when I got into it, there was no stopping me.
There are multiple references to RTC, but I loved how you didn't need to watch RTC to read this.
All in all, I give this 4/5 stars (8/10) exactly. It was super good and I totally recommend! It's a "play" so just know that it's written in script (personally, I love script but ik there are ppl that don't rly like it so yea.)
October 16, 2022
very funny, very chaotic but doesn’t really work as a prequel to ride the cyclone (which is very understandable seeing as rtc has changed so much over the years)
July 4, 2024
Cotton candy flavoured acid trip
Read
October 8, 2022Unable to rate (see below)
Okay so I found this after seeing Ride the Cyclone and honestly that is one of my favourite musicals of all time! I was so excited to hear there was a prequel about Jane before the accident that would give me some lore.
I think on its own, this play is quirky and gritty and would be interesting to see performed. However, as a follow up to RTC, it's disappointing.
I felt like I was left with more questions about Jane than answers. Her parents being in prison explains why they didn't come to claim her. But she has a younger brother who is extremely loyal to her (like travel to a different country for seven days straight on a bus so she can meet her Idol loyal). So why didn't he claim her? Also, people at school knew who she was. Yes, they horrifically bullied her. But they would know to give her name if she didn't come back from the choir trip.
You mean to tell me that a HOLLYWOOD MOVIE was made about her (starring Jojo) and propelled her into infamy and NO ONE KNEW IT WAS HER IN THE ACCIDENT?!
Blood samples exist and her mom is literally in prison. You would get a hit on the DNA just from that!
Sorry, that's Enough ranting.
I love Ride the Cyclone and Jane Doe is easily one of the best characters I've seen in musical theatre. Her whole performance is insane. A work of art. However, I wish I got to understand Penny Lam a bit better. All I know about her is: "everyone in her life besides Ezra is unnecessarily cruel to her". I wanted something completely different than what I got.
Okay so I found this after seeing Ride the Cyclone and honestly that is one of my favourite musicals of all time! I was so excited to hear there was a prequel about Jane before the accident that would give me some lore.
I think on its own, this play is quirky and gritty and would be interesting to see performed. However, as a follow up to RTC, it's disappointing.
I felt like I was left with more questions about Jane than answers. Her parents being in prison explains why they didn't come to claim her. But she has a younger brother who is extremely loyal to her (like travel to a different country for seven days straight on a bus so she can meet her Idol loyal). So why didn't he claim her? Also, people at school knew who she was. Yes, they horrifically bullied her. But they would know to give her name if she didn't come back from the choir trip.
You mean to tell me that a HOLLYWOOD MOVIE was made about her (starring Jojo) and propelled her into infamy and NO ONE KNEW IT WAS HER IN THE ACCIDENT?!
Blood samples exist and her mom is literally in prison. You would get a hit on the DNA just from that!
Sorry, that's Enough ranting.
I love Ride the Cyclone and Jane Doe is easily one of the best characters I've seen in musical theatre. Her whole performance is insane. A work of art. However, I wish I got to understand Penny Lam a bit better. All I know about her is: "everyone in her life besides Ezra is unnecessarily cruel to her". I wanted something completely different than what I got.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2023
this felt like watching a really good episode of south park. it isn't gratuitous in its shock value but i will warn that parts of this play are dated.
also, a lot of the reviews for this on here refer to this as a prequel to ride the cyclone because richmond co-wrote the musical and there is a character from each work named penny lamb, but legoland is not a direct prequel to ride the cyclone and you shouldn't approach this play assuming that it is.
also, a lot of the reviews for this on here refer to this as a prequel to ride the cyclone because richmond co-wrote the musical and there is a character from each work named penny lamb, but legoland is not a direct prequel to ride the cyclone and you shouldn't approach this play assuming that it is.
March 7, 2023
This show is completely unhinged in the best possible way. A fantasia of chaos grounded in the genuine earnestness of the precocious Lamb siblings. If you ever get the chance to see it performed, go. Run, don't walk. Legoland is a delight.
June 1, 2024
I love Penny Lamb so much, I sure hope she never gets decapitated on a rollercoaster
April 12, 2023
Probably like many others, I went and checked out Legoland after watching Ride The Cyclone, and finding out there were possible ties to Jacob Richmond's other play, Legoland. Note, as this is essentially a playbook, it reads as such.
I discovered a copy for sale online, tracked one down, and obtained it to find out more about Penny.
While there are clear differences in where Legoland took place and where Ride The Cyclone took place, there are clear connections at time. I know others don't consider them in the same canon, but I still do as it's part of the trilogy Richmond had planned.
We see why Penny wasn't well known at her new school in Ride The Cyclone, as she was taken in by the state, alongside her brother, after her parents were arrested for Pot Farming. We see both her and her brother are instantly ostracized at their new school. We see both kids are generally pretty messed up, but have fallen through the cracks of society.
When Penny's favorite band breaks up, and her idol starts over as a mysognystic rapper, she tries to "save him" with the help of her brother..... and gets arrested! They then have to give public speeches as part of their probation.
We see her more boisterous and loud than the more demure shy version we see in the small snippets of alive Penny in Ride The Cyclone at the beginning of the show. We see how much her brother and her only really have each other as well.
Still, this book made me think the "John and me" line from Ballad of Jane Doe, didn't refer to Johnny of this book, or the Jane/John Doe obvious reference, but her brother-- The other forgotten kid, who would have not even known her sister had died that day. That nobody would have known of, and would have just as well been forgotten as well.
An interesting read for fans of Ride The Cyclone.
I discovered a copy for sale online, tracked one down, and obtained it to find out more about Penny.
While there are clear differences in where Legoland took place and where Ride The Cyclone took place, there are clear connections at time. I know others don't consider them in the same canon, but I still do as it's part of the trilogy Richmond had planned.
We see why Penny wasn't well known at her new school in Ride The Cyclone, as she was taken in by the state, alongside her brother, after her parents were arrested for Pot Farming. We see both her and her brother are instantly ostracized at their new school. We see both kids are generally pretty messed up, but have fallen through the cracks of society.
When Penny's favorite band breaks up, and her idol starts over as a mysognystic rapper, she tries to "save him" with the help of her brother..... and gets arrested! They then have to give public speeches as part of their probation.
We see her more boisterous and loud than the more demure shy version we see in the small snippets of alive Penny in Ride The Cyclone at the beginning of the show. We see how much her brother and her only really have each other as well.
Still, this book made me think the "John and me" line from Ballad of Jane Doe, didn't refer to Johnny of this book, or the Jane/John Doe obvious reference, but her brother-- The other forgotten kid, who would have not even known her sister had died that day. That nobody would have known of, and would have just as well been forgotten as well.
An interesting read for fans of Ride The Cyclone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2023
This was GORGEOUS. I would love to direct this show. I found the premise deeply funny, and the level of nuance is delicious.
February 26, 2024
Having just played the show, it was very fun for me to dive into this extra piece of Ride the Cyclone lore
December 16, 2022
I love Penny so much!!!!kjbcseailbce
January 31, 2023
Funny, entertaining. I chose a monologue from this for my next audition actually, so clearly I liked it enough.
I don't usually read comedy but I'm glad I made an exception for this.
I thought it was interesting how the main plot and climax of the story was based off of the cliche "don't meet your heroes."
Ezra's character was very realistic, he constantly reminded me of my little brother. Not sure if that's a good thing-
I just mean that the sibling dynamic spoke true to what average sisters and brothers experience in the modern world.
If you're a theatre kid and/or a fan of Ride The Cyclone, I highly recommend this. It gives a great insight to what Jane Doe's life was like before... y'know...
I don't usually read comedy but I'm glad I made an exception for this.
I thought it was interesting how the main plot and climax of the story was based off of the cliche "don't meet your heroes."
Ezra's character was very realistic, he constantly reminded me of my little brother. Not sure if that's a good thing-
I just mean that the sibling dynamic spoke true to what average sisters and brothers experience in the modern world.
If you're a theatre kid and/or a fan of Ride The Cyclone, I highly recommend this. It gives a great insight to what Jane Doe's life was like before... y'know...
March 22, 2024
This is a fun, frenetic ball of chaos that really does read like a high schooler’s assumption of comedy. It gets absolutely nuts by the end, and I’m morbidly curious how a two person team could pull this off on stage. I’m impressed by how 00s they made it feel without tying into anything specific other than a brief 9/11 reference.
July 28, 2025
Cute!
Very happy to have finally dedicated to Legoland. I think it is worth noting that this book took longer to find and gather information on than to read. Ride the Cyclone slaps so hard, so I was intrigued to see the first in the trilogy. Glad to say that bit of edge is still there, but a bit more jagged than Cyclone. The more crass humor is appreciated, especially given the rough upbringing of the siblings.
I think that the artistic growth is apparent here, which is great, but does feel slightly backwards with how much bigger the sequel is. Cyclone spoiler, but having it end with the return of Penny added this mystic aura around Legoland. This sadly did give it some big shoes to fill. How will this trilogy end? Does Lego add new context that was initially unseen? Sadly not, at least from this read. It was cool to see Penny’s story, but it feels so tangential to Cyclone that it left me feeling a bit ungrateful. It is not the fault of Legoland, but still.
I am very excited to see the end of this trilogy, as it really is something special. Go slime tutorial Ride the Cyclone if you haven’t. I would say do the same for this, but to my knowledge only fragments of showings remain. Support weird theater stuff like this.
Very happy to have finally dedicated to Legoland. I think it is worth noting that this book took longer to find and gather information on than to read. Ride the Cyclone slaps so hard, so I was intrigued to see the first in the trilogy. Glad to say that bit of edge is still there, but a bit more jagged than Cyclone. The more crass humor is appreciated, especially given the rough upbringing of the siblings.
I think that the artistic growth is apparent here, which is great, but does feel slightly backwards with how much bigger the sequel is. Cyclone spoiler, but having it end with the return of Penny added this mystic aura around Legoland. This sadly did give it some big shoes to fill. How will this trilogy end? Does Lego add new context that was initially unseen? Sadly not, at least from this read. It was cool to see Penny’s story, but it feels so tangential to Cyclone that it left me feeling a bit ungrateful. It is not the fault of Legoland, but still.
I am very excited to see the end of this trilogy, as it really is something special. Go slime tutorial Ride the Cyclone if you haven’t. I would say do the same for this, but to my knowledge only fragments of showings remain. Support weird theater stuff like this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 16, 2025
i don't know what i was expecting. probably should've expected this. I don't mean that in a bad way--I liked this a lot. it was deranged, but not in the way most experimental theater is deranged. it actually had a plot and characters, unlike most experimental theater. no, it was just really strange. one-act, one-scene fever dream with hollywood hair barbie. (tlt reference?!?!?) also, it was really, really funny. seriously, i had no idea a girl who had her head cut off could make me laugh that much. and she said she's not a lesbian and i believe her, which is a first. anyway, if you like rtc, you should read this, not because it's related to rtc at all (it's really not) but because it's hilarious and sort of super moving and thoughtful and smart, but mostly hilarious.
also, on the amazon page for this book one of the "customers also bought" is the book of bill, which knocked the mortal soul out of my body upon reading. amazon has no right to call me out so unfairly and accurately.
also, on the amazon page for this book one of the "customers also bought" is the book of bill, which knocked the mortal soul out of my body upon reading. amazon has no right to call me out so unfairly and accurately.
November 18, 2024
I love this play so much! I would love to perform or watch it someday, though that is unlikely.
It's interestingly comical, and so out there and nuanced and real all at the same time.
It's important to note most who read this will have seen RTC before hand; this came before it so it might not fully line up with it, but I would say its brilliant in it's own right.
The characters are delightful, really fun to read about and watch (There is a clip on YouTube called The Lambs sing Eminem), The plot is interesting, and the storytelling devices used are very unique and impactful. It's quite all over the place, but that fits the characters and how the story takes place etcetera.
10/10
Would and have recommended and read multiple times
It's interestingly comical, and so out there and nuanced and real all at the same time.
It's important to note most who read this will have seen RTC before hand; this came before it so it might not fully line up with it, but I would say its brilliant in it's own right.
The characters are delightful, really fun to read about and watch (There is a clip on YouTube called The Lambs sing Eminem), The plot is interesting, and the storytelling devices used are very unique and impactful. It's quite all over the place, but that fits the characters and how the story takes place etcetera.
10/10
Would and have recommended and read multiple times
July 5, 2022
This play tugs at my heart every day. It's quirky, playful, free, angsty, etc. etc. Truly a playground for emotions. What I love most about Legoland is that it lets its characters - children - feel both youthful and achingly intelligent all at once. Highly recommend, besties.
December 13, 2022
so so funny, loved this so much!!
May 24, 2023
Wrestling is real -- it’s the world that’s set up.
August 31, 2023
As a person obsessed with lore and Ride the cyclone this book was great. I got it around two days ago and have already read it four times. I love this book, and it's probably one of my favorites.
April 15, 2024
Loved it, it was so funny, so chaotic and I just love Penny :)
June 4, 2024
someone cast me in this asap
June 24, 2024
okay it’s got weird momentum and feels like it needs more development in places this but two strong actors could really make this soar. it’s weird but it’s good weird. i love Good Weird plays
August 21, 2024
This was absurd and excellent. Magnificent piece of Canadian fiction. Going to have to read the rest of the trilogy when I have time. If you can handle a bit of insanity, highly recommend.
November 4, 2024
That was....interesting....
November 28, 2024
this was an acid trip in the best way. I must see a live production of this play asap.
January 26, 2025
Quirky, with the tone Ride the Cyclone fans would expect from the author. A nice book break with this script!
March 19, 2025
I have gyatten back into my play era. This was unsettling. The ending didn't hit for me (the monologue came out of nowhere) but it's good.
August 7, 2025
penny is so real tbh
June 28, 2023
THE SILLIES !
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews