I might say the Hufflepuffs get a nasty rap within the “Harry Potter” universe, however honestly they barely get any rap in any respect. That’s the purpose of “Puffs,” Matt Cox’s spoof of J.Ok. Rowling’s magical world that additionally serves as love letter to her books and their film diversifications.
The comedy is onstage at Theatre South Playhouse in southwest Orlando, and already has drawn sufficient followers to warrant an extension. Performances have now been added by way of Feb. 15.
At Theatre South Playhouse, director Nick Bublitz makes comedian magic throughout the first act. The second half is extra of a wrestle, as Cox sadly turns to cursing — not the magical variety, however the vulgar variety — in a approach that deflates the present’s sunny tone. However Bublitz ably makes the present’s extra uplifting messages shine by way of.
General, it is a worthy romp for followers of Quidditch, Gryffindors, and even He-Who-Should-Not-Be-Named. (By the way in which, if that final sentence appears like gibberish, this isn’t the present for you.)
In fact, these phrases don’t seem within the present; a part of the enjoyable is how Cox skirts all of the Potter-verse phrases (darn legal professionals) in ways in which you instantly know what he’s referencing. The 4 hours of “a sure faculty of magic and magic,” for instance, are referred to as the Braves, the Smarts, the Snakes and … the Puffs.
Wayne (Blake Croft) is the most recent addition to the Puffs. He’s an orphan — his wizard dad and mom had been killed in “a tragic chocolate frog accident” — and he arrives at college “after a really complicated train-station expertise.” He rapidly befriends nerdy mathematical genius however horrible magician Oliver (Trevor Spence) and goth woman Megan (Jena Rashid). The trio then have seven years of adventures … within the background of wizarding whiz child Harry (Lilly Scarlett).
It’s all cheerfully narrated by Pat Clark, with the precise goofy timing and vocal cadence, and performs out on an atmospheric set of flickering candles and mysterious tomes, designed by Hillary Brook and Becca Johnson. The sound design, tailored from the off-Broadway manufacturing and expertly cued by Alex Tomaso, additionally contributes drastically to the enjoyable.
Croft has the precise gung-ho spirit to be a sympathetic hero. Spence (who was simply so good enjoying King Henry VI for Orlando Shakes) scores laughs as put-upon Oliver, and Rashid does fantastic work as outsider Megan, deftly not overdoing the downer angle.
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The ensemble members play a number of roles and shine in lots of, significantly Bennet Preuss, who has goofy appeal as bumbling J. Finch Fletchley; Woodrow Helms, who comically channels Alan Rickman’s silky voice because the movies’ Professor Snape; and Mia Hammond, as varied eccentric professors. Andres Procel has fantastic swagger as Cedric, and in just some snippets of stage time, Bryann Fleming makes a particuarly pleasing impression as Ginny.
I want I may very well be as gung-ho about act 2 of the present as I used to be concerning the fizzy first half. I’ve to suppose playwright Cox was making an attempt to imitate Rowling’s plan of constructing the tales develop into extra grownup as they progressed. However his approach to try this is to coarsen the language and reference in methods which are at odds with the lighthearted enjoyable that has come earlier than.
Fortunately, finally the vibe shifts to paying tribute to the enjoyment the Potter yarns have introduced so many. That salute is there in the way in which the principle three characters rise up for one another by way of thick and skinny and the life classes discovered alongside the way in which.
A type of classes: Even when looks as if there’s “nothing actually particular” concerning the Puffs, as one character says, their qualities make them matter: Loyalty, kindness, acceptance of everybody — even these, or perhaps particularly these, the world doesn’t see as vital.
Come to think about it, the world may use much more Puffs.
Observe me at fb.com/matthew.j.palm or e-mail me at mpalm@orlandosentinel.com. Discover extra leisure information and critiques at orlandosentinel.com/leisure.
‘Puffs’
- Size: 2:35 together with intermission
- The place: Theatre South Playhouse at The Market at Dr. Phillips, 7601 Della Drive in Orlando
- When: Via Feb. 15
- Value: $30 and up (Scholar and senior reductions out there)
- Data: theatresouthplayhouse.org/puffs
