If you’re a fan of Monty Python and a Harry Potter nerd (and I know you’re out there), you’ll want to hurry to The Black Box Theatre to take in the wacky and quirky Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic, a 2015 original comedy by playwright Matt Cox directed by Kailey Ackerman. The play is a parody of the Harry Potter book series by J. K. Rowling, but from the perspective of the "Puffs": that is, members of the Hogwarts house, Hufflepuff.
The play premiered Off-Off Broadway in December 2015 and moved to off Broadway in 2016 and has been praised for its comedy and staging and was nominated for the Off-Broadway Alliance Award for "Best Unique Theatrical Experience" in 2017 (clearly an understatement). The Black Box website states: “For seven years a certain boy wizard went to a certain Wizard School and conquered evil. This, however, is not his story. This is the story of the Puffs…who just happened to be there too. A tale for anyone who has never been destined to save the world.” The show actually condenses the seven years Harry Potter was at Hogwarts told from the hysterically funny perspective of Harry’s classmates Wayne, Earnie Mac, Leanne, Megan, Hannah, J. Finch, Sally, Susie and Cedric. Needless to say, it’s an eccentric, off-the-wall telling of the story that eventually delivers a poignant message to warm your cockles on the way home. However, be forewarned. If you sit in the front row keep your feet tucked in, lest you trip one of the actors as the fly by.
This is a fabulously funny ensemble cast that makes it impossible to single out one over another as they play multiple roles. Most of them are new to me, except for Tommy Ratkiewcz as Cedric who is fresh off his performance as Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls at Countryside Community Theatre. It was so fun to see him in the contrasting roles. Joining him – in the above order – are Aaron Deneckere, Aiden Earley, Eden Myers, Elissa Dynes, Emma Hughes, Matt Call, Savannah Skidmore, and Valerie Moore. Tying everything together as the narrator is Cayla Odendahl.
The lighting in this show on opening night was inconsistent often leaving the actors in the dark but was apparently due to a technical glitch. Happily, I have been assured this has been fixed.
Sometimes it’s just delightful to see a show for the pure, irrepressible, comedy for which you don’t have to engage many brain cells and this show totally fills the bill. You just sit back, enjoy, and laugh your head off.
Puffs continues at The Black Box Theatre, 1623 5th Avenue in Moline Thursday through Saturday, August 13, 14, and 15 at 7:30 p.m. Please note the production is rated PG-13 for adult language and themes. In my opinion, some of it is pretty racy and should be restricted to older teens.
I’m Chris Hicks break a leg.