Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, champion of Gryffindor house—a well known protagonist of one of the most famous series ever written. Characterized as brave, noble, and righteous, he practically writes the hero trope. There is no better namesake for the series. It’s no wonder Gryffindor is the most identified house in the fanbase.
Enter Wayne Hopkins, underachieving American sorted into Hufflepuff, or “Puff.” In the LTHS production of Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic, Wayne plays the role of main character. Like Harry, he’s an underdog; unlike Harry, he doesn’t have a world-changing destiny waiting for him. As a Puff, he’s doomed to being subpar in school and lacking in magical ability. He has zero lasting relevance to the overall plot, which ironically, is the entire plot of the play. The intent, satire, and motifs of the script were translated perfectly to stage by the Porter Players, who gave a phenomenal performance.
The play was already prepared for success by the dedicated tech crew, who spent hours crafting the breathtaking set seen on stage, as well as controlling all the effects during the show. Lighting, curtains, set changes, and mics were all directed by members of tech. Without their immense contribution, Puffs never would have made it to opening night.
Of course, this play was targeted entirely towards fans of the Harry Potter series. A lot of the jokes and references didn’t land without background knowledge of the series, but overall, many still seemed to enjoy the experience. Even without knowing the context of “Dumbledore said calmly,” the audience could laugh at the talented actors’ comedic timing. Any necessary worldbuilding was delivered clearly, making the show accessible to anyone who wanted to see it.
Overall, the team managed to thoroughly engage the audience with their clever delivery and use of the entire auditorium. They nailed the British and French accents alike, and even the switch between English and American went seamlessly. It’s clear the club poured a lot of time and effort into this production, and it will certainly be memorable for many years to come. Dr. Gilbert, sponsor of the Porter Players, can retire from the team with much pride after this amazing performance.
