Potted Potter

Potted Potter
By Daniel Clarkson & Jefferson Turner. Lunchbox Theatrical Productions & Potted Productions. Director: Richard Hurst. Powerhouse, Brisbane, 4-16 November 2014

“Totally awesome” a young muggle moppet claimed as she left the theatre last night and I’m sure the rest of the audience, who had been well-schooled in Hogwarts folklore, would have agreed. This 70-minute G-rated parody of all seven Harry Potter books has been entertaining audiences worldwide since it first appeared as a 5-minute piece of London street theatre in 2005. It’s the show’s third visit to Australia and this time around the two stand-up roles are in the ingratiating hands of two Brits, Benjamin Stratton and James Percy. Both have credits in improv which is essential for this pun-fest of Potter trivia top-heavy with pop-culture references to Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, Narnia and the Twilight series. Audience participation is the name-of-the-game which reached its zenith with the Quiditch match and the search for the Golden Snitch. Aimed at a family audience, Stratton and Percy make this undergrad material appear to be much better than it really is. The sets are almost non-existent and the props could have been bought at any K-Mart, but who cares, it entertains. If you’re a Potter fan then you’ll find it right up your Diagon Alley!

Peter Pinne    

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