By Amanda VanNostrand.
All who have witnessed the interactions of young people understand that their very beings can cause feelings that border on hilarity and irritation. From dirty jokes to raucous and poor table manners, adolescents are clearly still learning how to take on life… how to put it… appropriately? The words and actions of the actors in Potted Potter – The Unauthorized Harry Potter Experience, are similar to those of young people and may bring conflicted feelings to adults in the room while the children present will find every minute entirely hilarious. This show is at The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts between now and Sunday, November 25th and anyone hoping for a good laugh to coincide with a retelling of their favorite fantasy series will be glad to see this one through.
Although Potted sounds like it precedes ‘Potter’ because they both begin with the same sounds, this great example of alliteration is coincidental: Potted means ‘abridged’ to the British (and the Oxford English Dictionary). (Potted Productions has also shown Potted Sherlock, Potted Panto, and Potted Pirates, though none of these use alliteration and therefore do not sound nearly as great as our particular production.) Potted Potter – The Unauthorized Harry Potter Experience is just that – Potted Harry Potter. All seven books are told in potted (that’s a great word), abridged segments by two actors: Scott Hoatson, who most often plays the part of Harry Potter, and Brendan Murphy, who plays the parts of all the other characters (minus most of the females because why include them?). The actors sing, act, and rile up the audience as they retell the basic elements of JK Rowling’s brilliant tale.
Potted Potter contains consistent comedy that ranges from childlike humor of face slapping and taunting, to adult, Fifty Shades of Grey humor (in the least Fifty Shades way possible – the book is simply referenced during one scene and certainly goes over the heads of children who are almost all asking their parents, “huh?”). Hoatson and Murphy work extremely well together and convince the audience that they are having just as much fun as them, if not more, as they work their magic (pun intended) to tell the stories. Laughter tails just about every joke and parody (who doesn’t enjoy the occasional political comparison?).
However, one criticism is the writer’s take on Hermione’s character (and by extension, the characters of most females within the stories). Though it may not seem like a major problem (as Ron’s Ronald McDonald hair also does not align with his literary description), Hermione’s hat has two long blonde braids and she makes an appearance just a very small number of times. She is one of the few female characters to take the stage, leaving out others including Professor McGonagall and Bellatrix Lestrange. Though McGonagall and Lestrange’s nonexistence can be forgiven, one may question why Hermione does not have much of a presence. (And when putting this together with the joke where she skips off and claims she is going to the U.N. to talk about women, one may question the regard for women in this show.) Come on, Potted Productions – bring on the women!
Another advisory – teachers – you may not feel appreciated in this production either. Our characters question Dumbledore’s decision to be ‘just a teacher’ with all his brains and talent. Nice.
Also, Americans may be made to feel like they are less than because you don’t know what a Philosopher is. But… to be fair… you should really learn.
No need to cast an unforgivable curse over these reproaches, though: Potted Potter – The Unauthorized Harry Potter Experience is worth attending and gives us all yet another chance to dwell on and enjoy these meaningful stories. The juvenile humor within brings 75 minutes of laughter, and is worth attending over this Thanksgiving holiday.
Advisory: potted potty humor (enough to fill a pottle)
Potted Potter – The Unauthorized Harry Potter Experience will be playing at The Annenberg Center for Performing Arts (3680 Walnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19104) until November 25th. For tickets call (215) 898-3900 or click here.