I admit it: I stopped reading the Harry Potter books after book four (the progressive thickness of the books, plus my adult ADHD kicking in, may have been a factor). So, you can understand my skepticism about watching Potted Potter, a parody that condenses all seven Potter books into a 70-minute performance. But, as it turns out, no prior knowledge of J.K. Rowling’s world of wizardry is necessary for watching this Mirvish production.
Once upon a time, Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner — or, simply, Dan and Jeff — were asked to create a five-minute street show in London summarizing the first five Potter books. As the series grew, so did the show, first expanding into 60 minutes for six Potter books, then finally 70 minutes to include the last installment in the septology. The show toured across the U.K. as a sort of travelling vaudeville show, even landing at the famed Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where, I feel, was probably the best place to see it.
The show’s humble Fringe beginnings are evident upon glancing at the stage for the first time when entering the Panasonic Theatre. Onstage lies a large, colourful, toy-like train, a Narnia-esque armoire, a simple side table, a weird coffin and a brightly painted poster of a tropical island with the words “Forbidden Forest” haphazardly spray-painted across it. What was once probably thought of as a cute and clever set in a smaller Fringe-like venue now just looks like a bunch of random items from your daft uncle’s basement, trumped by the theatre’s significant size.
But perhaps that’s the point. My initial concern with not being able to follow along is put to rest at the start of the show when Dan and Jeff immediately break the fourth wall, bringing the audience in on the joke: Dan and Jeff are actors, they are putting on a Harry Potter-type show, and they have no idea what’s going to happen. And that pretty much sums up Potted Potter in a nutshell.
Playing with the Dan-is-a-silly-nitwit and Jeff-is-a-Harry-Potter-know-it-all dynamic, the two are clearly having a ball with this show. In fact, it’s their amazing chemistry, mixed with their hilarious improvised bits, that makes the show as fun as it is. Their frenetically-paced “whiz-through” of the books, with Jeff playing Harry Potter and Dan playing the remaining 300+ characters, is more like a variety show than an actual theatrical experience, and it grows tiresome around book four (funnily enough).
I love kooky costumes as much as the next person, but as Dan pulled out more and more cutesy hand puppets and wigs from behind the armoire, I would have put a Deletrius spell on him if I could. The audience-engaged game of Quidditch at the half-way mark was a welcomed reprieve if only because the woman representing the Slytherin team pulled one heck of a tackle on Jeff’s ridiculously-dressed Snitch.
Though Harry Potter fans will probably be disappointed that the narrative of Dan and Jeff’s condensed retelling isn’t very close to Rowling’s world at all, the evening is still a fun one for both wizards and muggles alike — even if the show would be better suited for a pub, with a glass of Butterbeer in hand.
Potted Potter, Panasonic Theatre, Feb. 14 – March 25