Potted Potter: The Unauthorised Harry Experience. A Parody by Dan and Jeff
Last weekend, after delays due to COVID and the Brisbane floods, QPAC finally played host to Potted Potter: The Unauthorised Harry Experience. A parody by two-time Olivier Award-nominated actors Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner, the hugely popular show is billed as all seven Harry Potter books condensed into 70 minutes on stage – a feat that our writer and her Potter-loving 12 year old daughter were very eager to watch unravel.
What to expect from Potter Potter
What becomes apparent very early on is that whatever pre-conceived ideas you may have had about how this show will play out will no doubt be on a broom and flying out the door before the first book is even addressed. For this is no ordinary storytelling. Instead, the two main characters here – one who is an avid Potter fan who has read all the books and the other a loveable sidekick who has not read a single line but plans to “wing it” throughout, have a very different experience for their audience in mind.
If your Brisbane Kids has a love for Harry Potter, you might be interested in our Harry Potter Trail showcasing all the best Harry Potter themed places in Brisbane!
What follows is 70 minutes of comedic genius as the actors jump in and out of each of the books as they interact heavily with their audience, bicker between themselves and even take part in a game of Quidditch with the very eager crowd. Playing seamlessly off of one of another, the duo’s dynamic is silly, infectious and laugh-out-loud funny but it is also incredibly clever as they take on the books many characters through an endless whirlwind of ridiculously simple costumes and props, accents and slapstick fun.
What we thought
Although it will be easy to love this show and all of the on-stage antics regardless if you have read a line from a book or not, the true Potter fans will have a richer experience as they will understand the many underlying jokes and references throughout. With characters depicted by the smallest costume or prop addition, die hard Potter fans will understand how they relate and will easily recognise their beloved characters. At one point, as the audience was split in half to play a game of “Quidditch”, one half cheered enthusiastically as they were named team Gryffindor (Harry’s team) while the other half were a little less happy when they were labelled team Slytherin. The entire room erupted with laughter though then one small section of crowd, quiet in their response from the actors, were deemed Hufflepuff instead. A joke that only those who had read the books would understand.
My 12 year old daughter has read all seven of the Harry books (as have I) and she delighted in watching them all re-enacted with such crazed hilarity in front of her. Although her obsession with the books and characters has waned slightly over the years, she laughed from start to finish and exclaimed loudly at the end that she absolutely loved it. I did too.
A somewhat crazy, extremely funny and exciting production to watch, Potter Potter is a fantastic show that can be enjoyed by all ages – regardless if you have read the books or not. No doubt, after the water guns, human Quidditch ball and other crazy antics on display, the audience will either race home to revisit their favourite Potter tales or leave with an interest in finally getting around to reading them.
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