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| James Percy and Joseph Maudsley |
Written by
Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner
Directed by
Richard Hurst for Lunchbox Theatrical Productions and Potted Productions.
Set Designed
by Simon Scullion –Lighting Designed by Tim Mascall
Canberra
Theatre, 5 – 7th April.
Reviewed by
Bill Stephens
 |
| James Percy and Joseph Maudsley |
This show
could save you months of ploughing through the books. On the other hand, it
could inspire you to dig out those Harry Potter books and actually read them.
However, in the event that you’ve already read them all, you might find
yourself convulsing in paroxysms of laughter, as was the tot in front, who
looked hardly old enough to read, but happily proclaimed at the end, that she
had read six Harry Potters and that the show was wonderful, thereby trumping
this review.
This delightfully
silly concoction, the brainchild of British writers, Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner, and
performed with obvious relish and unflagging enthusiasm, by Joseph Maudsley and
James Percy, takes on the challenge of condensing the storylines of all seven Harry Potter books into 75 minutes.
It’s a tall
order, and only the most devoted Potterphiles, (and there seemed to be a lot of
them in the audience), would be able to make head or tail of the madcap antics,
as Maudsley and Percy assumed a myriad of characters, utilising an endless
stream of ridiculous costumes and props, references to Broadway musicals, and
enthusiastic audience participation, as they skated through the convoluted
plots.
The audience
was up for the challenge however, and happily split into opposing camps of
Slytherins or Gryffinders for an energetic
bout of Quidditch, cheered on Draco Malfoy, and actually recognised Albus
Dumbledore and Hermione Granger among the weird assortment of characters.
Whether you’re
a Harry Potter tragic or simply Potter-curious, you’ll find it hard to resist
this inspired lunacy guaranteed to tickle the fancy from tiny’s to Dumbledore’s
(who’s very old indeed).
This review first published in the digital edition of CITY NEWS on 5.4.2019
Photos provided