Puffs or Seven Increasing Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic
at Chesapeake

Reviewed on November 22, 2019

Keara Sax
South River
Submitted for publication to Maryland Theatre Guide

"Ladies and Gentlemen, Squibs and Squabs!" Calling all wizarding folk (and ‘Muggles') to Chesapeake High School's production of Puffs, or: Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic & Magic.

Puffs is the perfect Harry Potter spoof, with a beautifully paralleled storyline to the classic tale of ‘The Boy Who Lived'. This 110-minute play follows a not-so-magical wizard, Wayne, and his boisterous gang of outcasts better known as the Puffs. The story goes through their seven years at wizarding school as they learn to accept being the laughing stock of the school and attempt to handle the issues Harry brings to school.

Dylan Janik (Wayne Hopkins), Abby Dobry (Megan Jones), and Anthony Martinez (Oliver Rivers) are an endearing knockoff trio, representing many of the struggles of students in a new school: not fitting in or being cool, not wanting to fit in, not feeling smart enough, and above all- struggling to find yourself.

Most actors in Puffs play several characters, yet each character has distinct and unique traits. Alayna Reyes, whose Professor McG accent has an uncanny resemblance to Professor McGonagall's in the movies also reappears later as Frenchy, a competitor in the "Three-Wizard Tournament". Her thick French accent is a hilarious finishing touch to the abruptness of her character's appearance, her line delivery cracking the audience up. Vivian Davenport(Narrator), while not playing several roles, presents herself well, her vocal fluctuations guiding the story and building intensity throughout the show. She is not a typical narrator, but rather fascinates the audience and tells the story from an interesting perspective, luring her listeners in.

The real magic, however, is the Crew's work. Sound by Lia Bagley and Emily Turpin and lights by Aly Shelton and Melissa Turek are spot-on with each cue, creating many entertaining comedical gags, such as when Abby Dobry(Megan Jones) and Anthony Martinez(Oliver Rivers) share a kiss as Careless Whisper plays on a pink-lit stage before they are interrupted and the sound cuts abruptly and lights reset to normal. The set is brightly painted and functional, serving as the classroom, the quidditch bleachers, the "Rorrimdreiw", and more. The props by Lola Scannell, Zoe Smith, Mackenzie Gray, Ella O'Brien, and Lexi Nidecker steal the show. From the Goblet of Fire that looks as if it is truly on fire, to the creative use of a massive fortune teller as the ‘Sorting Hat', to the hand-crafted and painted wands each character holds that lights up when casting a spell.

Overall, Puffs is a must-see for any Harry Potter fan. While it may be hard to watch when things cannot canonically end well, such as Wayne's attachment to Cedric (played by Alex Brown), Puffs is still an honest script that follows the original story, contains plenty of hilarious jokes and stabs at the original books and movies, and leaves the audience with a wonderful lesson on what it means to be a true Puff- and that everyone's got a little Puff in them they have to embrace.

Cheyenne Lustig
South River
Submitted for publication to The Gateway

They're not a threat and they want to be your friend! The cast and crew of Chesapeake's "Puffs" keep the audience laughing with their hilarious show.

Based on the Harry Potter series, the show follows the Puffs, who are the students at the school of magic that no one really pays attention to. The story follows the trio, Wayne, Oliver and Megan in the 7 years they study magic, as it gets crazier, more dangerous, and filled with that awesome teenage awkwardness.

The incredible set, lights, and props really make Chesapeake's production stand out from other shows. There is incredible attention to detail and it really shows, from the piping and electrical on the set walls, to the light up wands which were hand made by tech for the show. The entire cast's energy was also great, they truly kept the audience laughing every minute of the show.

Dylan Janik (Wayne Hopkins) truly embodied the spirit of his character, he was hilarious and the chemistry between him and the rest of the cast made the show truly enjoyable. Abby Dobry (Megan Jones) portrayed the dark, broody energy for her character that every dark and broody teenager wishes they had. Additionally, Anthony Martinez (Oliver Rivers) had comedic timing that was on point for every line and bit he had.

The entire ensemble did a fantastic job! Heather Suesse as Leeane truly stood out due to her high energy and peppy spirit, which played out very well. Alex Simon as J. Finch Fletchley was hilarious and his reactions were always funny to see. You'll also catch a glimpse of Marc McCarthy throwing down some sick Russian dance moves as Viktor, a fun little feature during one of the scenes.

Tech, as earlier highlighted, was fantastic. The sets looked like something straight off Broadway, with distinct doors for each house/team and were also versatile as exits and platforms. The lighting and sound effects were timed up perfectly, and most memorably was a scene in which the narrator fights the monster when the lighting perfectly silhouette's her frame.

Chesapeake's production of "Puffs" was hilarious and an ever-nostalgic nod to anyone who loves the world of Harry Potter. Their well timed delivery and high energy cast made the show truly enjoyable, and made the show one that should be on your schedule to see before it closes!

Layla Hoffmaster
Old Mill
Submitted for publication to The Tribruin

Ever read a story and wonder what happens in the background? Well, Chesapeake High School Theatre Company's production of "Puffs or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic" revolves around a group of background characters.

"Puffs or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic" by Matt Cox, is based off of the popular "Harry Potter" franchise by J.K. Rowling. However, instead of focusing on Rowling's main character "Harry Potter", the play is about the forgotten characters of the story. This show was first performed in 2015, from then, it's popularity grew. Following these background characters through their seven years at school, the play showcases their growth and what it feels like to be the background of the hero's story.

During the show, the special effects, tech and sets created a unique and memorable production. Further adding to the production was how each character was expressed through both acting and costume.

Dylan Janik (Wayne Hopkins) played one of the leads. Janik was true to his character and captured Wayne's ambition and desire to be remembered. Anthony Martinez (Oliver Rivers) gave a powerful performance, showcasing Oliver's personality and relationships with the other characters. Abby Dobry (Megan Jones) expressed the internal conflict Megan faced throughout the play with skill and sophistication.

Vivian Davenport (Narrator) was entertaining and charismatic throughout the entire production, and helped the audience further understand the story. Alex Brown (Cedric, Mister Voldy) delivered a comedic performance in both of his roles. Heather Suesse (Leanne) was full of enthusiasm and helped raise the energy. The rest of the Puffs, including Taylor Haney (Susie Bones), Marc McCarthy (Ernie Mac), Kaylee McMillion (Hannah), Jordan Moreno (Sally Perks) and Alex Simon (J. Finch Fletchley) were played with enthusiasm and comedic charm. Overall, the entire cast of Chesapeake's production worked well together to create an unforgettable performance.

Standout features of this production were the costumes along with hair and makeup. These features were able to express each character's unique personality and quirks. In addition, the set used was well-made and fit the theme of the magic school. Following, the tech and special effects were executed with creativity and enhanced the feeling of magic.

The Chesapeake High School Theatre Company put on a comedic and entertaining performance of "Puffs or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic". With captivating sets and creative characters, this production will bring out your inner "Puff".