Puffs
at Fairfax High School

Reviewed on November 12, 2021

Alex Perry
Lake Braddock Secondary School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

When envisioning a hero, one may picture a courageous gladiator, a sharp-witted professor, or a cunning sorcerer. But can a hero be someone who is exceptionally unremarkable? Fairfax High School's production of "Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic" suggests a band of ordinary outsiders striving for greatness, the Puffs, can be just as rewarding.

Matt Cox's comical and heartwarming "Puffs" ran Off-Broadway from 2016 to 2019, accumulating critical acclaim and dedicated fans. The show takes an internationally known story and flips it on its head, pushing established characters to the back and shining the spotlight on the Puffs, a group of underdogs who learn their failures are what makes them each uniquely valuable. Persistent dangers place our characters in troubling circumstances, forcing them to rely on the strengths they possess.

The performance centered on Hank Hawkins' portrayal of Wayne Hopkins, a timid, shaky, and, at times, foolish wizard. Hawkins was brilliant in the role, offering a relatable character for whom the audience constantly rooted throughout the show. Small details in his performance, such as a consistent quiver in his voice, were noticeable, creating an engaging hero for the show. Madeleine Tyler, playing Megan Jones, similarly excelled in conveying the different facets of her character. As she grew less hostile, her vocal tone and physicality shifted to match.

Central to the production were the titular Puffs, a tight-knit, lively ensemble, each performing with a distinctive quality setting them apart from others. Trevor Sloan depicted Oliver Rivers, Wayne's best friend, with a spellbinding and distinguishable difference between his intellectual roots in the beginning to his confidence near the ending. Guiding the Puffs was Logan Baker who played the supportive Cedric during Act I and the extravagant Voldy in Act II. Baker quite effectively showed the juxtaposition of his characters with considerable range. Isabella Jackson, performing as Leanne, the bubbly and lighthearted foil to Megan, displayed an incredibly engaging performance every time she entered. Additionally, Daniel Todd, the Narrator, became a calming presence with whom the audience felt comfortable anytime he appeared.

In addition to acting, "Puffs" demanded substantial technical support. Fairfax High School's technical crew met this challenge with clear commitment. Isabella Heffron designed a multi-tiered set which stretched the entire length of the stage. Numerous entrances helped actors appear in fresh and unpredictable ways. The inclusion of a second level offered distinct positions for actors and captivated the audience. The lighting department, led by Timothy Farmer, built on each scene with specific lighting choices, such as bright red lights moving around, indicating danger, reflecting the emotions conveyed at each moment. The costumes, which Maeve Donohue produced, showed appreciation for the individuality of each character and introduced a specific aspect of each of their personalities.

Formidable acting, witty humor, and incredible stagecraft built an entertaining performance that held the show's values close. Fairfax High School assembled their production with diligence, perseverance, and dedication, which, after viewing the show, the audience has learned is at the core of what makes a person a Puff.

Hannah Frieden
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

Spinning lights. Magical spells. Perfectly timed quips. And amidst it all, a young wizard boy begins his journey. But not the boy of whom you are thinking. View the wizarding world through a different lens with Fairfax High School's spellbinding production of "Puffs."

A retelling of the Harry Potter series, Matt Cox's 2015 play, "Puffs," takes audiences through "seven increasingly eventful years at a certain school of magic and magic," this time with a different trio in focus. Puffs follows Wayne, Oliver, and Megan, three entirely unexceptional students, as they navigate wizard school in the shadow of "the boy who lived" and, in the process, redefine what it means to be a hero.

While performing an already well-established story may seem intimidating, the cast and crew of Fairfax High School's Puffs readily accepted the challenge. The energy and commitment brought by every member of the 38-person cast gave the ensemble both unity and individuality, creating a cast of characters which kept the audience intrigued until the final curtain.

The actors who portrayed Wayne, Oliver, and Megan committed fully to the emotions demanded by their roles, creating a trio of characters who felt raw and genuine. Hank Hawkins, as Wayne, possessed a frantic enthusiasm that was well contrasted by Trevor Sloan's reserved, cautious Oliver. Differences between Sloan's more even tone of voice and restricted movement and Hawkins' louder energy made each character distinct without compromising the social awkwardness uniting them. Sloan and Madeleine Tyler (Megan) executed the show's primary romance with just the right amounts of uncertainty and teenage angst, giving the audience a heart-warming couple to support.

As the Narrator, Daniel Todd walked the line between audience and performer with a captivating grace. His commanding stage presence and deadpan comedic delivery brought life and personality to the role. During the performance, his seamless use of improvisation and audience interaction helped to bridge the gap between the audience and the story unfolding before them. Whether entering from the audience to run onstage with the uffs as Cedric, or demanding Potter's sacrifice through a megaphone as Voldy, each of Logan Baker's entrances resulted in roaring laughter. But when act one neared its end, he portrayed Cedric's final interactions with his fellow Puffs using an intensity that captivated the audience until the very end.

Seamless cues tied the production together and ensured that no audience member felt removed from the magic. The lighting, executed by Timothy Farmer and Charlotte Bronaugh, used a wide array of shapes, patterns, motions, and colors to create everything from the mysterious Mirror of Erised to the watery depths of the Prefect's Bathtub. From the faint rattling of chains during binding spells to the humorously low-pitched wailing of the Triwizard Egg, Bronaugh, along with Elijah Caires, pulled or created a plethora of sound cues which added to the show's authenticity. Together, these two departments cleverly accentuated the show's comedic nature, while also charming the audience with what felt like genuine magic.

Anchored by technical and performance aspects that infused the heavy comedy with emotion and sincerity, Fairfax High School's Puffs not only left the audience in stitches, but with a new perspective on what it means to be a protagonist.

Kaitlyn Rothman
Robinson Secondary School
Submitted for publication to FCPS Community News

Have you ever dreamed of diving headfirst into the seven years of a special boy's journey through wizarding school? If you're thinking of a certain brave young boy, think again. Fairfax High School's production of "Puffs" displays a new end of the spectrum, by following the less popular, never talked about, and often overlooked students: the Puffs.

Written in 2015 by Matt Cox, "Puffs" swept onto off-Broadway stages, after just one year. This comedic show observes a young boy (Wayne), and his discovery of all things witchcraft and wizardry. However, this production is not only about magic. By telling the story through what appear to be lesser-known characters, "Puffs" manages to tell another, more important story. A story of friendship, overcoming, and loyalty. All qualities that seemed to pale in comparison to being "smart", "brave", or evil, and turn out to be the most valued.

Now, Wayne (Hank Hawkins) didn't go through school alone, he befriended Oliver (Trevor Sloan) and Megan (Madeleine Tyler), who stayed by his side throughout the years. Both Sloan and Tyler were committed to their characters. Sloan portrayed Oliver's boyish clumsiness, and bookworm archetype wonderfully. Furthermore, Tyler played Megan as only an experienced performer would. She was able to command the stage as a tough and angsty young teen, and morph with her character into a confident and multifaceted personality. Something so incredible about the two of these characters together was how they could not contrast each other more, yet they formed a young budding romance. Sloan and Tyler did a great job at making that transformation from two separate performers to one unit, effortlessly.

Something so striking about "Puffs" was the nature of the witty and suggestive comedy. It takes a skilled performer to captivate the audience, and Logan Baker did just that. Baker rose to the challenge of portraying two very different, but very comedic characters. He utilized his entire body to wildly gesticulate, dance, and pose his way through his jokes, and not a single one of them missed. His version of Cedric (his first character) was wholesome and perfectly juvenile. Additionally, his rendition of Voldy (his second character) was played with complete confidence, and practice as a performer. He navigated audience interaction, improvisation, and multiple props with ease, and managed to do it all while making the audience laugh.

The story wouldn't be complete without a clever performer to guide it along. Daniel Todd expertly wove the audience through the storyline as though he had done it one hundred times (and he probably had). Rarely does a narrator eventually find a place within the story himself, but Todd made that transition extremely smoothly, quickly becoming someone for whom the audience could champion and relate.

With the fast-paced nature of this production, it was vital for the set and props to keep up. Isabella Heffron led and designed the construction of the main set piece and did it wonderfully. It provided many different ways for multiple performers to enter and exit the stage at the same time. With many doors and sneaky hideouts, the set truly had it all! Immy Moore, the props designer and one of the assistant stage managers did an amazing job at ensuring all prop transitions were displayed correctly. With the magical nature of the show, "Puffs" had dozens of props, and all were cleverly made, further adding to the comedic nature of "Puffs."

All in all, Fairfax High School did a magical job with the execution of "Puffs." From audience interaction to technical design, to amazing performers, it was fantastic as they worked efficiently to produce a work of professionals.

Clay Grisius
Loudoun Valley High School
Submitted for publication to Patch (Fairfax/Alexandria)

Grab your wands, don your capes, and watch out for trolls; Fairfax High School's production of "Puffs" employed incredible acting, synchronous ensemble performance, and spectacular technical aspects to tell the story of "Harry Potter" through a lens like no other!

"Puffs," written by Matt Cox, is a spoof of J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter", following the series from the perspective of the Hufflepuff house, taking place at Hogwarts, otherwise known as "a certain school for male magic and female magic." The show follows the Puffs - a misfit group of quirky wizarding students - and a trio of friends, Wayne, Oliver, and Megan, through their seven years (the same time span of a neurosurgery residency) of schooling. But remember, they go to school with none other than, you guessed it: Harry Potter.

Fairfax High School combined a plethora of acting and technical elements to keep energy levels high and connect the audience with the actors and actresses. Rather than plummeting or plateauing, energy levels increased between the first and second acts of the show, keeping the viewer engaged throughout the performance. One could not help but notice the intricate lights, led by Timothy Farmer and Charlotte Bronaugh. Flashing lights into the audience, lighting was designed to reflect the emotions of the stage, changing from warmer to cooler lighting throughout the show. If you have ever seen Harry Potter, things can get a little hectic at points, during these times throughout the show, performers executed "chaos" expertly. Not only were chaotic scenes executed well, but they also included depth that added to the humor and thematic development of the performance as a whole.

Keeping the show moving using witty improvised lines as the Narrator, Daniel Todd commanded the stage with outstanding quality, even humorously donning clever outfits. The trio of friends performed phenomenally and with amazing chemistry, enhancing the heartfelt messages the show conveyed to the audience. Megan, played by Madeleine Tyler, and Oliver, played by Trevor Sloan, worked especially well together. Madeleine Tyler's character development was awesome; she started off as an angsty, friendless teen living in her mother's footsteps, then gradually warmed up as the show progressed, indubitably reminding the audience of at least one person they know. Trevor Sloan played his role with spectacular quality, meshing well with Tyler. Sloan's performance captivated the audience, cleverly delivering humorous lines at proper points.

Not only did the leads excel in their performance, but the supporting cast also provided excellent comedic relief and side stories to augment the performance. The Puffs' hero, Cedric Diggory, and their sworn enemy, Voldy, were both played with tremendous skill by Logan Baker. Baker hilariously portrayed polar opposite characters with exceptional skill and prowess. His timing on jokes were perfect, allowing the audience to bask in the glory, or awkwardness, of a scene, such as giving his Death Buddy a show of affection. Even with the humor strewn throughout the show, all actors helped maintain the deep message of friendship and identity.

A conglomeration of stupendous performers and technicians, Fairfax High School's production of "Puffs" is a summation of theatrical aspects that worked together to build connections with the audience, and made the audience laugh while pondering a theme, even if there was a troll in the dungeon.

Wilson Weingast
Lake Braddock Secondary School
Submitted for publication to Connection

A long time ago, a peculiar orphan boy is surprised when an owl delivers a note that reads, "You're a wizard." Soon this shy young man is whisked away to Magic School, where he and his two friends fight evil and try to save the wizarding world. Everybody knows this story of course: it is the story of Wayne.

Puffs, by Matt Cox, is a hilarious parody of JK Rowling's famous book series, Harry Potter. Puffs was originally written as a comedic bit for The People's Improv Theatre in New York City. After its initial debut, Cox developed his concept into a full-length show. Puffs is filled with jokes, slapstick, and subtle Easter eggs.

Fairfax High School's production of Puffs perfectly balanced Cox's exaggerated humor with nuanced emotions. The over-the-top character choices by each actor complemented the direction and blocking by Mr. Chris Whitney and student Director Elana Kaplan, enhancing the fun. Fairfax's talented ensemble of actors were not afraid to look goofy. By going ‘all-in', Fairfax High School brought the show to another level.

Rather than following the life of The Boy Who Lived, Puffs followed the life of Wayne (Hank Hawkins). After arriving at Magic School, Wayne was sorted into the Puff house where he quickly befriended Oliver (Trevor Sloan) and Megan (Madeleine Tyler). The Puffs had an odd reputation. They were ever the underdogs, constantly looked down upon by the other houses of the school. Puffs followed the travails of these friends over the next seven years during which they battled evil: evil professors, evil snakes, and an evil narrator (Daniel Todd) who refused to give chocolate to the back of the audience. Then the stakes rose: housemate Cedric (Logan Baker) did something that no Puff had done before: be relevant. Cedric was chosen to represent the school at the Threewizard Tournament, with the small caveat that Harry (Carys Owen) joined him. Wayne and Cedric's friendship grew, which made Cedric's death at the end of the tournament heartbreaking. As emotions ran high, Wayne had to learn the true power of love in order to defeat Mr. Voldy (Logan Baker) and avenge Cedric.

Two actors who stood out were Daniel Todd and Logan Baker. Todd, the Narrator, brought a cool arrogance to the character. Not afraid to break the fourth wall, Todd's narration kept the show progressing with the audience howling with laughter. Similarly, Baker's acting as both Cedric and Voldy was masterful. Baker leaned into both roles, playing them with exuberance and animation. Whether it was fighting a dragon or improvising a monologue about Legally Blonde, Baker undertook every challenge with ease.

In addition to the exceptional acting performances, Fairfax's tech was what truly made the show magical. The lighting, by Timothy Farmer, was outstanding. Farmer's constant use of gobos and gel effects for each spell was on a professional level. Farmer was able to perfectly time each cue, which brought the world of wizardry to life. Another design that captivated the audience was the set, by Isabella Heffron. Heffron's set was a two storied architectural masterpiece, using doors and other little features variably throughout the show.

Fairfax High School split from the Puffs in one notable way. While the Puffs were content to settle for third place, Fairfax was not. Fairfax High School went all in for first, creating a hilarious roller coaster for all to enjoy.

Amelia Preble
Robinson Secondary School
Submitted for publication to Fairfax County Times

Have you ever wondered what happened to the side characters in your favorite stories? Fairfax High School answered this question in a magical way with, "Puffs", a satirical spoof of a series about a certain well-known wizard.

"Puffs" followed the story of the neglected, insignificant background characters in the Harry Potter series. The show, written by Matt Cox, and originally performed at The People's Improv Theatre, was not directly affiliated with the Harry Potter franchise, consisted of countless witty remarks combined with a heartwarming story of friendship and love. Cramming seven years into less than two hours, the show demanded high intensity and focus and became a hilarious journey.

The show was anchored by a tight-knit, high energy ensemble. In scenes that required it, the Puffs were particularly skilled at acting and moving as a unit. Each actor was able to stay engaged and in the scene at all times, even if they were not a direct part of the action. This focus and attention to detail allowed each actor, no matter how small their part, to develop and distinguish a unique, recognizable personality and story. The hard work put into this show was evident in the pacing and timing of each scene. Actors picked up every line and cue at the right time to keep up the energy of the fast-paced, humorous show.

Guiding the characters and audience through the ups and downs of seven incredibly fast years of magic school, Daniel Todd kept up the show's pacing and energy while driving forward the story. With the perfect balance of British snobbery and dry humor, Todd led the show with mature understanding of comedic timing and the rare ability to truly connect with an audience. Whether it be explaining the plot of Legally Blonde or dancing through an 80s rave, Logan Baker brought some of the show's most hilarious moments to the stage as Voldy. In striking contrast to the sassy and evil Voldy of Act II, Baker played the smooth and confident Cedric for half of the show, demonstrating true versatility as an actor.

The actors provided the energy and pure comedy necessary for the production, but the technical designers brought the true magic. To accommodate the rapid scene and location changes, the set, by Isabella Heffron, opened four doors and several more openings as entrances and exits to be used many times throughout the show. This creative approach transformed the stage into an entirely different world. The true spectacle was the lighting, designed by Timothy Farmer. Bouncing between locations, showing magical environments, and visualizing spells sounds difficult, but, with 230 cues, the lighting exceeded these goals and made a visually stunning show.

Coming off a virtual school year with little to no opportunity for live, in-person theatre, everyone is ready to be back. The love and passion for theatre shone through in "Puffs"-- the energy, camaraderie, and enthusiasm shared onstage and with the audience could only belong to a group of people truly having fun.