ADELAIDE FRINGE 2009
Potted Potter
14 March 2009
The Garden of Unearthly Delights, The Pod
Two nerds have 70 minutes to tell the stories of all seven Harry Potter books to a sold-out audience of obsessive Harry Potter fans (myself included)...
Potter Potter was created by UK TV presenters Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner. Dan and Jeff haven’t come down under, but secreted their sold-out-show spell to John Helier and David Ahmad for its journey to Oz.
And all should be keeping the list of ingredients and the magic word under Gringott’s protection, because Potted Potter is non-stop hilarity that young and old Potter fans lap up and non-potheads can still enjoy.
From a warthog (Hogwarts) gag, through to the perfect rendition of the Snape/Potter relationship, a Daniel Radcliffe/Equus reference, an audience participation game of Quiddich, and the final “Death and Camping” joke, Potted Potter never fails in its knowledge of the books (or the films), while ensuring that it can be enjoyed by everyone.
Helier and Ahmad’s are as irresistible as an all-you-can-eat afternoon in Honeydukes, while the script’s secret is its determination to be unexpected and fun. Harry’s story is really just the subplot, as the straight and nerdy book-guy is continually frustrated by his impulsive, inventive (and nerdy) mate, who thinks they might be performing Lord of the Rings (set in Narnia) and has spent all the money for hiring a cast on a dragon for book four.
The Adelaide shows are selling out (with about a 50:50 kid: adult ratio), but it’s on its way to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Don’t worry if your kids (or you) are still working their way through the series, as its fast and enough to miss any significant spoilers – except that it does end happily. If you’ve read them all three or four times, there is enough content to keep you enthralled and if you’ve thought of renting the DVD, come along and see what the fuss is about – and expect to stop at the library or the bookstore on your way home.
This review originally appeared on AussieTheatre.com.
