PLAYFUL POTTER PALS DELIVER COMEDY MAGIC

Potted Potter is a low-budget, rapid-fire tribute show that’s short on plot but long on laughter

They might be Muggles, but James Percy and Joseph Maudsley deserve an Outstanding O.W.L. for their ability to cast a perfect silliness spell in Potted Potter.

If that sentence doesn’t make any sense, this probably isn’t the show for you.

In Potted Potter, the comedic duo recreate all seven books from the Harry Potter series in a low-budget, rapid-fire, 75-minute show. The play comes from a place of love, which is important because people really, really love Harry Potter.

The recreation of Harry’s magical world takes extensive artistic licence (devil horns on Lord Voldemort, warthogs instead of Hogwarts and a rude, clown wigwearing Ron Weasley, to name a few). The moment you surrender to the silliness, the fun begins. The play is light on plot points but heavy on laughs.

Percy assigns himself to play the boy wizard, leaving the hapless Maudsley to play everyone else. They quickly run into problems when it becomes clear Maudsley doesn’t know his quaffle from his Quibbler.

Created by Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner, this “unauthorized Harry experience,” is authentically British.

The play is full of dumb jokes and cultural references. There are a fair few groaners, but the duo is so likable it’s easy to forgive the bad ones.

Percy is an excellent straight man to his goofy friend, but some of the funniest moments in Tuesday’s opening night performance came when his steely exterior gave way to fits of giggles. Who could blame him with Maudsley’s antics? Many of the moments that had the audience howling the loudest felt improvised.

There’s nothing highbrow about Potted Potter. Partway through the show Percy said, “I think we can all agree the victim is theatre.”

From the ridiculous wigs to the crappy set pieces, Potted Potter’s sole aim is laughter. If you want all the drama and life lessons of Harry Potter, it’s best to stick to the books or movies. If you want to escape for 75 minutes and get a sore belly from chuckling, Potted Potter is magic.

Potted Potter, the best worst Harry Potter tribute around, runs until Thursday at the Broadway Theatre.

MIRVISH PRODUCTIONS Jefferson Turner, left, and Daniel Clarkson created the seriously silly Potted Potter, an ‘unauthorized Harry experience.’ Their laughter-filled tribute show is now being staged at Saskatoon’s Broadway Theatre by James Percy and Joseph Maudsley.