Cedar Crest College Department of Performing Arts delivers a frenetically funny “Puffs” in the laugh-a-minute satires inspired by Harry Potter.
“Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic” runs through Feb. 22 at Samuels Theater, Cedar Crest College, 100 College Drive, Allentown.
The show take a humorous look at what was happening with the less accomplished wizards at Hogwart while Harry Potter and his friends were fighting the dark Lord Lord Voldemort.
It definitely helps to be familiar with the Harry Potter canon as the references and joke fly by .
In fact, none of the cool kids are. Instead of the brave ones, the brainy ones or the nasty, good-looat break-neck speed.
“Puffs” focuses on the less-talented kids whom the sorting hat assigns to the least consequential house Hufflepuff or “Puffs.”
Nik Georgievski is earnest and endearing as Wayne, an 11-year old orphan from from New Mexico whose parents had been wizards before dying in a chocolate-frog accident.
When Wayne is sorted into the Puff house, he bonds with the angry Megan (a spirited Ashley Rodriguez), who dream of following her evil mother; and Oliver (a diligent Salem Perez Torres), a muggle math prodigy, who discovers no one cares about math at a wizard school.
Rosemarie Kramer is the oh-so proper British narrator who guides the audience through the seven books or years at the school.
The rest of the Puffs are appealingly dorky from Kyleigh Vicoso’ overly eager Leanne to Alyssa Weber’s hilariously clutzy Sally.
Max McCurdy is charismatic as Cedric Diggory, an actual Hufflepuff character from the books, who leads the other Puffs in their efforts to come in third.
Also canon are Michelle Cintron as Hannah, Jayden McFaddin as Ernie Mac and David Lippincott as J. Finch, all of whom were Hufflepuff friends in the books.
Of course, there are appearances by the boy who will not die as he zips through scenes on his way to saving the world, played by a smug Jahniya James, who is often accompanied by a familiar red-headed string mop?
The story begins to parallel Harry’s, especially in the second half and there is a great scene where the Puffs confer right before the Battle of Hogwarts, discussing whether they should fight or not.
There is a heartwarming subplot in which Rodriguez’ Megan reconciles with her mother, played by Michelle Rieder and accepts that they are destined to be Puffs.
McCurdy also portrays a creepy but funny Mr. Voldy, while Will Windsor Erwin and JoAnn Wilchek Basist plays a slew of instructor who will be familiar to fans.
The cast rounds out with Kiersten Frey, Naomi Henninger and Olivia McCarron.
The pacing, courtesy of director Jarrod Yuskauskas in his Cedar Crest directorial debut. is frantic.
The wildly moving set by Roxanne Amico neatly recalls a Hogwarts-like school and moving portraits display British stars from both past and present.
There will be a “Nerd Night,” celebrating STEM minds, fandom love, and third-place pride, at 6 p.m. Feb. 21 in the alumnae green room. Register online.
Performance are 7 p.m. Feb. 21; and 2 p.m. Feb. 22.
Ticket are $15 for adults; $10 for seniors and $5 for students.
For information, call 610-740-3780, or go to www.cedarcrest.edu.