POTTED POTTER MANILA 2014

I have missed their runs for quite several times in the past and I vowed to see them if they would ever come back. The lords of the witches and wizards may have heard my pleas and so this year, no dark forces can stop me from seeing Potted Potter as they hit Manila by storm again from September 30 to October 5. I am also blessed to have Jov for taking charge of securing our tickets early on. It was not easy, or so I was told, because tickets are mostly sold out but she managed to get us our desired seats (within our budget, of course) on the October 5th, penultimate run, much to our convenience.

Potted Potter, to those Muggles who may not have heard of it yet, is this theatrical production in London which gives its audiences an unauthorized Harry Potter experience via a parody of the seven books in approximately 70 minutes. Being a Potter fan, it is not one to be missed and is probably the closest to A Very Potter Musical (of Starkid Productions which starred Darren Criss as Harry freaking Potter, that I truly loved) that I could get to watch in the flesh. It is not a musical in a sense, but as I have found out, there is a really rad musical number in there and the actors, James Percy and Ben Stratton are equally awesome as well.

WHAT TO LOVE

The improvisations (as how it may be called in the theater world) and adlibs depending on the places that they have been performing to be able to relate to the fans/audiences more are very commendable. What to expect in Potted Potter Manila? Well, the walis tambo (Tagalog word for broom) for Quidditch is funny, especially saying it with their British accents that I really like. And Dobby dying after singing My Way (I'm not surr if everybody get the pun but I sure did. Ha.)

I love how the play is interactive, giving the audience a chance to not just experience the play but actually be in the play itself. Notable for this penultimate run is this cool, blonde kid (of whom Ben has constantly referred to as Draco Malfoy) and the sweet girl as Seekers for Slytherin and Gryffindor respectively.

"Then why are you working with him?"

The two actors totally complimented each other. Every banter, every character, every scene. One would wonder how are they going to pull it off? Portraying all of the major characters when there is just the two of them? That alone, to me,  is magic.

"You sounded like a Scottish Shrek, Ben."

The Golden Snitch = Bob The Builder on a nightout. But he sure is too adorable.

If there are some lows, I could only think of two things: the teaching/teachers reference and the mocking (kind of) of the Hufflepuff House.

Admittedly, they were not aware of how teaching is one of the most noble professions, at least to the Filipinos and I totally admire them for pointing out right then their lack of research regarding that one and for apologizing of sorts. 

"We'll send you straight to Hufflepuff!"  Like it is the worse House one would ever been. Although generally they are noted as the non-special ones, but they are trustworthy and nice, and hey, they are gems and Jo Rowling's favourite House. It should not be a big deal, I know, it's just a joke but I just felt like pointing that out.

All in all, it is but fitting for me to have witnessed a theatrical act of the Potter nature for the first time, just as the first film that I have seen in 3D is a Harry Potter film. Such milestones, eh? I loved all of it, really. It was a play full of laughs, and nostagia like reading the books firing up the fangirl slash booknerd in you all over again. Congratulations to all of the actors and staff! Sure it was memorable and one for the books. I hope to see them in Manila again some time.

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