Wheeler’s Bearcat Theatre Company is bringing a (mostly) familiar fantasy world to life this spring with their production of “Puffs: Or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic.” A comedic retelling of Harry Potter, it tells the story of Wayne Hopkins and the often neglected “Puffs” house.
The setting of “Puffs” is a little different to the one that’s dominated pop culture for the last two decades, with the adventures of Harry, “Hermeoone,” and Ron taking a backseat as the students of the Puffs house look to find their place in the wizarding world. The Bearcats celebrate opening night this evening, April 22.
“I’m so excited. Our cast works so well together,” said Grace Klimczyk. “Jay [Hanaway, director] casted the show so well. We’ve all put our heart and soul into this.”
Klimczyk plays Leanne, an eccentric even among the already unusual crowd that makes up the Puffs, having grown up alone in a cabin with no one but her grandparents as company.
“She’s kind of oblivious to everything around her,” she said. “She’s a goofy character and makes a lot of jokes, but she’s very clumsy and tends to get hurt a lot. I relate to this role a lot, she’s like, the least important character I’ve ever heard of in Harry Potter, but I’ve been able to make her so huge in the show.”
With a cast of high schoolers portraying a bunch of high schoolers, it is no surprise that many of the actors and actresses found their roles so relatable.
“I definitely relate to Hannah on some levels,” said Danielle Trail, who stars as Hannah Abbott. “She’s a little socially awkward, and doesn’t realize what people are saying about her until after the fact. I think the show’s come together really well. I love Harry Potter, and I know a lot of us in the cast do. We’ve made it grow so much beyond that world, though. It’s just really fun.”
Central to the show is the narrator, who relates the Puff’s tale with both affection and a bit of snark.
“I like being able to control the show without actually engaging too much with anyone character wise,” said Abbie Klaiber, who portrays the narrator. “I’m really excited, this is my first time as a lead in my high school career.”
Veteran Bearcat actor Caleb Acker anchors the show as Wayne Hopkins, an orphan from New Mexico who follows his own unique hero’s journey.
“He’s thrown into this magical world where he’s forced to make friends,” he said.
Acker is looking forward to opening night, and finally showing off his – and the rest of the cast and crew’s – hard work.
“I’m extremely excited to put this show in front of an audience,” he said. “I just think it’s so funny, loveable, and relatable. I just love it a lot.”
“Puffs” opens in the Wheeler High School Auditorium at 7 p.m. on April 22, with additional showings at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 23, and 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 24.