Potted Potter invades Manhattan - My review of the 2 man Harry Potter show!

Potted Potter is a two man show that is taking the world by storm. The show started it’s run in London and most recently was in Toronto. Now Potted Potter is looking to make a big impact in New York City. The show is a parody play that retells all seven Harry Potter books in 70 minutes. You may think that this is an awfully short time to retell all seven Harry Potter books, but Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner, the creative minds behind the show, deliver an experience that you will not forget.

I was lucky enough to attend the first preview show in New York City on Saturday, May 19^th at the Little Shubert Theater with some great friends from The Group That Shall Not Be Named (TGTSNBN), NYC’s Harry Potter Meetup group. Being such great big fans we attended the show in cosplay and the crowd waiting to get into the theater loved it. (I dressed in my Half Blood Prince Gryffindor quidditch try-out robes) 

Photo Courtesy of Michael E. Mason Photography

Potted Potter is written and performed by two-time Olivier Award-nominated actors Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner. The two together are a hilariously great comedy team that not only brings the laughs to the theater but an immense amount of energy to the stage that you’ll be wondering how exactly they pull it all off. From the energy they bring, to the improv that is performed throughout, the show will keep you on your toes and constantly laughing. While going through each book, the two must bring the characters to life and in order to do so Jeff Turner becomes the boy wizard, Harry Potter, while Dan Clarkson becomes every other character in the franchise through multiple wigs and caps. However, to keep things fresh throughout the shows’ 70 minute length, the two create a different style of retelling for certain books. One book becomes a quick paced PowerPoint style slide show that will have you laughing throughout while another becomes a dance off at center stage. But one moment that will definitely stay with you (and it was one of my favorites) is where the entire theater becomes participants in a live quidditch match.

At first, fans may be hesitant to see the show fearing that it may be making fun of their treasured franchise but this couldn’t be farther from the truth. It is immediately clear that both Dan and Jeff are true fans of the books and movies just like anybody else and this is why they succeed in creating a great show. They know what fans like to joke about and they know how to deliver. However, this show will not only appeal to those that are big fans of the series. People who have not read the books or watched the movies will find that they will enjoy the show just as much as everyone else. Dan and Jeff give you all the information that you need to know to truly enjoy their show. Sure there are some specific jokes that only true fans may understand but these jokes do not make non-fans feel like they do not belong.

Whether you are a wizard at heart or a muggle who stumbled into the theater by mistake, you’ll love this show.  

Potted Potter will be performed off-Broadway in New York City in the Little Shubert Theatre from May 19th to August 12th.

Official Site: Potted Potter