Photo Credit: Jenny Sternling
Recently, the Theatre Department at Bishop Kelly has put on one of its most successful plays to date: Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic by Matt Cox. Focusing on the unseen house at the Certain School for Magic, Puffs follows a new main trio composed of characters Megan Jones, Oliver Rivers, and Wayne Hopkins, and how their lives were intertwined with Potter’s in the 1990s. With throwback appearances to Instant Messaging and an exciting dance number to MC Hammer’s “U Can’t Touch This,” the group of actors playing the Puffs aid each other’s performances extremely well and resulted in amazing comedic timing that had the crowd laughing hysterically. The play ran for four nights consecutively, 4/20-23, with the biggest turn out that many actors, including sophomore Ella Sheppard, have ever seen in their time in BK’s drama club. In the days prior to opening night, many actors reflected on their preparation for the performance. One actor was especially excited about the dance number, adding that they believed it would “make the audience very happy,” which was the prime goal of this play.
Photo Credit: Isabella Sanchez
With a full house three nights in a row, this goal came to fruition as the main trio, with Ella Sheppard as Megan Jones, Sam Revier as Wayne Hopkins, and Andres Kou as Oliver Rivers, successfully connected with each other as actors to present a compelling and especially funny rendition of the theme of Puffs: acceptance of oneself, and motivation to do good even when no one is watching. With amazing comedic timing and true dedication to the role of Megan, Sheppard pulled off a spectacular and convincing performance that especially shined in the scenes with Xavia and Oliver. Xavia Jones, played by Zoey Parton, who also portrayed the Second Headmaster and Dragon, juggled three of the some of the most interesting roles in the play. Zoey brought life to the character of Xavia, who has a change of heart at the end of the story after accidentally murdering a Death Buddy. As one of the main villains in the show, her change of attitude marks a turning point in the show before (SPOILER ALERT!!!) the deaths of multiple Puffs at the end of the show.
In contrast, one of the most comedic roles in the play, Voldy, played by Patrick Bibbens. With incredible intonation and just the right amount of hilarity, Patrick made Voldy a fan favorite character. Voldy’s monologues regarding shoes and a failure to turn off microphones make perfect allusions to a set of movies about a certain body wizard. Of course, none of this would be possible without an amazing stage crew. Natalie Mendoza, Moya Jeffries, Rowan Teply, Kate Revier, Grace Hobby, and Jasper Pfeifer saved Puffs from madness and held the cast true to the theme of the show. Do Good has been BK’s theme throughout this year, so it is only fitting that Puffs added to that motivation. With such talented actors, especially the many freshmen such as Reagan Lankford, Emma Torkelson, and Spencer Lysne, BK is expected to produce amazing plays in the upcoming years!
Photo Credit: Jenny Sternling
The Bishop Kelly Newspaper 