Puffs may score some points and lose some at MCT
L.A. | The Atom
Midland, Texas -- This parody by Matt Cox takes place at a certain school of magic where students are identified as Braves, Snakes, Smarts or Puffs. It’s a comedy about what it might be like to be the characters in a popular series who are not the heroes. The idea for this show began as improv and became an off-Broadway hit focused on an underwhelming wizard named Wayne and his friends, Oliver and Megan. Cox may have intended this to be an opportunity to give the uncool kids their due, but the show relies too heavily on a foundation of Harry Potter fandom to stand on its own and requires familiarity with all seven books to understand some of the jokes. Magic wands, butterbeer and a sorting hat may be enough to entertain devoted fans but could be too confusing to engage a wider audience, regardless of their typical interest in cheering on an underdog.
The Midland Community Theatre production is directed by A. Chris Barton, who also did the sound design and put together a show that has likely attracted younger viewers. The sounds from the orchestra pit are fun. The set (designed by Briana Houser) and the lighting (by Alex Koontz) are impressive. Kudos to technical director and prop designer EJ Hancock. The LED wall is used well and there are tons of sight gags. The ones contributed by Hiram Flores and Jackson Lane are clever and funny. Their wizard hats can be seen in the orchestra pit as rubber snakes are tossed onto the stage. Other prop gags also work well, such as when a stuffed owl flops down to deliver a message and later a list drops perfectly to emphasize a little wisecrack. Some of the visual humor, however, is not appropriate for children and might be too obnoxious and frequent to land a laugh with adults, too.
Whether or not this type of show is a first or possibly third place winner for MCT visitors, the cast is certainly to be credited for being fully invested in every role and making the most of it. Brendan Mitchell gives a great performance as Wayne. Victor Parra and Holland Cordero are both very good as Oliver and Megan. The narrator (Jane Moore) is definitely a plus as she explains the timeline and does a particularly nice job pausing the story for intermission. The puppets, too, are hilarious and unexpectedly instructive.
Other standouts include Matt Rist as Cedric and Mr. Voldy and RJ Flud in over ten different roles. Kristi Philips plays some funny characters, and Stephanie Dresel is great as a dragon. The costumes are cute, and the colors are sometimes helpful, but they don’t always keep the audience clued in when so many actors play multiple roles.
The message behind this show is that even when the spotlight isn’t shining on you as a celebrated hero, you’re still important to the people around you. It’s interesting that no part of a parody that mocks J.K. Rowling’s imaginary world addresses the controversy that led many to abandon it, but the original star, Harry, is played as a minor role by Sumaya Hamam. She also portrays a few peripheral female characters. For many, the Harry Potter series made a significant impact. It’s hard to tell whether “Puffs” subtly rises to the occasion, encouraging people to be their true selves or if it just overlooks its own points. Again.
See what you think. Remaining performance dates include May 9-10. Purchase tickets for Puffs at https://mctmidland.org/productions/2025-season/puffs/.
