Arts Review
Potter Unplotted @ The Powerhouse
Impromafia, a Brisbane-based improvisational comedy group explored the World of Harry Potter and the behind the scene secrets in this fifty-minute live-group improvisation. Their base was characters from Harry Potter. which are drawn from the tri-wizard cup by members of the audience.
As a massive and unashamed fan of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter I had awaited this show with excitement and anticipation. How could you not have a massive hit: improvisational adult-only comedy with the setting of magic and witchcraft, it is a wonder the Carry-On Laughing team never thought of such a great combination. The popularity of the topic was illustrated by the pre-ticket sales selling out all shows with extra shows being added to satiate demand for what I expected to be salubrious wand waving, magical double entendres peppered with lots of less well known Harry Potter references for the many Hogwarts fans who bemoan never receiving their letter at the age of eleven.
Unfortunately, I and other audience members were disappointed to see that despite the fluid nature of improvisational comedy allowing rapid directional plot changes and outrageous caricatures of the Harry Potter characters, there were very little nods to the magical world on their opening night or even a basic knowledge of the books or films. The ImproMafia participants instead used the names of the characters only (and mispronounced them to a fans chagrin) with very little magical references. Instead, the whole show had the mundane theme of stealing paper from the office at the Ministry of Magic, which left me crying over spilt potion. If the actors had not been wearing gowns or had wands stuffed in their pockets it would have been impossible to determine the magical theme of the comedy!
I have attended several of the ImproMafia shows and enjoyed them, but this show is for Muggles only as ImproMafia had not done their wizarding homework and demonstrated very little Harry Potter knowledge or character preparation, 100 points from Gryffindor!!!!!!!
Dr Gemma Regan