Skip to main content

Review: Puffs - Villanova Players


Written by Jake Goodall

Enter into the world of Hogwar.... we mean a certain school of magic and magic! Where rather than focussing on the boy who lived, we change perspective and look at the Puffs of the story! Villanova Players Start-Ups' newest production, Puffs (or seven increasingly eventful years at a certain school of magic and magic), is a hilarious take on the famous magical story!

Puffs follows the story of Wayne Hopkins: a regular boy who finds out he’s a wizard and goes to school in England where he makes two best friends and has adventures. This perhaps sounds familiar. But, Wayne is sorted as a Puff, he and the other Puffs simply want to learn how to be wizards and avoid attacks by evil wizards.

Directed by Lillian Dowdell & Kristina Redwood, This production has the audience laughing from top to bottom. Dowdell and Redwood clearly worked extremely hard on this production to squeeze every comedic idea out of the performers, which created a brilliant production. Set design by Aimee Sheather was simple yet effective, utilising platforms to add height this gave extra areas to create the dynamic settings where this play takes place. Additionally, the subtle 'Puffs' decor helped to add to the magical aesthetic of the production. Sound Design by Lillian Dowdell and Lighting Design by Ayden McCarthy were both simple yet effective, utilising simple sound effects and subtle changes in lighting these technical elements added greatly to help the story and performers shine. 

The true strength in this production lies within the immensely talented troupe of performers featuring Priya Shah, Sam Connolly, Cullyn Beckton, Hannah Martin, Aimee Sheather, Grace Lashbrook and Michaela Gallagher. All these performers were hilariously funny fully embodying their characters. 

Jackson Paul as the hero, Wayne Hopkins from Beenleigh, was stunning in their role. Paul is a natural talent and engrossed the audience throughout the entire production. Mia Lierich as Megan Jones was the hard hitting character that brought the fire. Jones created a multi-layered character that we think some parts everyone could relate to. Jeremy Hales as Oliver Rivers, the token 'mug-born' was hilarious and nerdy. Hales created some beautiful moments outside of the hilarity, but make no mistake, Hales was hilarious as ever!

The absolute stand out in this production was Dom Bradley in the J.Finch Track. Bradley played multiple characters throughout the production and was the comedic highlight. Bradley has a natural talent for comedy and had the audience crying from laughter with their development of different characters. Not only was Bradley showcasing their comedic chops, proving they could switch between multiple different characters throughout this two-act production was something to be enviable of.  

Overall Puffs by Villanova Players Start-Ups is a five-star MUST SEE production that will have you hurting from laughter for the entire production. Don't miss this show, it MUST CLOSE 21st of April!

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Closer // La Boite

 Written by Jake Goodall Get ready for desire, betrayal, love and sex as Closer takes the stage at Brisbane's La Boite Theatre. 24 years since its original La Boite production, Closer returns to the La Boite stage under the skillful direction of Courtney Stewart who happens to also be the theatre's Artistic Director. This production is penned to rival your morals and set your heart ablaze throughout the entire production.  The four lives of Alice, Anna, Dan and Larry intertwine over the course of four and a half years in this densely plotted look at modern love and betrayal. Dan, an obituary writer, meets Alice, a stripper, after an accident in the street. Eighteen months later, they are a couple, and Dan has written a novel inspired by Alice. While posing for his book jacket cover, Dan meets Anna, a photographer. He pursues her, but she rejects his advances despite their mutual attraction. Larry, a dermatologist, meets Dan in an internet chat room. Dan, obsessing over ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: Equus - X Collective

    Written by Gabriel Besa ‘Equus’ from The X Collective was a superb showcasing of drama and all things theatre. From the exquisitely put together lighting to the character portrayal of each of the actors, The X Collective knows how to put on a show.    ‘Equus’ is a play written by Peter Shaffer in 1973, where he was inspired after he heard a seventeen-year-old boy blind six horses in a small town in northern England. It then went on to win the Tony Award for Best Play. The play switches from past and present as it acts out previous events that lead up to Alan Strang’s current state. Through the psychiatric expertise of Martin Dysart, we see the importance each character had played against Alan Strang’s life.   The X Collective had meticulously placed this production in the Holy Trinity Hall as it provides a state of eeriness and mystery for the audience. Since the venue strays from the average theatre, portable lighting and set desi...
Post a Comment
Read more

'Hedonism’s Second Album' // Left of Right

  Welcome to the recording studio for “Hedonism’s Second Album,” a thought-provoking exploration of the challenges faced by a rock band. Produced by the independent theater company, Left of Right, this production delves into the inner workings of a fractured rock band. Hosted at the Scouts Queensland’s Wonargo Cultural Centre, an unexpected but fitting venue choice, this performance offers a unique perspective on the band’s journey. Following years of performing in pubs and as opening acts, Hedonism, the rock band, has achieved fame with the release of their debut album. However, they now encounter a hurdle in the form of their second album’s creation. Initially premiered in 2014 at The Loft as part of La Boite’s Indie Season and written by David Burton and Claire Christian, “Hedonism’s Second Album” undoubtedly reflects the zeitgeist of its era. The play does not shy away from depicting issues such as misogyny, violence, selfishness, homophobia, and casual racism. While these them...
Post a Comment
Read more