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Underdogs and underclassmen highlighted in Puffs this weekend
MPCHS seniors pass the torch as they mentor the next generation
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
MT. PLEASANT — Mt. Pleasant High School underclassmen found their time to shine with the drama department’s fall play, Puffs, opening at the Heatilator Performing Arts Center this weekend.
Seniors Bryton Weir, Madeleine Smith, and Kayleigh Montgomery say they enjoyed taking on mentorship roles as three of the five upperclassmen in this 20-person play which they describe as “a spoof of Harry Potter.”
While the story of Puffs runs alongside the well-known books and movies, it is carefully written to avoid copyright material. According to Director Ally Lowe, the show takes place in the same universe as Harry Potter, but is not that story. Instead, this story takes the audience on a journey with a different, slightly more peculiar group of friends at a school for boy and girl wizards.
“It’s about the Puffs being the underdogs, but still being amazing,” Smith said.
That theme is certain to be portrayed in multiple ways as the underclassmen make up most of the cast and hope the audience feels they are just as amazing.
“A lot of them just fit right into this program,” Montgomery said. “With Ella, especially, you can’t even tell that this is her first production because she just gets it. They’re very fast learners.”
MPCHS freshman Ella Leonard is excited to make her debut with the high school drama department as Oliver Rivers in this Harry Potter parody.“ “Theater has always been something I’ve wanted to do,” she said. “It’s always seemed really fun.”
So far, Leonard said it has been fun and she hasn’t found working with the upperclassmen intimidating at all. For Montgomery, that is a full-circle moment as she remembers the idea of starting theater being intimidating, but the seniors that came before her were kind and taught her the ropes.
“It’s great to replicate that for these underclassmen,” Montgomery said.
Weir agreed saying, “It's fun to see the next generation who's gonna be taking over the department, and just kind of get to get to introduce yourself and just let them know everything that we've done and the legacy that this department holds.”
MPCHS Drama Department invites those that love Harry Potter and those that have never seen it to come out to a show this weekend.
“If you don’t like Harry Potter, I feel like you will still like the show,” Montgomery said. “You will still find something funny in it, and you can go into this with no Harry Potter background information and still understand it.”
Those looking to enjoy a good laugh and support these budding actors can catch a show Friday, Nov. 8 or Saturday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. or Sunday, Nov. 10 at 2 p.m. at the Heatilator Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $10 at the door.
Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com
