The setting is familiar, as are the robes and the magic wands. You’d expect a certain boy wizard to appear on stage. But this is not his story. On Friday, November 13 and Saturday, November 14, the Grades 9 and10 play offers a whole new take on the world of magic, in the story of the Puffs… who just happened to be there, too.

A Parody from the Other Side of the Wand

PUFFS, Or: Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic, a play by Matt Cox, is a parody of the Harry Potter book series by J.K. Rowling. The one act play follows Wayne, an ordinary and somewhat insecure student who attends a certain famous wizarding school and is sorted into the Puffs, a house known for its kindness and lack of glory. 

The play humorously retells the familiar wizarding school story from the perspective of the underdogs, celebrating friendship, loyalty, and finding one’s own place.

Overlooked Underdogs: The Director’s Perspective

Puffs is directed by a new face in PolyArts: Matt Gehring. And he thinks this show will resonate not just with Poly students, but with the wider community. 

“We can all see a piece of ourselves in these kids: the ones who were forgotten, or constantly underestimated, or the ones who were gently (or not so gently) pushed to the side when the going got tough,” Matt said. “Falling flat on your face is precisely the kind of experience that makes us like the Puffs. We can understand their desire for purpose, their longing to matter, and drive to make a (not Dark) mark.”

Performing Arts Chair Ashley Hacker echoes that sentiment. 

“Growing up is messy, uncomfortable, and occasionally ridiculous–sometimes, the bravest thing we can do is keep showing up,” said Ashley. “This is what makes Puffs such a wonderful story for our students to tell. Beneath the humor and the magic is a story about the people who aren’t always in the spotlight, but who show up anyway. The ones who discover that friendship, loyalty, and perseverance matter far more than being chosen.”

Not the Chosen One, and That’s Okay

The three Poly students in the lead roles have also noticed some of those themes as they work out how to play Wayne, Oliver and Megan. 

“When you strip away the magic and jokes, at the heart of the play, Puffs is just about teenagers trying to find out who they are and who they want to be,” said Charlotte R. ’29, who plays Megan. “At the start of the show, Wayne wants to be a hero, Oliver wants to be a good student, and Megan wants to be anything but a Puff. I think the moments with the Mirror of Erised, where the trio see their greatest desires, embodies our endless pursuit as human beings of greatness, fame, admiration, etc. The Puffs teach us that not only is it okay to not be the main character, but that everyone has somewhere they truly belong.”

Drew B. ’29, who plays the lead role, loves Wayne’s confidence, as well as his determination to find the place where he fits. 

“Wayne is always willing to fail at something before he gets it right,” said Drew. “This persistence and commitment requires confidence and belief that I am always trying to include in my own life. I hope the audience leaves feeling more confident to embrace who they are, and that they feel emboldened to chase after their passions, even if it feels embarrassing.”

Growing Up, Year By Year

Both Charlotte, and Sameer K. ’29, who plays Oliver, enjoyed seeing the journey their characters go on over the course of the play, which follows students from Year One to Year Seven.

“Megan appears so one dimensional at the start of the show,” said Charlotte. “It was fascinating to pull back the layers year by year.”

“My favorite thing about my character is how he changes over the course of the play, with different intentions and goals each year,” Sameer said. “It is really fun to interpret and create what his intention, goals, and emotions are, and to get to act that out.”

The Real Magic of Puffs

For the students bringing Puffs to life, the show is far more than a string of wizarding-world gags. They have each found something personal in the journey of Megan, Wayne, and Oliver: a reminder that identity takes time to uncover, that confidence grows through failure, and that people can change dramatically from one year to the next.

That may be why a parody about the school’s overlooked underdogs resonates so strongly. Beneath the magic and the laughs, Puffs is a story about belonging, and about finding the courage to chase what you love, even when it feels embarrassing. As the cast hopes audiences will discover, you don’t have to be the chosen one to have a story worth telling.

Reserve Your Tickets

Tickets are going fast!
Families are asked to register to attend the Grades 10 and 11 Fall Play, Puffs on Friday, November 13 at 7:00 PM and Saturday, November 14 at 2:00 PM in the Poly Arts Center’s Richard Perry Theatre. Tickets are free for students and children; $5 for adults.