Puffs, or: Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic (NYC)

"In Matt Cox’s superb tribute to the house, Hufflepuff is rendered a plucky, peppy underdog whose extraordinary averageness is worth cheering...What 'Wicked' did for 'The Wizard of Oz,' 'Puffs' does brilliantly for 'Harry Potter'...'Puffs' succeeds above all else as an ensemble piece...Under Kristin McCarthy Parker’s expert direction, the fast-paced action...proceeds flawlessly. At just the right moments, miraculously, she’s able to slow things down for moments of unexpected poignancy." Full Review

"A lightning-fast, sketch-style comedy, but with the underpinnings of Cox's excellent script...It charms the audience with just the right skewering send-up, or affectionately touched nerve...The breakneck speed makes for ample high-voltage humor which drove the full house of 'Potter' fans to numerous outbursts of applause...Overall, this merry cast of twelve repeatedly enchants us, broadcasting a true pride in ownership that only hit shows have." Full Review

"Laughs will be had by any true 'Potter' fan as the play both celebrates and mocks keys moments from all seven stories...But by play's end, you’ll find yourself caring much more for Wayne and his friends than you thought you would. Maybe you didn’t grow up with them like Harry, but the Puffs are so lovable and relatable, you’ll leave the theater wishing they were in the stories all along. I laughed, I wept, and I wanted to watch it again and again like it was an 'HP' film marathon on Freeform!" Full Review

"It never goes more than a minute without a laugh, mining its humor from meta jokes, impressive physical gags, and its characters’ charming ineptitude... All three of 'Puffs’ main players commit more than you’ll expect to its delivery of heart...As surprised as I was by how much I laughed at 'Puffs,' I was all the more surprised at how it actually moved me. Unlike most pieces of pop culture that avow devotion to the average Joe, the little guy, the nobody, 'Puffs' never undercuts its message." Full Review

"Even if you’ve...seen one of the original adaptations of the play, you’ll want to return if not just to see the new, grander, thoroughly immersive set, but to hear all the updated hilarious jokes from playwright Cox...Director Parker has created a magical stage farce that is nonstop fun. With the extremely hilarious and talented cast, she never allows your imagination to stray...For anyone who’s been at all captivated by any piece of the Potter universe, 'Puffs' is a must-see." Full Review

" A funny and affectionate homage to J.K. Rowling’s world of wiz kids...Some of the jokes will be lost on those with no knowledge of the films or books. But even 'Potter' virgins will enjoy the show’s witty wordplay and well-executed physical comedy. At times, the pacing is so frenetic that jokes can’t find a place to land, but there’s heart as well as humor here...Like its main characters, 'Puffs' illustrates the heights to which underdogs can soar." Full Review

"In order to get through seven years in '90-ish' minutes, the action must move quickly, and thanks to Kristin McCarthy Parker’s seamless direction, it does. But 'Puffs' is more than just non-stop crazy action with a bunch of jokes for 'Potter' fans. Cox and Parker understand that sometimes comedy takes time, and they make smart choices about when to speed through the story, and when to slow down and build a joke for a better payoff. The action is never muddy or confusing." Full Review

"The play squeezes all seven years/books/movies into an uproarious parody that largely makes fun of Harry Potter and his friends...'Puffs,' so densely packed with 'Potter' references, is a must-see for any fan of the popular wizard series. It’s laugh-out-loud funny, whip-smart, and a lot of fun to watch. While the 'Puffs' as a house may never come out on top, 'Puffs' the play just might." Full Review

"'Puffs' was just about one of the best parodies I’ve come across in a long time. The story may not be about Harry, but it was easy to catch little details that Cox threw in just to see if anyone was paying attention...And lucky for Cox, he has assembled a fantastic cast to play this hilarious story out...Hats must go off to these emerging comedians who make those quick changes look effortless and really do make the audiences laugh uncontrollably!" Full Review

"If you are a 'Harry Potter' book and movie fan, this hilarious and twisted Off-Broadway play will make you laugh out loud. It spoofs the series but Harry is not the focus; this time the smaller characters are the center and it is very funny...It is a must for 'Harry Potter' fans...Take your kids to this family-friendly and very funny show, you will be entertained...It is a roller coaster of laughter and I didn’t want the fun to end." Full Review

"This is one of those plays that has truly come into its own, and 'Puffs' is not just a hit, it's now a long-running hit. The cast exudes it, and the production projects it...Never a parody but, rather, an affectionate, razor-witted response to one mother-behemoth of a franchise...'Puff's' biggest asset is the entire twelve-member ensemble, a gilded Pandora's comedy jack-in-the-box of solid performers as good as the best of any Broadway season." Full Review

"'Puffs' offers a plethora of quick-witted references to everything within the fantasy universe that inspired it...The effect is nothing short of delightful, thanks to the incredible chemistry of director Kristin McCarthy Parker’s entire cast, many of whom take on various roles, and their improvisational skills...All in all, 'Puffs' proves to be a winning combination of hilarity and heart. For anyone who loved the original adventures of the Wizarding World, this play hits all the right points." Full Review

"'Harry Potter' fans will appreciate the many references to the films and novels that both poke fun at, and remind you of why you love the series so much. Cox stays true to the original plot and to the new characters, providing a fun, energetic retelling of a story we think we already know...Parker has created a show that utilizes great comedic timing. Her cast is the perfect ensemble, resulting in many, many moments to capture a laugh from the audience." Full Review

“Fast-moving, colorful and very funny…The jokes are fast-paced, and if you’re not up on your ‘Harry Potter,’ a good portion of the jokes will, like magic, go over your head…But it doesn’t take anything away from the joy of the story which all boils down to good vs. evil, and the victory by ones least expected to do so. The actors have a great time playing these wacky students...If we had a wand, and could conjure magic, we’d say in our best Hermione impersonation, 'Goeth toeth Puffeths.'" Full Review

"Most of the time, it's a pure, and purely enjoyable, lark...Cox's treatment is dispensed with respect, admiration, and even love for the originals, which makes the jokes funnier and the production even more endearing...The cast is all pitched at just the right level of confused caffeination, and give in to neither pure mimicry nor the inclination to blaze their own original trails. Moon and Belton are dynamic comic leads that wring every laugh from their fish-out-of-water characters." Full Review

"If you have little or no familiarity with the books and movies devoted to Harry Potter, you can still find enough to laugh at here, thanks primarily to a smart script and an expert and committed cast. If, however, you can name all seven books or seen their film versions, you will likely be laughing uproariously at the endless in-jokes...There isn’t a weak link in the cast...The kind of lightweight entertainment that blows into the night." Full Review

"Bigger sets and impressive puppets add some flair but the joy of revisiting the well-loved 'Puffs' is what is sure to keep the show going for some time...Cox’s script is mostly the same from the previous production and sports the same weaknesses and strengths...Parker continues to run a tight ship with a production that mostly moves rapidly but also takes time to breathe...It is worth noting that the cast’s increased familiarity with their roles has made them even more memorable." Full Review

"'Puffs' zips through the highlights of all seven books...'Puffs' feels engineered specifically to delight 'Harry Potter' diehards, and for the most part it succeeds—not every joke lands, but it makes up for it any misses with its high level of reverence for the Potter-verse...Even if this venture is not the bravest or the smartest, it’s got its heart is firmly in the right place, and audiences will likely leave charmed." Full Review

"'Puffs' is charming, entertaining, and fast-paced...The dialogue moves quickly, too—the characters speak at a pace that makes the cast of 'Gilmore Girls' look under-caffeinated. If you don’t have a pretty good grasp of the plot and characters, you will probably be confused. All of this isn’t helped by the fact that the references to 'Harry Potter' are sometimes oblique...The success of this piece hinges on the talent of the ensemble, and the actors deliver." Full Review

"A much more substantial, thoughtful, and heartfelt play than it first appears...And it’s certainly not one joke stretched out to an hour and a half – the witty lines come at a mile a minute, and basically every one of them hits...It’s the blend of enchanting and vibrant new personalities with creative portrayals of the original cast that especially makes 'Puffs' worth the watch...Even casual Potterheads will likely leave with a new perspective on the story and a gut sore from laughing." Full Review

"The belly laughs come when the 'Potter' story we already know surfaces in the lives of Wayne and his friends, although kids will love some of the physical and visual comedy...A series of lightning quick on- and off-stage costume changes enable the 11 cast members to play the full range of students, teachers, beasts, ghosts, and baddies from JK Rowling’s imagination and with a fast-paced wit bring to life seven years of being an underdog Puff while the overachievers win the prizes." Full Review

"Cox’s script pummels with multiple gags a minute, which can be exhausting in a show that runs just over ninety minutes...The story barely has room to breathe as jokes and physical comedy bits are thrown to the back of the house with abandon...Shaky moments and some jokes that don’t land aside, it concludes with a mixture and cynicism and warmth that sells the concept. Here is a work of underground theater that often beautifully complements its mainstream counterpart." Full Review

"While some bits went a little long, or could be cut entirely...Cox’s script is overflowing with jokes and allusions that will leave you laughing until you cry...Credit must go to Zac Moon. Perfectly cast as Wayne...His skill, combined with Kristin McCarthy Parker’s direction, creates an atmosphere that allows the audience to get lost in this world...While every cast member gets a multitude of laughs throughout the show, I wished for more diversity and dimensionality among them." Full Review

"A way for fans of the books and movies to revisit their favorite place from a new perspective. And it can be appreciated on both a macro and a micro level...The writing by Matt Cox is crisp, funny and on point, director Kristin McCarthy Parker keeps the pace rolling along at a good clip, and the cast is uniformly excellent. If you’re a fan on any level, go and enjoy...If you don’t know from the magical world of 'Harry Potter,' you’re probably going to want to skip it." Full Review

"I don't doubt an encyclopedic knowledge of Rowling's novels would enhance the experience, but I don't think it's necessary, either. This is a group of talented clowns goofing off - and who doesn't like that?" Full Review