Queen Margaret’s School is bringing magic to the masses from April 10 to 13 with their sold out performances of Puffs.
“It feels gratifying and inspiring for me, the cast, and crew to know that the show is fully sold out,” said director Tilly Lorence. “I think knowing that we have the community’s support behind us has helped motivate us to bring the show to as high a level as possible. The actors are excited to entertain our audience, and I’m hopeful that it will provide catharsis through laughter and connection.”
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In this side-splitting parody students of QMS bring the whimsical world of Puffs to life, revealing the untold story of a certain wizard school and its unsung heroes. For seven magical years, a legendary boy wizard battled evil and saved the day. But let’s forget about him; this is the tale of the Puffs – a lovable band of well-meaning outsiders with a peculiar affinity for badgers. Their epic quest, filled with failures and friendships, re-imagines what a wizard hero can truly be.
Written by Matt Cox and directed by Lorence, Puffs will have three 7 p.m. performances and one 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday, April 13 inside the QMS Fine Arts Hall. Audience members will be under the spell of 19 actors encompassing Grades 9 through 12, as well as additional students lending their magic touch with sound, lighting, and stage management.
Lorence said that students Lexa Pritchett and Lara Kernachan, who are respectively stepping into the roles of Wayne and Oliver, are alumni of the junior school theatre program. They have both served as drama captains, and have since continued to act in senior school productions such as Peter and the Starcatcher and Clue.
“My favourite part of being a theatre teacher is witnessing individual and collective growth, and it’s truly been an honour to watch them both grow into confident actors and leaders,” said Lorence. “I am always inspired and amazed to watch the transformation of a cast through the process of rehearsing and performing a play. It’s been heartening to observe them bond and support each other, which lends itself to the core theme of the play: the value of genuine human connections and love of others, warts and all. I’ve enjoyed seeing them connect to the moments of vulnerability, as well as, of course, to the humour.”
“This show is wacky and hilarious; during rehearsal, there were several moments I was literally on the floor laughing,” said Lorence. “It’s been a wonderful stress relief. I hope the audience comes away from this show inspired to fully embrace their own ‘Puffiness,’ to be willing to laugh at their own flaws and failures, and as a result make deeper connections with others.”
The school is also gearing up to present The Little Mermaid Jr. on the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre stage on May 24.