A Very Potter Musical

It is an understatement to say that the “Harry Potter” series is influential. There has been music written about it, a theme park dedicated to it, not to mention countless fan sites dedicated to the assertion that Harry should have ended up with Draco Malfoy. And the latest addition to the “Harry Potter” canon is “A Very Potter Musical,” a musical satire of the series; it was only a matter of time.

“A Very Potter Musical” was created early this year by students and recent graduates from the University of Michigan who are all “Harry Potter” fanatics. It was performed for five performances and from there it has erupted into a “Harry Potter” fan phenomenon when the musical was posted on YouTube.

The script was written by Nick Lang, Matt Lang, and Brian Holden with original music written by Darren Criss and AJ Holmes. The story is a parody, incorporating events primarily from the 1st, 4th and 7th “Harry Potter” books. Harry Potter is 12 years old in the musical, played by Criss, and battles everything from dragons, to Dark Lords, to hormones. And unlike Daniel Radcliffe’s Harry Potter, this reincarnation of the popular wizard actually has something of a personality.

Other acting highlights include Joe Walker as a strange attractive Voldemort, the Dark Lord whose evil actions are really to hide a sensitive interior and a love for tap-dancing. His solo number right after he is resurrected is one to look forward to (hint: there’s a Death Eaters kick-line).

The music is top-notch as well, spawning a variety of genres, from the classic showtunes piece, “To Dance Again,” to the “Rent”-inspired “Not Alone,” to the pop-driven “Granger Danger.” It’s hard to believe that the music was written by amateurs, they are that clever and catchy.

“A Very Potter Musical” is a tongue-in-cheek, laugh-out-loud look at the “Harry Potter” books and movies, and their tropes, such as Potter’s amazing luck when it comes to life and death situations, despite being a preteen, to the fact that Hogwarts, with its massive death counts, is probably the most dangerous school in the world (as exemplified in lyrics, “no way this year anyone’s gonna die/and it’s gonna be totally awesome”). It is all done in a witty manner while also exemplifying the “Harry Potter” series’ most important themes, such as friendship, bravery, and the power of love.

After watching this musical, you definitely will not look at “Harry Potter” the same way again.

Written by: Diep Tran

Reviewers Rating: 9.5
Reader's Rating: 9.87
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