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Ever heard of Harry Potter and the Exorcist?




Spontaneous Potter at the Corn Exchange on Monday, October 23

Review by ROBIN STRAPP

Spontaneous Potter
Spontaneous Potter

The Corn Exchange foyer was decorated with banners from the various houses from Hogwarts, in anticipation of the Spontaneous Players’ production of Spontaneous Potter (for adults). There is even an opportunity to take a selfie in a specially created area.

The company are regulars at the Edinburgh Fringe where they have built up a staunch following, so it was good to see them touring in England.

You don’t have to be a Harry Potter acolyte to enjoy this madcap mayhem performed at breathtaking speed by Sam Irving, Stu Murphy, Will Naameh, and Paul Connolly with Jenny Laahs on the piano, who creates the musical atmosphere. All dressed in Hogwarts’s academic gowns.

So, why all the buzz from the enthusiastic audience some wearing Potter scarves? Looks like they were all fans and were enjoying every minute.

Spontaneous Potter
Spontaneous Potter

The whole show is improvised so expect the unexpected. To begin the audience is divided into groups and shout out a title for a new Harry Potter book with such titles suggested as HP and The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe and the ‘A’ Team.

As a starter they perform short silly sketches for each of the suggestions as a warm up to a much longer story.

In this case the audience chose Harry Potter and the Exorcist, but what on earth were the cast going to invent for this challenging title?

Spontaneous Potter
Spontaneous Potter

They are such versatile performers who feed off one another with skill and were adept at changing scenes and characters with alacrity.

The jokes and situations were hilarious with many references to Harry, Hermione, Neville, Dumbledore and of course Voldemort, The Dark Lord and of course the many spells.

There were some wonderful moments including visits to Alton Towers. A skit with two of the actors reading from a spell book in unison but in different languages. The flash back and forward moments were filled with inventiveness and Hermione killing dogs because she’s a cat person. You had to be there!

This was a magical wizarding witty evening that the actors seemed to enjoy as much as the spirited audience.

Expecto Patronum.



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