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PUFFS or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic
Dramaturgy Website by Amanda Visger
WHAT IS PUFFS?
Puffs is a play written by Matt Cox developed over the course of a few years that follows the story of the other characters that were at a certain well known school of magic: this is their story.
This goes to say, this play, with the support of parody and storytelling, shows that everyone has a story to be told no matter what. Even if you have evil in your body that you don't know about, if you are told to be a legacy not by choice, or a complete nobody,, your story is worth mentioning no matter if you are a main character or just one off to the side.
From Puffs, "For seven years a certain boy wizard went to a certain Wizard School and conquered evil. This, however, is not his story. This is the story of the Puffs...who just happened to be there too. A tale for anyone who has never been destined to save the world."
For additional material on Matt Cox and for another Puffs themed adventure, click on the button (above) for an inside view of all creations, plays, interviews, and more magic.
PREVIOUS REVIEWS
As for the intention of a 5 show run at The Peoples Improv Theater in New York City, this concept and improv-esque show grew far from the original little wizard show in 2015. Here are many reviews from different sources over the years that seek towards praising Puffs.
2015 - OnStage Blog
"‘Puffs, or: Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic & Magic’ is a brand new comedy that takes a look at the Harry Potter universe (although without ever calling it such)."
The review goes on to show the importance of the widely diffenent characters that we recognized in a franchise and how the characters in Puffs connect in their own ways by telling their story at Hogwarts.
"If ‘Puffs’ were a movie, it would be ‘Robin Hood: Men in Tights’, ‘Airplane’ or ‘Hot Fuzz’. One of those movies that you can watch again and again in the company of friends who have also seen it a hundred times."
2016 - The New York Times
"Instead of the brave ones, the brainy ones or the nasty, good-looking rich ones, this show — which is aimed at grown-ups, by the way — embraces the nerds the sorting hat assigns to the house called Puff."
Telling the connection to the series and play, NYT points out that this play its the sketch comedy style that isn't something you see everyday.
"But “Puffs” exudes a jovial, winking fondness for all things Harry. For Potterphiliacs eager to revisit that world, that’s enticement enough."
2017 - Broadway World
"With a mix of inside jokes and throwbacks, the zany happenings in Puffs are best for true Potterphiles who know the books and/or the movies - especially if those fans came of age in the '90s."
Through moments of hilarious callbacks to the 90s, Broadway World goes to correlate the world of the past to today's comedy. With fast moving pace of the play, the story of a non-so-well-known boy at the same school is told in a way that highlights the outcasts of the series.
"At its core, Puffs celebrates with both comedy and heart the wonderful world created by J.K. Rowling, brought to life in the readers; imaginations and on film."
2019 - Australian Stage
"This is a fabulously fun show, with a terrific ensemble cast giving it their all in a production that may give the careful impression of running on the fumes of an oily rag, but in truth seems powered by some very big-hearted theatrical magic indeed."
As the play makes it all the way across to Australia, adaptions of the play goes to incorporate the same magic so many years later.
"Although the show maintains a generally light, comedic tone throughout, it does nevertheless touch on some quite interesting and potentially darker, even metatextual concepts. "
A HUFFLEPUFF . . . I MEAN PUFF
GRYFFINDOR... I mean Braves.
Just the best kids at the school.
HUFFLEPUFF... I mean Puffs.
Just the best kids at something.
SLITHERIN...I mean Snakes.
A person who could make an adult cry.
RAVENCLAW... I mean Smarts.
These are kids who love books.
HELGA HERSELF
Before jumping in, the origin where being a Hufflepuff comes from is established from Helga Hufflepuff herself.
One of the four founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
While the other founders chose to focus on student specific traits, Helga was open to all students no matter the preference of the student. The only trait that was important to the Hufflepuff's was loyalty and hard work ethic that ensured equality across all students; Hufflepuff or not.
Now what was Helga known for? It is speculated across many sources that her high talent in food related charms and spells were what she was known for including being in the kitchen where it was safe for herself and others.
Although being such an infleunce to the wizarding world, the number 1 thing of a wizard/ witch is unknown: her want style, shape, core, and even flexibility.
What is known is the possession that can be seen through the series and that is the Hufflepuff Cup. Now this isn't just a cup that has a name tied to it, rather it has magical powers (never revealed what powers but still magical.)
HOW TO BE A PUFF
Now not everyone is fit to be in the "chosen" and "better than everyone else" house, find a trio group of friends that creates an eventful years of schooling, or finds more trouble snooping than just following the rules from the beginning.
This is not that. This is to give you an insight on traits on what needs to happen and shown to be a fellow PUFF through different resources and officially being THIRD OR NOTHING.
Have you ever felt left out, the secondary character in someone else's story or even your own? If you answered yes to any of those you already are in the right direction and have come to the right place after all.
Being a puff after all might not be so bad after all. Right?!
FELLOW PUFFS
Throughout the series there is limited characters that are listed as puffs, but we do have some that are sprinkled in here and there that do offer what traits and even characteristics of a Hufflepuff are.
Click on the respective name button for a direct link to an in depth look into the characteristics and traits that follows the characters through the franchise and other supportive material.
""He's that tall, good-looking one, isn't he?" said Angelina. "Strong and silent," said Katie, and they stated to giggle again. "We were playing in completely different conditions! Diggory's put a very strong side together! He's an excellent Seeker!" - Oliver Wood..." - Prisoner of Azkaban
Catching the attention of many witches, comments across the books goes to show a Hufflepuff that it is not all about popularity and brains.
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Wand: 12 1/4 inches long, made of ash wood with unicorn hair core
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Proficient in Transfiguration (seen in Goblet of Fire's first task as he transformed a rock into a dog)
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Captain and Seeker of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team
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Part of the Prefect group at Hogwarts
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​Reflecting on the traits that a Hufflepuff goes to show, Cedric went out of his way to show mutual respect for other students at Hogwarts including Harry, despite his popularity.
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Although his life was cut short in the Goblet of Fire, the legacy of being a Diggory, just like his father, found fame and awareness to all of the things that reflected as a fellow Hufflepuff.
"She looked the youngest there; she had a pale heart-shaped face, dark twinkling eyes, and a short spiky hair that was a violent shade of violet."
- Order of the Phoenix
After attending Hogwarts, she joined the Ministry of Magic following suit to being a member of the Order of the Phoenix as undercover for the Ministry.
With her years of skilled magical practices, something that set her apart was being a metamorphmagus: the ability to change her physical appearance at will. Although this skill was rather a use of entertainment, she found fun in doing so often in serious situations.
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Second Wizarding War (Goblet of Fire) - Impacted and lead the other members in rescuing Harry as well as making the connection to Ron and Hermione down the line as a crucial member almost considered family.
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Battle of the Department of Mysteries () - after facing relatives that were Death Eaters, the most important thing was to rescue the students were down in the Chambers.​
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(Harry) "I assume there’s an academic publisher somewhere who churns out all these dozens of textbooks, and they make up pen names for them. Two of these authors – Bathilda Bagshot and Newt Scamander – actually exist; for my own sanity I’m going to assume the others are imaginary." - Philosopher's Stone
Through being sorted into Hufflepuff, he found difficulty and expulsion at Hogwarts even though he was proven innocent. While at school and there after, he found interest in magical beasts that were in the wizarding world for all of their unique traits and characteristics. Afterwards, he joined the Ministry of Magic where he was commissioned to write Fantastic Beats and Where to Find Them. This book just so happened to be a best seller and later incorporated into the Hogwarts school books that 1st years would have to purchase.
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The care for magical creatures began at a young age and carried through his years at Hogwarts then soon into his career as well as after retirement
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Being every proficient in charms got himself far, but also got him in trouble in the muggle world.
As many events and counties explored, he ended up married to Tina Goldstein as resided to still learn more about magical creatures and the endless possibilities grew towards curiosity.
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