Completely Improvised Potter

Completely Improvised Potter promises what every Potter fan desperately craves - another year at Hogwarts with a new book that has never really existed.

Melbourne based improvisation company, Soothplayers, who are also presenting Completely Improvised Shakespeare at Fringe World, ask patrons to write down the name of the Harry Potter book that they have always wanted. These are placed into a large Goblet (of not much fire), and a selection is drawn.

The book presented at the performance I attended was “Harry Potter and the Wardrobe Malfunction”. 

A team of excellent improvisors worked together beautifully in a nicely paced, clever, and often hilarious tribute to the Potter-verse. The team know their characters and the stories well, which was appreciated by the clearly Potterphile audience. 

On this day Jasper Foley stepped into the title role, with Ryan Patterson making a wonderful Dumbledore and Lucius Malfoy (particularly when these characters appeared together). Gemma Duncan was an outstanding Draco, especially when working with the lovely Perth ex-pat Louise Cox as Hermione. Vidja Raj performed delightful double duty as Madam Malkin and as Ron, with audience favourites possibly Pedro Cooray as Voldemort working expertly with Bridget McClumpha as Wormtail.

Your experience will vary.

I am told that the shows at Ibis Palace are sold out, but there are limited seats available for some shows at Elizabeth’s Palace. Failing that, try to get tickets for Completely Improvised Shakespeare.

A great show from some supremely talented performers.

Kimberley Shaw

Photographer: Mark Gambino