Franklin’s theater department wrapped up its six night long run of “Puffs” on March 15 — marking the first non-musical play presented by the theater department since 2020. “Puffs” is a hilarious parody of the well known Harry Potter series, and follows the story of three young wizards as they attend a school for magic.
Senior Calypso Kupper plays the main character Wayne Hopkins, an orphan boy who receives a letter telling him to attend a magical school in England, similar to a certain other wizard boy we all know. Kupper shares how she really enjoys doing theater, and how it is a great place for her to connect with other people. She feels that it is a place where she can truly be herself and have fun. “You don’t get to ‘play’ in many places as much as you do in theater,” she says.
This love for theater can be felt throughout the entire auditorium. From actor to technician, there is a common adoration for the performance which continues to draw students back to the department. Morgan Millsap, the head of the props department, talks about their love for the community. “[My favorite part is] just how welcoming and how easy it is to get along with everyone,” they share. Similarly, junior Benjamin Martin says, “It’s a lot of work, but it’s really fun and you make a ton of friends here.” People coming together to create a piece of art is a process that builds connections to last a lifetime.
The Franklin theater department announced this production at the beginning of the school year, and it was highly anticipated among the acting community. There had been discussion surrounding it since last spring, says Kyra Kreuscher, a senior who plays Leanne in the show. Kreuscher shares that, “Everybody in the thespians club was really excited about it.” There was additional excitement because, before “Puffs,” Franklin had not put on a spring play since before the COVID-19 pandemic. “We haven’t had a play in all the years that I’ve been [at Franklin], and it’s my senior year so I’m really happy [we had one],” says Kreuscher.
“Puffs” also gave more students opportunities to be in the spotlight. “It’s nice to see everyone who’s not in the musical get a chance to show off their talents,” says junior Willa MacPherson, who plays Susie Bones, a close friend of the main trio.
The cast shares how though “Puffs” may not be the most extravagant production, it has its own type of charm. Luc Wohlmut, a senior member of the cast, shares that ”It’s so unique and special in its own way, and it doesn’t need to be big and flashy like some other plays are.” The camaraderie of the show makes it very lighthearted. The prospect of giving the underdog a chance to shine is really what makes “Puffs” so exceptional. “It takes the background characters … and really puts the spotlight on them,” says senior James Lawrence, who plays the narrator. He continues, saying, “The narrative [is] that everyone has their own story to tell, and they’re all beautiful in their own way.” This idea that everyone has their own story, whether they are the “chosen one” or not, is the core value of “Puffs” and what truly makes the production so magical.
