For every chosen one, there is a multitude of the non-chosen, the ones whose resumes will be kept on file in case something opens up.
For every boy wizard destined to save the universe there is the rest of his magic school graduating class, competent spell-casters destined to pull rabbits out of hats at children’s birthday parties for all eternity.
Three such students at that famous magic school, classmates of the wizarding boy wonder, get their turn in the spotlight in Puffs, presented by Jobsite in Jaeb Theater July 9 – Aug. 3.
Subtitled Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic, the play follows Megan, Oliver and Wayne as they try to master the intricacies of wizardry while also dealing with the blowback from whatever confrontation Wonder Boy is getting up to this year.
Logan Franke, who portrays Megan, has a long history with Jobsite, having been part of such not particularly lighthearted pieces as Dracula, Frankenstein, The Pillowman, The Beauty Queen of Leenane and Macbeth. Logan is enthusiastic about showing Jobsite’s audience another side of herself.
“I get the chance to play with comedic timing and practice my ‘Oh dang it, I’m breaking” side face a LOT, especially with how hysterical the rest of the cast is,” Logan said. The self-described “horror fan and lover of all things creepy” is “having a blast being able to make people laugh.
“I have truly found a family within Jobsite through my love of horror and darkness,” Logan said, “and I’m just so thankful that they saw that I could be a part of this side of it, too!”
As for the famous boy wizard, Logan was more of a casual fan than devotee.
“I had seen some of the movies and appreciated them,” Logan said, “but most of the references were new to me.”
Castmates who were more well-versed in all things wizardly were helpful, Logan said. “They taught me so much about what was going on.”
However, being a mega-fan isn’t necessary to enjoy Puffs, Logan said.
“Of course someone who knows the references would likely feel more kinship toward the show from the start,” Logan said, “but you don’t need to know the source material to love and understand the show.”
Fans fearing a take-down of the boy wizard and his media empire can rest easy, Logan said.
Puffs, she said, “leans into the most beloved moments and characters from the source material in a way that can only be viewed as a loving tribute.
“It’s an easy to follow, funny story, not because it’s copying or parodying the whole time, but because it has heart and meaning,” Logan said. “It’s one of the sweetest shows I’ve ever worked on and I think it hits home for any audience member, wizard obsessed or not.”
Logan’s “main takeaway” from Puffs? “Loyalty and love being the strongest forces in someone’s life. That has seeped into the energy the cast and crew brings to the rehearsal space, too!
“We are all so unbelievably dedicated to giving each other every part of us every day that we have an unfettered bond now. And we got that from being Puffs together,” Logan said. “You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll learn how to be a better friend, and you’ll certainly learn something new about yourself.”
