CHENNAI: Happy and Potter are two kids in Hogwarts. One is a wizard and the other is a squib taking special classes at Hogwarts to see if he has magic-potential. When Hogwarts hosts the Grand Sorcerer’s Tournament, Happy and Potter find themselves in the middle of a dangerous plot and need to win the Egg of Destiny hidden by Dumbledore somewhere in the school. Competing with the ladies of Bellebatoms and the conniving Mudpots, and also battling ghosts, villains and hormones, they have to safeguard the Egg of Destiny, and in the process, save the future of magic itself...
Sounds like a spoof? Not really, as it is the plot line of the Happy Potter and the Egg of Destiny, this year’s Christmas pantomime, a 23-year-old tradition by Little Theatre, which attracts crowds from across the country.
As the name suggests, it’s not an exact replica of the Harry Potter world. “It is an exciting take on Harry Potter with elements from the real story but with a whole different spin!” grins Krishnakumar (KK), art director of Little Theatre.
Having directed the pantomime for six years, he is performing this year, leaving direction to Prashant Oliver, a theatre artiste from the original Disney production, Beauty and The Beast. This being Oliver’s directorial debut of a full-feature play, the Potter maniac had a hard time bending the rules of the wizarding world to suit a panto-style.
“The first challenge was to forget everything I knew and loved about Harry Potter, because that’s not what the Panto is! We’ve added a lot of current issues and local flavour through characters,” Oliver explains.
The 15-member adult cast chose their characters with the help of KK and Oliver, over four months of intensive training, developing their own quirks and back-stories. For instance, Dumbledore is the headmaster of Hogwarts, but he is not quite the same ‘old man’ as we know him to be. “A more animated and warm version of Dumbledore, perhaps we can say that,” says Harish (20), who will be playing the character.
While Neville and Hermione are true to their real personas, there are some new characters like a Hogwarts PT master (yes, you heard it right), a princess etc. There is also Peeves, playing sidekick to Dumbridge (50 points to those who can guess the character). “I am supposed to carry out a plan, but get distracted and fall in love,” says Sunny Patel (Peeves), a freelance actor, refusing to reveal anymore details!
Wait, what about Harry Potter himself? “No Harry Potter in the play. Happy and Potter, played by two girls, take some of the features of Harry,” Oliver says.
“Happy is more of a kid, more playful. Not like Harry, who is way too mature for his age anyway!” quips Deepa (Happy). The kids of the Little Theatre, aged 5-15 years, will be taking part as elves, students and ghosts!
The panto is no-fourth-wall kind of adventure, and you as the audience, will be just as important as the cast! “There will be a direct interaction with the cast and audience...and it makes the whole thing such a riot! The audience is different every day, so the jokes are different every day too!” quips KK.
Oliver adds that there will be characters walking among the audience, like the Dame and a Panto-animal. “The Dame is someone to watch out for, as “she” will be creating complete chaos!” he warns us.
At the Museum Theatre, Egmore, watch ‘Happy Potter and The Egg of Destiny’ on
Dec 8 (6 pm), Dec 9 & 10 (3 pm & 7 pm), Dec 11 & 12 (7 pm), and Dec 13 (6 pm). Donor passes available on www.thelittletheatreindia.com