Loretto Academy’s theater program wanted to start the year with an amusing play, so they performed Puffs, a comedic spin-off of Harry Potter told from the Hufflepuff perspective.

This play ran for three show times on October 23, 24, and 25, at the Loretto theater, drawing crowds of students, family, and fans of the Harry Potter series.

Director Mrs. Cortez said, “The play shows how being kind sometimes outshines being smart and sneaky,” showing what it really means to be a Puff.

The story line follows Megan Jones, played by junior Ema Lucia Muniz, a young witch who struggles to accept her place in Hufflepuff because of her mom’s dark past.

Over the years, Megan learns that being a Puff means being loyal, brave, and proud of who you are in your own way.

Ema said, “The main theme is that love is the greatest magic of all,” which is the play’s deeper message behind the humor.

The performance had everything; comedy, heartfelt moments, and creative scenarios that kept the crowd smiling through all three nights of the show.

Mrs. Cortez mentioned that one of the biggest challenges with the entire production process was managing so many characters with a small cast.

Mrs. Cortez said, “ There’s only 12 actors but 30 characters in total, so even if they’re  small parts, that made it difficult,” meaning that some characters had to take on
multiple roles.

Junior actor Ann Marie Franco who impressively played six different roles, Leanne, Frenchy, Ginny, Mermeoone, Helga, and Sal, expressed how it was both a challenge and a lesson in teamwork.

Ann said, “ It was challenging but it showed how you don’t have to be extraordinary to be great… all you have to be is yourself.”

Though it was a difficult challenge for the thespians, their hard work and collaboration, culminated in a unique play on stage.

The play was brought to life with teamwork and the production wrapped with enthusiastic applause, proving the theater’s first play of the year was a success.