Voldemort and the Teenage Hogwarts Musical Parody, King's Head Theatre - ★★★ - Until January 11, 2020


The strength of any parody depends on the audience's familiarity with the object of the humour. The more of a Potterhead you are, the more you will probably enjoy this show. It actually takes place in 1942 before Harry came on the scene at Hogwarts in a time when Lord Voldemort is simply Tom Riddle, a troublesome teenager with a crush on a classmate. Some of the characters here like Moaning Myrtle and Hagrid are modeled on J.K. Rowling's originals and some are additions. Harry, Hermione and Ron do drop in for some of the fun, but the focus is on adolescent Riddle, and Stephen Graney does a great job of making him rather endearing and more than a little bit weird. All of the cast are strong. Stefani Ariza is a suitably annoying Myrtle and Katarina Hardy is a strikingly lascivious Genevieve. Joseph Taylor and Alice Robinson as Derald Bacon and Muffin have some terrific comic timing. Samantha Bingley does a fine job as a female Dumbledore and her "Creepy Peepy Painting" broke us up. Eric Michaud is completely believable as Hagrid and his operatic aspiration was good fun. There are some very clever original songs here, and despite a paper thin plot, the pace ensures that the audience is involved. There is a slight feeling that this is a work in progress, but overall we thoroughly enjoyed this parody of all things Potter!

 Reviewed by J.C.

  Our Score:  ☆☆☆ 

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 WHEN, WHERE, GETTING THERE:
Until January 11, 2020
Tue - Sat: 9:15 pm. Sun - 5:15 pm
King's Head Theatre
Nearest tube: Angel
https://www.kingsheadtheatre.com/whats-on/voldemort-the-teenage-hogwarts-musical-parody
Map & Location: 115 Upper St, Islington, London N1 1QN, UK

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