Theatre is such a personal experience for each and every audience member. We take our baggage with us – our whole lives and internal biases informing our experience of what unfolds on stage. And Because the Night feels like that idea made literal.
It’s a loose adaptation of Hamlet, and takes place in a logging town plagued by deaths, ghosts, disappearances, and a forest that seems hungry. The sense of place communicated through the sound, lighting, and set design was incredible. We never saw the woods, but their presence was always there, pressing in on us from all sides. We never saw the ghost of Hamlet’s father, because we were the ghostly presence – haunting the characters and judging their decisions behind our masks and cloaks.
There was no speaking, but it never felt like an isolated experience. We shared glances with other audience members during the performance, finding a hidden bunker together and sharing our discoveries. We compared notes with friends who saw the show, even running into a stranger at the tram stop and marveling at how different their experience was.
The merch and posters for this show are branded with the words “LONG LIVE THEATRE” and it’s the perfect representation of this experience. It’s a call to action, a remembrance of the year that was, and a bold statement that we are here and we aren’t going anywhere. Theatre is back and it’s better, stronger, and brighter than ever.
Because the Night has extended its season at the Malthouse Theatre until June 27th!
I can’t say how many times we collectively saw Puffs in Melbourne. I remember trips to the Coles across the road – our own proverbial kitchen to the common room of the Alex Theatre – to stock up on snacks as we waited for curtain up on another year at that certain school of magic and magic. It was just one of those things that never got old, never grew tiresome, and only seemed to charm and surprise us more and more as time went on.
I was over the moon when I heard that it was touring to Sydney. Puffs is a play with a message that deserves a worldwide stage. It embodies the heart and soul of that house, of these characters, and I really do challenge anyone to go see it without leaving with a smile on their face.
The words “hero” and “side characters” are thrown around a lot in reference to the character of Wayne Hopkins, but I think he’s a hero in every sense of the word. Passionate, loyal, loving, kind – he endears you the moment he walks onstage and you’re with him wholeheartedly until the very end. Ryan gave 110% to that role every night in Melbourne and nothing’s changed in Sydney. He’s just phenomenal.
He’s joined by Puffs newbies Angelina Thomson and Adam Marks in the roles of Megan and Oliver respectively, who round off this unexpected trio delightfully. There’s so much of that Puffs brand of geekery bubbling just under the surface of Angelina’s Megan. Her threats to the boys in their first meeting are underscored by a flare for drama and clumsy movements that only a Puff would have. And Adam brings new, unconscious charm to Oliver. His love for trigonometry is only matched by his love for Megan and Wayne.
Which brings me to Gareth Isaac as the Narrator. Like any chorus archetype role, it’s a mammoth task, with a bulk of the script and the overall mood of the play falling on his shoulders, but he handles it with such aplomb and effortless charm. One of my favourite scenes is always his speech near the end (“Or maybe it’s the part of you that works hard. The part that stays loyal and true, despite whatever terrifying monsters are thrown your way. The part that plays fair when life is anything but. Maybe that’s a Puff there.”) which embodies the spirit of this play better than anything else. It helps that Gareth is just the loveliest person you will ever meet.
Playing local heartthrob and resident good egg Cedric is another new addition to the cast, James Bryers. He plays the role with such appeal and love, bouncing across the stage with the brightest grin on his face. Where Rob Mills was all charisma, James is the boy next door – and his fate is all the more upsetting because of it. He had an incredibly hilarious and unexpected interaction with an audience member in the second act last night, which won’t be described here for risk of spoilers. You really must see the show yourself for the full hilarity of what James gets up to in the latter half of this play.
Olivia Charalambous is hilarious as Susie, but she’s off the charts as a certain bespectacled wizard – quite possibly having the most fun out of everyone on that stage. I had no clue how Matt Whitty did that when the show was in Melbourne, and I still have no clue how he does it now that it’s in Sydney. Safe to say the biggest laughs of any evening at Puffs are always down to this guy and I am constantly in awe of his immense comedic timing and commitment. Last night’s sex ed scene was something else.
I’ve been following Lauren McKenna’s work since Heathers and it was such a treat to finally catch her as Leanne and Helga and a certain unnamed redhead, as I never got a chance to see her in Melbourne. Kimie Tsukakoshi brings an adorable Susie to the table and her Bippy the house elf, a character specifically designed to be annoying, still had me in stitches. And of course there’s Annabelle Tudor bringing “extra” to a whole new level as Megan’s mother among various others, including the majority of the faculty at the school in one of my favourite sequences of any evening at Puffs.
Let me just say that I got the message from Haxby saying he was going on for J Finch last night on the way to dinner and I haven’t stopped grinning since. Anyone who saw him at the Pop Up Globe would have a rough idea of what to expect from him, although that didn’t prepare me at all for last night.
His J Finch was absolutely perfect and his improv scene had me hiding behind Nadia as I absolutely and completely lost my shit. Of all the roles he could have gone on for, this was the one I wanted to see the most, and it was everything I hoped for and more.
I also want to give a quick shout out to the costume designer, Madeline Bundy. I always saw the show from the back of the stalls when it was in Melbourne and I had no idea how much I missed, which I only noticed from the front row last night. There’s so much detail in each costume, every character is so vivid and lovingly crafted. And Oliver has a Pi pin?? Please.
But really the entire creative team deserves a shout out. Puffs is the little show that could. What started as a fun little production made by a group of friends for a short run at the People’s Improv Theatre has now found its way into the hearts of thousands of people in America and now across Australia. It deserves every success and all the love in the world.
You can catch Puffs in Sydney until this Sunday. It opens in Brisbane on the 23rd of August, with all preview tickets only $39.90. You can also find out more on their website and even watch the original production which is available to rent or buy!
(EDIT, 7th of June 2019: Vertic Alley was shut down due to copyright issues and Embiggen Books will be closing its doors in June. There are also Potter themed stays available at the Windsor Hotel, just down the road from the Princess.)
In October of 2017, the Michael Cassel Group announced that it would be producing the Australian premiere (and only Australian production) of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in Melbourne. It came as no surprise to me – Melbourne has always been an enchanted city. Magic runs through its veins, catching on the tram tracks and spreading out into the laneways and cafes and galleries and theatres and other hidden secrets.
My first visits to the city as a child were always filled with awe. I couldn’t take it all in fast enough; as my eyes darted from windows to balconies, from hidden alcoves to art filled corners, from street performers to baristas working their magic behind so many nozzles and buttons. Even as an adult, I still hold that wonderment whenever I return to the city. There’s always so much to discover. So much to see and do. It’s a city that’s always alive, always breathing life into everyone who walks the pavements and cobble stoned laneways.
Left to right, clockwise: Cathedral Arcade, Block Ct, Royal Arcade, ANZ Bank (388 Collins St)
With visitors pouring in from across the country and the globe to witness this landmark production, I wanted to post a little blog on a few Potter themed and Potter adjacent locations in the city for you all to visit on your journey to Hogwarts.
Before we begin, make sure you keep your Marauder’s Map to Melbourne handy. Locations mentioned on the blog will come with a number which you can find on the map. And don’t forget to make a stop at the old ANZ Bank on Collins street (above lower left, no. 8 on the map) to take out some sickles and galleons for the adventure ahead!¹ And remember, travelling via tram is free in the city. I also highly recommend a trip on the city circle tram for a uniquely Melbourne experience.
Remember that this blog is only a guide. The journey is whatever you make it. Tread carefully, choose wisely, and don’t forget to look up.
Left to right, clockwise: Degraves St Subway, Centre Place, Degraves St Subway, Degraves Street
The best parts of any city are its secrets. Everything else is just superficial – the curated version of a place that everyone sees. But the lifeblood, the story that a city has to tell is kept in its hidden spaces. Its alleyways and dark doorways and mysterious windows. Melbourne is a secret, waiting to be shared with those who are willing to listen.
We may begin our journey at Flinders Street Station, as most journeys to hidden wizarding schools do. But, rather than taking the main exit out onto Swanston Street, why not take the road less travelled and wander down to the Degraves Street Subway (no. 2)? Full of fascinating shops and rotating art exhibits in the long walkway that follows, this is one of my favourite spaces in Melbourne.
As you climb the steps at the end of the subway and up into the light of Degraves Street – you’d be hard pressed not to feel a little bit of Melbourne’s unique magic. Follow the laneway through to Centre Place and then on to the Block Arcade and Royal Arcade, breathing in the enriching smell of coffee brewing as you go.
The Haunted Bookshop, 15 McKillop Street
Melbourne was designated a City of Literature, the second in the world after Edinburgh, back in 2008 and has always fostered a thriving culture of literature – from the gorgeous State Library on Swanston Street to the many hidden city bookstores both under and above ground. There is an extensive supply list for students each year at Hogwarts and you will be spoilt for choice when it comes time to purchase the books from this list.
You can find most of your books for the school year ahead at the Haunted Bookshop (no. 9) on McKillop Street, which runs off Little Collins Street. They also offer ghost tours, which they have been running since 1997. Journey off the cobble stoned street, up the stairs, and through the blue curtains. Tread carefully – this store is full of wonders and magic.
Why not take a moment from your journey to visit the Redmond Barry Reading Room at the State Library (no. 15) to browse their extensive collection. Or perhaps the La Trobe Reading Room, often called the Dome Reading Room, is more to your liking? Don’t forget to take a wander through the Dome galleries to see their permanent exhibition, The Changing Face of Victoria, and visit the beautiful stained glass Shakespeare Window on the sixth floor. While he is not an enchanted portrait, there is a certain inspiring magic about this piece – as he gazes out across the balcony and into the beautiful reading room below, where students of the world devour books and spill their ideas out onto pages and screens alike.
Did you know that there is an extensive magic collection in the State Library? The bulk of the library’s resources on magic are within the WG Alma Conjuring collection which contains around 2000 books, 60 magazine titles, 1500 photographs, 300 posters, and much much more. Take the free Dome to Catacomb tour and ask the staff about the top secret collection, down in the depths of the library.
Embiggen Books, 197-203 Little Lonsdale St and Hill of Content (lower right), 86 Bourke St
If you’re still on the lookout for that elusive tome on Astronomy, or the Gilderoy Lockhart textbook was far too mainstream for the Haunted Bookshop, perhaps try Embiggen Books (no. 17) on Little Lonsdale Street? While you’re there, take a gander at their glass case and shelves of curiosities. Order a flat white and take a seat while you flip through a book – like a real Melburnian.
Closer to the Princess Theatre are Hill of Content (no. 20) and the Paperback Bookshop (no. 22). Amble up the steps to the second level of Hill of Content, past the Harry Potter tote bags, for books with a view of the bustle of Bourke Street below. Squeeze into the Paperback Bookshop and just try to leave the warmth and charm of that little independent store for the unpredictable Melbourne weather you left outside. Stronger witches and wizards have tried, and failed (me).
And for all your secondhand textbook needs, you can always try City Basement Books (no. 3) on Flinders Street – because, let’s be real, secondhand books are the best.²
The Store of Requirement, 6 Smith St Collingwood
No visit is complete without a trip to the Store of Requirement (no. 14) up on Smith Street in Collingwood. The friendly team are there to help with all your wands, robes, and Hogwarts house gear. You can also find books, collectables, toys, sweets, and more! Don’t forget to purchase a self-inking quill with the “Store of Requirement” stamped on the feathers! For a detailed look at what they have in stock, refer to their website. Collingwood is accessible via tram, but it is outside of the free tram zone so don’t forget to top up and touch on your myki!
For all your equipment and other magical supplies for the year ahead, you can’t go past Muses of Mystery (no. 4) and Spellbox (no. 10). The latter is housed in the beautiful Royal Arcade and has been around for as long as I can remember. Even just peering in through the windows at the beautiful artefacts, finely crafted broomsticks, and detailed tapestry – you can’t help but feel inspired to go inside and experience the store for yourself.
And nestled away in the gorgeous Nicholas Building, amongst all sorts of mysterious and wonderful independent stores, is Muses of Mystery. Stepping inside feels like entering another world, utterly removed from the historic office building that houses it. Special points if you can spot the wand within a glass case which looks very much like the one owned by Albus Severus Potter.
Wunderkammer on the corner of Queen and Lonsdale Street is also more than worth a stop. Their name comes from the German word which literally means “wonder chamber” or “cabinet of curiosities” and there is no better way to describe this enchanting little shop. It’s like nothing else in this city and has to be seen to be believed.
Left to right, clockwise: Spellbox, Muses of Mystery, Spellbox, Wunderkammer
Left to right, clockwise: Spellbox, Muses of Mystery, Wunderkammer, Muses of Mystery
You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to food in Melbourne. But, usually, the best places are hidden away out of sight. Often when I’m meeting a friend for brunch, I’ll be sent on some kind of wild goose chase down alleyways and through parking lots – up staircases, through windows, that sort of thing – and yet the cafes at the end of these wild adventures are always just as busy as any other cafe in the city. That’s Melbourne for you.
For more curated food, you can always hit up Vertic Alley right next door to the Princess Theatre. But more on that later. Here’s a few suggestions for anything from a quiet brunch spot to pre-show eats minutes away from the theatre:
A familiar sight in Melbourne is Clocks, at the Arts Centre end of Flinders Street Station. Usually associated with televisions streaming various muggle sports games while off the clock businessmen play the pokies – there’s actually a new restaurant there called the Green Light Diner. Take a left when you enter off Swanston Street and find a quiet compartment for you and your friends to wile away the hours over hearty meals worthy of a Hogwarts Feast. Don’t forget to stow away all luggage, keep your arms and legs inside the carriage, and – for goodness sake – do not cross the Trolley Witch.³
The Moat Bar and Restaurant, 176 Little Lonsdale St (image via their website)
Green Light Diner or “Clocks”, Shop 17, the Concourse, Flinders Street Station (image via their website)
Tucked under the archways of Saint Paul’s Cathedral and just off Flinders Lane is Chapter House Coffee. Find a table inside by the window for some prime people watching, or snag a spot under the archways for a very Hogwarts experience. Ron, Hermione, and Harry will be running around the corner any minute now.
Hidden away under the State Library is the Moat Bar and Restaurant. Surround yourself with books and warm, cosy vibes as you unpack the events of your weekend getaway in Melbourne. It’s impossible not to feel inspired as the history and knowledge of the State Library and the Wheeler Centre seep through the brick walls and into your hearts.
For a similar space, you can always head up the road to Alchemist’s Refuge (no. 13) and its downstairs bar space. Usually home to trivia and games nights, you can always set yourself up on one of the leather couches with a couple of themed cocktails and board games after a long day of exploration.
One of my personal favourite cafes is Captains of Industry, on Somerset Place which runs off Little Bourke Street. Nestled away up a narrow staircase, the cafe is all large windows and small tables with vintage sewing machines accompanying the salt and pepper shakers. While not specifically on theme with the rest of this blog – they do a mean grilled cheese sandwich that I couldn’t possibly leave out of the list. But there’s plenty of cafes on Little Bourke Street you can stick your head in. The one with the chairs hanging from the ceiling is particularly good.
Left to right, clockwise: Hopetoun Tea Rooms, The Block Arcade, The Beechworth Sweet Co, and Barbarella
You can always drop by Hopetoun Tea Rooms in The Block Arcade. One of the most gorgeous, historic locations in Melbourne – it’s always such a delight to pass by on my city walks, peering through the windows at delicious cakes and untouched Victorian splendour. Unfortunately, there’s always a line for a table in the tea rooms – so you might be better off heading further down to Barbarella. It’s hard to miss, it looks like someone shoved a tram in a hole in the wall and called it a day. They do fantastic coffee and delicious eats – away from the bustle of the laneway cafes just opposite where you’re constantly at risk of having your coffee dislodged by passersby.
Before embarking on the train/tram to Hogwarts, you’ll need a snack (or two) for the journey. My personal favourite pre-show eats have always been a couple of share plates of dumplings inhaled by my friends and I in Chinatown before an evening performance in one of the East End theatres. Stop by Empress of China for well priced, fast service and perfect pork and veggie dumplings.
Or why not book a table at the Spaghetti Tree on Bourke Street for a deliciously filling meal in a warm, delightful atmosphere. Or how about Pellegrini’s just across the road for a bowl of pasta and some conversation with the wonderful staff. Sisto left a space that cannot be filled – but his spirit lives on in the soul of this Melbourne institution.
Vertic Alley or The Imperial Hotel, 2-8 Bourke St
Of course you can always book a booth at Vertic Alley (no. 23) for themed share plates and delicious “Buttah Beer”. But, fair warning, this rooftop bar is likely to be booked out and overcrowded for pre and post show drinks – so you might be better off saving this place for a morning or afternoon fly by. You don’t have to book a booth to enter this rooftop bar, you can always show up and find a table for you and your mates.
Just next door to Vertic Alley is the Spring Street Grocer (no. 24), where you can purchase a delicious cup of gelato – or perhaps journey through the rainbow selection of fruit, veg, and other delicacies, before heading down into the hidden cheese cellar. Yup, that’s right. There’s a hidden cheese cellar. The more you know.
Now you’re finally ready for the journey to Hogwarts. Please arrive promptly to the theatre, as there is a lockout period. Tickets are available at the box office, merchandise can be purchased from the two dedicated shops on both levels of the theatre. Food and beverages can also be purchased from the two Princess Theatre bars – but please be reminded that hot food and drinks are not permitted in the auditorium, and filming and photography is strictly prohibited. Have a pleasant and safe journey, I hope you’ll one day return to Melbourne for more adventures in our wonderful city!
¹. Muggle money cannot be exchanged for wizard money. To exchange foreign currency for Australian dollars, please see The Currency Shop for the best exchange rates in the CBD!
². Please be aware that cursed diaries, books owned by certain half blood princes, and other enchanted textbooks are not permitted at Hogwarts. You have been warned.
Everyone who walks away from this play and gives their thoughts, quiet and desperate not to ruin the performance for anyone, says that they loved the stage magic. And I’m gonna be a repetitive jerk here and say that yes, I did in fact love the stage magic. We scored free tickets to the dress rehearsal, which we felt certain would have a few trips and misfires, but it went off without a hitch as everyone gasped and applauded the magic unfolding onstage. But theatre is magic. What’s shared in those dark spaces, night after night between utter strangers, and then packed away forever or until the script is dusted off again by some bright eyed maker – it’s always going to be something special, something that can only be and should be described as magic.
But really the heart of this play was William Mckenna and Sean Rees-Wemyss as Scorpius and Albus. Any gripes with the piece are forgotten as you watch these two genuine, flawed, loving friends on stage. Scorpius is incredibly endearing in the audience favourite turn of the night, while Albus’s actions – which seemed alienating on the page – make sense in Sean’s capable hands. Sean and William have such an easy chemistry onstage, that will only grow with time and practice. It’s difficult to believe this was just a dress rehearsal and second preview, as everyone already seems to know this piece like a familiar old cloak.
While Scorpius whoos audience members with his awkward charm, it’s Harry that I can’t take my eyes off of. It’s so rare that I’m stunned by a performance, but Gareth Reeves gives himself over so wholly and completely to the role. There’s a scene later on in part two which had me in tears when I first read it, but it ripped through my soul when I watched it on stage. His Harry breaks your heart and puts it back together again. He’s deeply traumatised by the wizarding war and as a consequence he’s pushing everyone away. But it’s such an open, honest performance and I found myself falling in love again with this dear, beloved character over these four nights.
There must be such enormous pressure on this cast and crew. This is a huge undertaking. Each role is a ridiculous challenge, from those who occupy the centre stage to the ensemble who lift this performance with their controlled, practised, delicate movements, to the back of house technical crew with the utter wizardry of their work which creates such a real and tangible world. But I think, after what I’ve seen these last four nights, that they’re going to be just fine. And from what I heard from that audience at the dress rehearsal and these preview performances, Melbourne loves them already – unconditionally and without reserve.
Saw Lightning Jar Theatre Inc.‘s production of Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play last night with Nadia. The space at fortyfivedownstairs is perfect for it. At once cavernous and intimate, you feel the warmth of the fire the characters gather around as much as you do every sound and every movement that has them reaching for weapons and looking over their shoulders. There’s sirens in the distance and trams rattling across roads – but it’s being broadcast from another world.
Over the course of the night we see stories transforming from something shared around a fireplace, to something sold for batteries and diet coke, to something entirely different in the chaotic third and final act. It’s an insanely good script, it was easy to see why the interval had us looking at how much it was to purchase online.
Messages on the transformative and reassuring nature of storytelling are not what you would expect from a play which uses The Simpsons as its main vehicle. But there it is. It’s also shockingly reassuring for a piece set in the apocalypse. As the characters squabble over purchasing lines and scenes in order to piece together episodes for what is now a kind of theatre troupe bringing something, anything, to the masses struggling through this post electric world – it strikes on a reality I always knew.
Stories are life blood. Stories survive and often thrive in situations like this, in situations where it feels like we’re tearing our world apart. Everyone finds something different in fiction. Reassurance, entertainment, therapy, a reflection of a part of you no one has ever known.
But what they find, no matter what, is something of themselves. And the fact is we’re just too damn stubborn to let those stories go – even in a world without electricity where every moment lasts a second and a thousand years all at once.
Emily Reginalds 