Hiiii!!!

I’m Mandy Gunther and I’m— well— I’m a Puff! (Yes, I’ve taken the test over and over and over…go figure.) But more importantly, I’m here with some folks of the Rogue Swan variety— several of whom are also Puffs! Hiii!!! Which is convenient! Since Rogue Swan Theatre Company is doing Puffs (Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School for Magic and Magic) that delightful send-up of a certain source material (written by she-who-must-not-be-named) as penned into stage-worthy existence by Matt Cox. And let me tell you something— the amount of nonsense and laughter and utter shenanigans that happened just sitting with these delightful giggle-goons at this interview table…makes me want to sit through every one of their shows as each one promises to be just a little different! And you should too!

I don’t even know where we start with this one so let’s start with the basics. How about telling me and the readers who you are, who you play, and how many Rogue shows for you is this?

Amy Tucker: I’m Amy Tucker and I play Hannah as well as Professor McG as well as all the other adult female teachers, I play the first Headmaster, I play Xavia Jones, and I play a Death Buddy. Yes, a Death Buddy. This is my second full theatre production with Rogue, first Sweeney and now Puffs and I’ve done several of their Vaudevilles both as part of the band and on-stage.

Marion Jackson: I’m Marion and I play Susie Bones, Harry, Colin, a Death Buddy, Myrtle…I think it’s just the five.

Amy: You’re Her-me-own-e.

Marion: Right! So six. I think I’m around or at ten Rogue shows at this point, all together.

Lilli Burril-Gordon: I’m Lilli Burril-Gordon and I am the director of Puffs, so I don’t get to play any of the characters, which is very sad because they are all hysterical, however, I have been in and around all the Rogue stuff except for Unnecessary Farce because I was away at school so I don’t have an exact number but we’ll say “all but one.”

All minus one is a great number.

Katie Gordon: I’m Katie Gordon and I’m the Artistic Director of Rogue. I play Leanne, Ginny, Frenchy, Death Buddy, Helga H— Helga Puff…and I think that’s it. That’s so many. I’ve been in every show. Because I made the company. I birthed it.

Arianna Costantini: I’m Arianna Costantini. I play Sally Perks, a Herm-me-own-e, Blondo Malfoy, Rowena-Puppet, Rita Scooter, Bippy, and a Death Buddy. And any other ones? I’ll find out. And this is my third production, officially on-stage, and I worked backstage crew for one.

Caleb Gordon: I’m Caleb Gordon and I play Wayne. And about two-seconds of a Death Buddy. I have been with Rogue for…

Lilli: I don’t know why you’re looking at me!

Katie: Since before the first Vaudeville. Because we did galleries.

Caleb: So for a long time. And this has been a blast. I basically just play Wayne. He’s one character and it’s neat.

Will Conway: I’m Will Conway and I’m playing Oliver Rivers, which is also just the one character. I’m just going to say I’ve done at least half of the number of Rogue shows? Because when we did the anniversary I was not in the top half nor was I in the bottom half.

Rob Tucker: It sounds like this question might be easy for me. Hi, I’m Rob Tucker, and I am stepping in due to a very unfortunate situation. The original J. Finch-track actor broke his leg. That’s really awful. But because of that, I’m playing J Finch, the Fat Friar, Clumsy Longbottom, Viktor, and Zach Smith, and Uncle Dave! RIP. And a Her-me-own-e. And a Death Buddy. He does a bunch of things. I’ve done the whole track about twice so far. And this is a Rogue debut for me.

Alrighty then! Now, tell me why Puffs? What makes you want to come out and clown around with this bunch for this show?

Amy: So Puffs is probably my second-favorite straight play. This is the second time I’ve done it. The first time I did it I was the Sally Perks track and got to play some of the other roles that go with that track. I have seen dozens of productions, I have seen it on Broadway, I have seen it off-Broadway. Every time somebody does it, I will find a way to go see the show. I love its heart, I love its soul. It’s a fandom that is near and dear to my heart and no matter what is happening in that fandom and with the author, Puffs is a place of safety and love and wonderfulness.

Best of luck to everyone else that has to follow Amy’s answer. Marion?

Marion: A lot of what Amy said already. Regardless of she-who-must-not-be-named, the source material is something that has always been near and dear to my heart. I grew up in that generation. We went to the midnight releases, I had the costumes, my mom made us the scarves, it’s always been such a big part of my life and it has always been such a big part of my word. To be able to engage in it in a way that is safe and reassuring and affirming and that doesn’t provide any money to her pocket? That’s definitely a good thing, it feels good.

Lilli, why would you want to direct it?

Lilli: When Katie and I were first talking about doing Puffs, we knew we wanted to do a straight play. We’d just come off of Sweeney Todd, which is heavy and huge. We had a cast of 25 and then another 20-something in the on-stage orchestra. It was just massive. She and I knew we wanted to do something a little bit smaller, a little bit tighter, and a little bit different to get ourselves out of that headspace. I think she saw it accidentally and said “you need to come over and watch this.” Because we are big fans of the fandom and of the source material. I grew up with the female lead of that source material being my hero because she was loud and unapologetically intelligent and it was very refreshing. So I went and watched Puffs, I fell in love with it, started laughing, and I said, “yeah, I agree, let’s do this in the spring.”

That’s where it started out. Where its gone is— and what I’ve realized is that it hasn’t gone there intentionally but it was perfect timing for this because this spring has been very difficult for myself and a lot of people. Issues with this reality at this moment. So being able to go to Puffs rehearsals and get to laugh with each other for two hours after a rough Monday work day has been such a gift. And I hope that the audience will find that when they come to see Puffs. It’s a gift for them too to be able to take a break from this reality that we’re all dealing with. It’s a chance for everyone to just laugh, have fun, and enjoy being a kid again.

Katie: I love Puffs. I was a little older when all the source books came out but it was something that my father, who is no longer with us, was so passionate about. He would go and wait for the midnight releases for the books. He would bring them and read them to the kids and it was this huge thing! Little known fact, Jesse (Katie’s son, Jesse Hutchinson, also appearing in Puffs but not appearing in this interview) made me put a scar— a little drawing of a scar— on his forehead for three years of his life. I kept an eyeliner at our front door to do it every day for him. It’s been part of our lives forever. So when I saw Puffs, I fell in love with it. Because honestly— in Rogue, we joke a lot about ‘which house are you in’ but it is a thing for us. When people come new to Rogue, we say “take the test” because we want to know what house you’re in—

Marion: We keep track of house points.

Katie: I do give out house points. Mostly to the Puffs. But the truth is that when Dane at the end of Puffs says his spiel— it’s about all of us, and it gets me all worked up because we really are, we’re family.

Serious question— Jesse isn’t going to just slip in unnoticed about twenty minutes into this like he did last time, right? For those unfamiliar with the Sweeney Todd interview, we sat down in this very café (Thank you, Concord Point Coffee ) and started the round-robin, and about 20 minutes in, I turned to my immediate left thinking we were starting the next question and POOF— a wild Jesse Hutchinson had appeared where there had previously been no person before. Is he in Puffs?

Katie: Yes but he’s—

Lilli: He’s busy getting Buff for Puffs.

MY. GOOD GRIEF AND GRAVY. This is like Swole for Sweeney!!!

Katie: Yes. Now he’s Buff for Puffs. Because he’s shirtless in this one!

Arianna: I love Puffs because Jesse has a six-pack.

Somehow Jesse is in this interview without even being here for this interview.

Arianna: He will be very pleased that we are talking about his abs. But I love Puffs for all the same reasons. I also stumbled upon Puffs by accident. I think I’d seen it two times before we watched it all together. And I love the twists. There are other parodies plus those in the fandom. This one has a lot of things that you wouldn’t think about or forget about and it’s truly smart. It’s really heartfelt and like Katie said, it always gets you in the end. And it’s just so much fun to just chill out, play around, and hang with everyone. I don’t think I’ve laughed this hard in forever. It truly is the best time. I could tell, just by watching it, that if I were in that show it would be just that awesome. So I’m really glad I’m in it and I get to do it with these people.

Caleb: First of all, I would like to say this is probably the most fun, just honest, hilarious fun that I’ve had in the rehearsal process. I’ve loved the music and the challenges but it’s just pure lighthearted delight. And that has been this rehearsal process, pure, lighthearted delight. And having such a tightknit group of people? I did not grow up with the source material of this fandom or in this fandom in general but getting involved with Rogue, getting involved with this family was infectious because the source material— the triumph over adversity through love and friendship is really wonderful. So to enjoy such a delightful rehearsal process but also to be able to explore that message of love and friendship with these people is just unbelievable and I have really loved it.

Will: I hadn’t actually heard of Puffs until they were all like “Hey, we’re doing Puffs in the spring!” and we all sat down and watched it. The first time I watched it was with everyone at New Years and everyone in the room was just rolling with laughter. It’s hysterical. As we mentioned before, I’m usually just in the back of the band playing the viola…or sometimes in the front, it really just depends on what show we’re doing and where the band is placed… but I’m known as the viola player. This show is going to be my first time having a role on stage like this. I was very fortunate to be asked by these two lovely ladies (Katie & Lilli) to be asked to play one of the lead roles in Puffs. And wow— it has been such an honor. And just to echo a little bit of what Caleb was saying, just to be able to perform with these people— I mean the main reason I’m usually here is because I’m with the band but the main reason we’re all here is because we’re all family. And I want to keep doing projects with these guys because this has been an absolutely incredible process.

Rob: Amy came home from rehearsal sometime last week and told the whole story about what happened to Nathan (Nathan Gordon, who due to injury has had to have Rob Tucker step into his track.) And I said “Ooh…my…goodness.” By the next day, Lilli had texted me and asked, but this will be the third production of Puffs that I’ve been involved with in some way. First with Amy and then I directed it at Edgewood High School four years ago. And as a matter of fact, the freshmen that were in that production are graduating now. It’s got some significance for me. It’s odd that I’m doing it now on the cusp of those students who I had directed in it moving on. But also, I’m coming in trying to be totally respectful of what Nathan has tried to create? And trying to preserve some of that and not completely turn it topsy turvy and add to it but maybe add to it in a way that I think he would appreciate. We have some discussion to do, he and I, to try and figure some things out. There is a moment in the show where the character can pretty much do whatever he wants. And I’m trying to involve Nathan in the planning of and the execution of those ideas. Now Nathan is not going completely away. There are a couple of voiceover pieces where he will be featured. They’re a part of the J Finch track and I’m happy to let that be preserved so that the spirit of his choices can still be impacting the production.

That’s amazing. I know so many people who would come into a situation like this and either hurry up and do their own thing or attempt mimeograph on what was already established and it sounds like you’ve got a much more organic and respectful approach to keeping all parties involved. I love that. Now why Puffs since you said this isn’t your first airborn-sportsball-rodeo.

Rob: As for why Puffs? I’m just a fan of the fans. And of fans in general. Before this whole thing down, I was in it hook, line, and sinker, with the ‘creator’ if you will. And the lack of toxicity in this source-material-fandom circa a decade ago was rare. Really rare. I’m involved in umpteen other fandoms, it’s kinda one of the things I do, and you name it— in each one, there’s some kind of problem. It wasn’t bound to last forever, unfortunately, but I’m a fan of the fans. I’m a fan of the people that I’ve met because of it.

Amy: I wanna add— we both saw the original off-off-Broadway production of this show. He surprised me for my birthday that year, because we’re such big fans. I had no idea! It was the only time in my life that he has surprised me with a present.

Rob: Really?

Amy: Yes!

Rob: Oh yeah, I remember that now. It’s been a long time. But I am really bad at surprises.

Amy: He is. But its been in our lives forever.

Rob: I’m outrageously bad at surprises and this one involved a trip to New York and everything and somehow— magic— I pulled it off!

That’s fantastic. If you could pull a character or event from the source material that did not make its way into Puffs but you think should…who or what are you bringing along?

Amy: There are two that pop into my head. One is a certain cat. And one is a certain lady in pink.

Wait. Which certain cat?

Amy: A ginger cat.

Gotcha. Ginger cat and a Lady in— wait. She’s really not in this? I’ve only seen Puffs a couple times and they’ve been few and far-between and I can’t remember…really? She’s not?

Amy: Nope. They gloss over that year very quickly because it’s a very long year.

Marion: I was going to say the same thing. But honestly? I would like more critters. I would like to see more…we throw an owl across the stage. And we have a few moments where you see a cat here or spiders are mentioned…but otherwise you really don’t see any of the…mystical critters…that you would otherwise encounter?

So what I’m hearing is you need to find where these…fantastical…um…beasts are hiding…

Amy: There is a sequel and they are in the sequel but the sequel is not for production it was just online.

Marion: Aw! I think that’s what I want to see, more play with the critters!

Gingers and pinks and critters, oh my! Lilli?

Lilli: I think if they could have incorporated the trouble-making twins that would have been great. Because they were causing chaos all throughout and there are a lot of small moments where Puffs could have been dealing with the ramifications of them and their chaos and I think that would have been cool.

Katie: I would really just have liked Leanne to be able to be next to Voldy as…well, you know…lady evil-evil-evil—

You mean our twinsies from that source-party?

Katie: Yes! As our twinsies. Right! Because I should have played HER with him and I think that would have been hysterical to add ‘her’ into Voldy’s lair.

Arianna: I think, even though there is a bit of Malfoy in this, I would have loved more. Like in year two in the original source material— there is juice-making and potion-taking and identities being stolen— and I would have loved that interaction because it would have been interesting. But also, “My father will hear about this!” I want it said more.

Rob: Or Blondo’s Dad. Imagine the hair!

Arianna: Yes! What a wig that would be!

Caleb: That’s a really great question and I would agree with all that’s been suggested but I love the teachers that are represented. I would have loved to see a little bit more involvement of one who’s a wolf. Wolf Teacher.

Katie: Wolf Teacher is Leanne’s crush. Not that anyone asked.

Caleb: Being able to find a small way to incorporate him a little bit more, I would really have liked to have seen that.

That’s a great answer and I am sad Wolf Teacher is also not a bigger part of this. Will?

Will: I actually have two answers. That was going to be one of my answers because Wolf Teacher is one of the coolest teachers. But one of the other characters, you know, he had a book named after him, but one who has a…serious…demeanor. He was such a cool character. We mention him but that’s about it.

What!? No Pad— oh for pity’s sake. No grimdoggie-goddaddy? Yeesh.

Will: He gets a mention. Ish. “That poor painting.”

Wow.

Rob: I think a lot could have been done with just how damn frustrating it is to speak to the Horsemen. I always thought that could be an intriguing idea for them to have played with. But what did make it in, this play was formed through a bunch of very good artist friends in a room together, improvising, and taking those moments down. There’s incredible intention to the tone and an incredibly good media literacy track throughout the whole idea, which gives this play as much heart as you may have found when you read the original source material.

Ooh, I see lightbulbs flickering over here. What’s up, Will?

Will: How did none of us say the giant?

Rob: That was my other answer.

Will: He’s mentioned but not really in it—

Wait— half-brother-giant? Or motorbike-giant?

Will: Motorbike giant.

Caleb: I’m actually surprised that there isn’t any reference to a…certain ghost…who makes a lot of trouble?

That actually doesn’t surprise me that pesky….ghost didn’t make the films either.

Marion: I want to see more of the scene in ‘the village’ in the tea shop where they go on the date! I would love to see that from the Puffs perspective! I just want to see J Finch and Leanne sitting there at a table while Scar-Head and Cho and absolutely losing it on the other side. She’s crying her eyes out, he’s like ‘what did I do?’ and the Puffs are just silently watching with wide eyes.

I think I’m jumping back to the trouble-making ghost for a minute. Maybe he’s not in Puffs because he thinks Puffs are too polite, no-fun, and boring so he can’t get a rise out of them so he ignores them?

Katie: He’s over aggravating the shit out of the other three houses.

I love it. What has been your most fun experience with this rehearsal process so far?

Amy: I always love the camaraderie that we have. It’s nice because we’re already so comfortable with each other from day one that the improving and the doing weird things, pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone? That’s all been easier because we’re all aware of who each other are, we all make fools of ourselves in front of each other all the time. So we know. It’s also been really fun to watch Will push himself out of his comfort zone, Caleb pushing himself out of his comfort zone. And Nate doing it too. Nate— and losing him to this injury has me broken hearted— because he has been blowing me away! Watching these people get to do things that they don’t normally do has been really fun for me, watching other people do cool things.

Katie: I think we can all agree— the first time Nate cursed?

Amy: Oh yeah— we all broke!

Katie: He does not say dirty words.

Rob: He doesn’t.

Katie: My husband never— and then the first night he was doing Zach Smith and that whole storyline? We had nothing— and I’m over here jaw-dropped and Lilli’s just looking at me— and it was amazing!

Marion: Juxtaposed to that, wherever everybody else is moving out of their comfort zone and getting a chance to grow, and that’s wonderful, but watching people like Jess (Jess Langley, also in Puffs as Megan Jones and others) really get into the experience and the character— she’s doing such a phenomenal job as Megan? It is so where she lives. She is a spunky, tough-on-the-outside-soft-on-the-inside kind of person and watching her get to grow and really explore that has been really cool.

Lilli: I think when you watch SNL, for example, and you see someone on the verge of breaking from laughter from what’s going on around them, and watching them struggle to try and desperately hold it together? My favorite part of the rehearsal process is every time a see a cast member do something that causes that—I get to look all around and see everyone else desperately trying to hold it together and I’m standing there laughing at all of it.

Caleb: Yeah, you’re not helping!

Lilli: Are you kidding me? I’m letting you know when the jokes hit well. There have been a couple of moments where I have laughed so hard that I have had to say “I don’t know what happened, we have to run that scene again because I checked out.” That has been such a brilliant part of getting to watch everyone in this process. Like today, Jesse came out as Mr. Voldy in his whole costume for the first time—

**entire table of actors dissolved into hysterical laughter and it took a moment to recover them back**

Katie: It makes a mother proud.

Lilli: Oh it was nuts! Because he’s got these two down, he’s turned away, these two come stand next to me— they don’t need to be next to me— just to watch everyone all fall apart in this scene because we’re supposed to be serious and scared of Jesse. Amy’s down. Alex is down. Arianna is dying. And I’m losing it. It makes me so happy right now.

This makes me want to come and see this show so bad. Katie?

Katie: Most fun thing…there’s been numerous moments, honestly. Where we have had to stop because we are just cracking ourselves up. I think it has been said more than once, I know I’ve said it, and I know I’ve heard other people say it. It doesn’t matter if the audience likes it or not because we’re dying laughing, having a blast just being together. It is just such a funny show. There are certain times when one person will do one thing that they haven’t done before as humans do and it just hits a nerve and all of just turn and look and die laughing. It’s been amazing watching each other, watching us try to crack each other up and loving it. Honestly, it’s brothers and sisters just teasing and cracking each other up and it’s just a pleasure to come to rehearsal. Because you know, even if you’ve got a lot of shit at home, it’s gonna leave you here because you’re going to laugh.

I need to start coming to y’all’s rehearsals.

Katie: I think all of us have delt with work stresses, especially since January, and we have had the conversation around 1:00pm, “well, at least we have rehearsal tonight.” It has been very tough in people’s political/employment lives, with all the things that are happening in politics today and in our world, but knowing that we’re going to come, leave it all at the door, and literally play on the playground like we used to when we were kids? That really has been a gift.

That’s awesome!

Arianna: I’ve really been enjoying adding things slowly, like extra improv moments like we mentioned, but also all of the damn props that we have!

Lilli: This is such a prop-heavy show.

Rob: Death by props!

Arianna: That’s like my favorite thing, it helps get you more and more into character but it’s also a challenge. I haven’t done a straight play in a while. It’s really nice to have something that keeps you on your feet. It’s energetic and its so much fun. It’s like you’re playing with toys on stage, like Katie said, it’s playing on a playground. I enjoy adding props and costumes and then seeing each other with the props and the costumes. Like Alex’s Moody Eyeball!

**another full-table dissolving into laughter moment**

Amy: It broke me today for the first time! I’ve seen him do it twelve dozen times but today I couldn’t stop laughing!

Arianna: That’s the thing! Every time you think you’re not going to break— either something else breaks you or there’s just something extra funny about it—

Will: Sometimes there isn’t even a reason! Like a couple of the Harry scenes, we’d all seen a couple of the variations but sometimes it’s like “That just got me today and I don’t know why!”

((**there was a tangent about some wiggling with Katie…and double-back-wiggling and we’re not really sure what happened but it was mostly just everyone gasping through laughs trying to explain it and suffice it to say it just read awkward-AF when transcribed so we’re just going with— ‘redacted on a count of being TOO funny; come see the show for the wiggle-maybe.’))

Caleb, what about you?

Caleb: I think this show is really cleverly written with such a variety of different types of humor. I am a sucker for a good pun. And really, really dumb humor. But there’s some really great, intelligent jokes, some really great dumb jokes, there’s just so much here to joke about. To see that variety and also the level of flexibility and the leniency that we’re given on how much we can improv with this show? That’s great. The show was specifically designed and written by an improv group. So to be able to keep those jokes fresh, to add in little things? It’s awesome. This scene may not break you the first 400 times we do it? So I’m going to add this little thing in that’s going to push you over the edge and I love that. It’s so just great.

Will: I feel like my answer is just kind of building off of what we’ve been talking about. I’ve been trying to focus on not breaking. Obviously, when we get into the show, we can’t be sitting there cracking up on stage. Even when we’re backstage— I think it’s going to be a challenge. Like Caleb was saying, there are some scenes where we just have a list of a bunch of things we can choose from, but other scenes where who knows what the hell is going to happen. There’s even one written that says, like Rob had mentioned earlier, where it’s like “just do whatever.” And then it becomes “Oh wow— I’ve never heard or seen that before” and having to try not to break and laugh hysterically and try to react in an appropriate way for the character in that moment. Let me try not to laugh, I guess!

Rob: Meet Zach Smith! That’s the fun of playing that J Finch track. As you may or may not know, there are moments in the show where the actor gets to come on stage and it literally says in the script, “Do whatever you want.” Whatever. And it clarifies— “we mean whatever you want.” I did something silly today— ‘find the oracle at Delphi.’

Caleb: Yeah, I glanced over at Lilli and was like “Is this allowed?” it was hilarious.

Amy: And then he started doing the plot of El Dorado.

Rob: And it was actually the wrong plot of El Dorado! I got lost halfway through! I couldn’t remember what happened to Cortez!

**more uncontrollable whole-table laughter trying to recount Rob’s mis-telling of El Dorado**

Rob: But truly, anything goes in that scene. That’s my best memories of the first time I did Puffs too. Because you have no idea whether what’s coming out of your mouth is any good, so you just kind of have to go for it.

Will: The rest of us can hold it in for most of it. But then Rob just hits that line and everyone just falls apart.

I love this so much. It sounds so wild! My brain is struggling to remember the questions I’m supposed to be asking because y’all keep cracking me up! Hold on a second! Okay. If a certain school for magic and magic sent you a letter right now and said they have a special open-enrollment for you to be able to take just one class- which class are you flying/floating/appearing at the really-big-enchanted-castle to take?

Amy: D-A-D-A.

Marion: I’m going to be super basic and say Divinations. Because I want to know what’s going on I want to be able to figure it out.

Lilli: I want Potions.

Katie: Potions.

Redhead like redhead.

Arianna: I want to be in a mystical critters class with the big giant. But only with the big giant. Not with the other teacher who’s like “here are some sad worms.”

Caleb: Charms.

Katie: Of our cast, Caleb is the puffiest Puff of the Puffs.

Caleb: I hate to be the boring one and say Charms but it’s so much fun just to be able to do magic.

Marion: If I could make my dishes do themselves? Sign me up.

Will: I would want to take Defense— err— um— D-A-D-A. Combat magic!

Amy: Hell yeah!

Team combat over here, you and Amy want defense and action, Marion wants household chores complete.

Will: That’s right!

Rob, what are you taking?

Rob: Probably Charms as well. Or Arithmancy? Just to figure out what it is. There are some interpretations in the fandom that it’s basically magical math.

Marion: I think it’s what we call Numerology.

Katie: I can’t believe no one wants to take Ancient Stones or Plant-Class.

Marion: I’m changing my answer. I want Plant-Class!

I want flying-class. I know it’s only for first years, but I want to take flying class. Maybe second to potions.

Katie: POTIONS.

You guys are wild. What is it that you are hoping people are going to take away from your puffy-puff experience here at Puffs?

Amy: That it’s okay to be who you are and as long as you have people that love you— and there are people who love you— you will be okay.

Marion: It’s okay to take less things seriously and to find joy in the moment that seem a little bit bleak.

Lilli: There’s a line that I’m going to paraphrase here but essentially it talks about how we’re both important and unimportant— that it just depends on who’s story we’re in. I really love that idea that everyone has had those moments were they feel invisible or not. To have that reminder of “if in this moment you feel that way, you’re not with the right person” because when you find your tribe you are very, very important.

Katie: Uniqueness is a gift.

Arianna: I feel like my character is really bad at everything and that’s a running joke in Puffs but I think something that I take away is that I like to be an overachiever and this helps remind me that I don’t have to be good at everything. And I can just be— and that’s enough.

Caleb: I would hope that much to the effect of Lilli’s answer, you may have plans or expectations for your own life or where you’ll be or where you’re going, however, never loose sight of the impact that you have on people around you. You never know how important that is to the people around you. That’s always something to hold onto.

Will: Obviously this is a comedy play, but as everyone’s answers have indicated so far, it also has some really awesome and poignant scenes. My favorite scene— I’m not even in it and it’s my favorite— but it’s about coming together with the people in your life and saying “no, no, no, we’re doing this for us.” And it’s a really powerful scene. It’s powerful because of watching everybody in it, it’s obviously moving all of you guys and I think the audience is really going to feel that. That’s going to be a really cool scene for people to take away.

Katie: I look around at everyone’s eyes, thinking I’m the only one getting misty, but we’re all pretty misty.

Will: I’ll be back stage for that, and I’ll see even less of it than I have in rehearsal, but I know I’ll hear it in every single person’s voice.

Caleb: This show is so surprising with how it just hits you with something really deep and heartfelt out of nowhere. But that scene— there’s this acknowledgement that we’re together and we’re there for each other. Before I say my line, I look around at each person that’s on the stage there and I see them and I think “oh, during the story, we’ve become such a tightknit group.” But I see that beyond that too. We’ve discussed this multiple times now, about where our country is at now and the individual challenges that each one of us in the cast has had to deal with recently and how this rehearsal process has really brought us together in a time that we need to be together. That line— it reaches beyond the show— and says to the cast “this is the show that we’re doing together right now.” And we’re together in this. To be able to be there for each other, be a community in our individual lives outside of the show for one another in this way is amazing.

I love that.

Rob: I really have nothing to add. It’s all just wonderful. That’s it.

Houses! What’s your house?

Amy: I’m a Brave!

Marion: I’m a Smart.

Lilli: BRAVE!

Katie: Puff!

Arianna: I’m a Brave but a Puff-secondarily.

Caleb: Puff.

Will: I am also a Brave.

Rob: Snake.

WHAT!?

Rob: No. I’m a Smart. I keep taking the test— every time— I’m a Smart.

Good grief. Rob, you really had me there for a moment.

Lilli: What’s your house, Mandy?

I’m a Puff.

Katie & Caleb: Hiii!!!

I would really like to be a Snake. But I’m a Puff.

Whole-Table: HIII!!!

You guys are wild and great and Puffs. For sure. Now why should people come out and spend money with you guys to see Puffs in Havre de Grace— there are seriously about a dozen shows opening this weekend, including one right around the corner here in HdG— so why come out and see you guys?

Amy: You should come see the show because it is absolutely a fun time but it also has a lot of heart and a lot of love in it. And you should see it more than once because it’s different every single time.

Marion: Because it is a great way to engage with a beloved childhood story and not put money in the pocket of the evil-lady.

Lilli: Because I think everyone could really use a little bit of magic just for a little while.

Katie: Because theatre is supposed to be an outlet. It’s supposed to be a place to take you someplace that’s beyond definition. And we’re taking you away from everything for two hours.

Arianna: I think there’s something in this show for everyone. No matter what, even if you aren’t in or of the fandom or familiar with the source material, you’re still going to find some hilarious moments that you don’t need to know the story to enjoy. Also, if you are a fan, it’s obviously a great time. But it’s also just a breath of fresh air. There are people who are theatergoers who don’t necessarily like musicals or there are people who only love musicals, but this— even though it’s a straight play— it will cater to the non-musical theatre people but it has the pizzazz of musical theatre.

Caleb: Just in this interview, the amount of laughter that we’ve been able to share, just gives a little glimpse into what our rehearsal processes look like. That’s something that we really want people to come see because we really want to share all that excellent laughter with them. We want people to be able to experience that level of laughter but also be moved and reminded of the importance of those poignant moments that we have as well. It’s really just a tremendous story that we want desperately to share with people because we think it’s something they will enjoy and that they can share and hold onto.

Will: When it comes to visual media, I’ve always had the opinion that it’s far more enjoyable for the audience if you can tell that actors or musicians or whoever it is that you’re watching— if you can tell that they’re into it— that they’re enjoying it then you’ll enjoy it. I think if you go to see the orchestra and everyone is just sitting in their seats it can be a little boring, that’s why when I’m playing my instrument on stage I’m always moving around. Amy’s actually told me I have to stop moving around.

Amy: That’s right!

Will: I can guarantee you— what did you say was opening this weekend? A dozen other shows? I can guarantee you that they’re not having as good a time as we are!

Rob: It is well-documented that economies have a sociological effect on populace. That in times of economic strife, skirts get longer, but in the theatre, the one tried and true proven thing, through all the ups and downs is that people tend to love drama during times of great prosperity and they tend to love comedy in times of uncertainty. It may be just the thing you’re looking for. And that’s been sociologically proven. Come see that! It’s worth spending the money to come see that.

Katie: Also, people know that this production comes with a package that you can get. It comes with the music but because we are who we are…we are Rogue… we have chosen to have our house band on the stage. Right next to the stage.

Rob: That’s a Rogue signature.

Katie: Yes. They are the soundtrack for this production. It is a live band production and there are certain scenes where we have no clue what they’re going to play and we just have to dance to it. I’ve taught the movement, but they have several different songs to choose from and each night they’re going to play something different.

That’s going to be wild. Final two. What if your favorite spell and if you had to create a spell, what would you create it for?

Amy: Favorite spell…Imperion! And if I had to make one up, it would definitely be one that folds my laundry!

Great! Can you share that spell with me when you get it going? Marion? Favorite spell? And what are you making up a spell for?

Marion: I like that Susie Bones has ‘Extermios’ and gets rid of the spiders. If I had to make one up? I think it would probably also be something to do with housework. I really hate washing dishes. I really hate it!

Lilli: Does the play have to come from the play or from the fandom in general?

Either or. Whatever levitates your boat.

Lilli: The spell that lets you immediately go from one place to another!

Arianna: A teleportation spell, let’s say!

Lilli: Yes. The teleportation spell. If I could make one up it would be to elongate an hour so that I could have more time.

Oooh. I think they have an hour-glass-turner-thingy for that! What about you, Katie?

Katie: I don’t know what my favorite spell is. But I can tell that Leanne does the spell ‘Locomotor Rug’ and it pulls the rug out from under people and I think that I would really enjoy that in real life.

**More full table laughter and general raucous agreement that Katie’s preferred spell is both a good and bad idea**

Katie: Because let me tell you— when people annoy the shit out of me, I could just “Locomotor— RUG!” and bam. They’d go down.

Arianna: I love the teleport spell. It’s awesome.

Katie: No time travel!

Arianna: I feel like if I had to make up a spell, it would probably be to instantly change my clothes. But not stuff that’s in my wardrobe like stuff that’s out there in the world. Like if I see something on social media I could just “magic” and there it would be. On me.

Okay I definitely want that spell!

Lilli and or Katie: So you’re just stealing clothes off people? They’re running around naked?

Arianna: Wait hat? No! No, no, no! I mean it would just change my clothes to what I saw and liked! Like a transfiguration spell! So my favorite one is transporting across differences and my made up one is changing my clothes.

Alrighty then! Caleb?

Caleb: That’s a really great question. My favorite spell is the enchantment to make spaces larger.

Katie: TARDIS!

It is bigger on the inside.

Caleb: Exactly. Like when I’m trying to fit something in my truck bed but it doesn’t quite fit and I need it to be just a little bit bigger.

Marion: Like the bus.

Caleb: Or my wallet. A spell that I desperately need— a location spell.

Arianna: That’s the one we use all the time. Accio.

Caleb: But different. Just a locator spell. Like ‘find this for me’ and if you also want to bring it to me that’s great, but I just want it located.

You need the St. Anthony Spell. Where did I put this lost thing— St. Anthononius-Findicus! Or something. Will?

Will: I know this is going to surprise every single one of you…I’m a giant nerd.

**whole table’s worth of sarcastic gasps and wows**

Will: I know, I know. I mean I’m wearing a math shirt. But if I lived in a universe with these kind of spells in it, I promise you I would spend all of my waking hours trying to come up with a spell that would let me do the Kamehameha fro Dragonball Z. That’s the dream.

Rob: So from the show, there is one spell that one character does called Flashbackios. And it’s a moment where somebody is trying to get somebody else to understand something. And that spell just allows you to pull you back and replay a moment exactly as it happened. It would be so cool if you could contextualize conversation into a clean and concise way. Because— Mandy, you know this— I tend to use way too many words trying to get the exact thing that I want to say out of my mouth. Now, if I had to create one and I think this is every teacher’s dream, I would create some sort of clerical work spell that graded my papers inserted the feedback into my brain and put it in the dang gradebook because it is my least favorite part of doing my job.

I lied, apparently, because I said we were coming into the final two, but one of the answers in that set made me think about one that I actually meant to ask earlier and forgot about amid all the zany, madcap laughter. What is your favorite mode of magical transportation? Is it flying kitchen-sweeper, is it squeezing onto old junk, like what is it?

Rob: *in hysterical laughter* WHAT?

Squeezing onto old junk. You know. Not starboard but the other one, and then the thing you stick into a lock. You put ‘em both together and you get— Squeezing onto old junk for transport!

Amy: Teleportation spell.

Katie: Boots can take you anywhere!

**collective repeat from everyone** “Boots can take you anywhere.”

Katie: I ate a shoe once.

Oh. My. Wizarding. God. Marion. How are you magically transportating?

Marion: I think I’m taking a Thestral or a Hippogriff.

You are on the creature path.

Marion: I was a horse girl as a kid. I’m still living in that world.

Lilli: I think I would love being able to simultaneously teleport. However, most fun? Dragon. I’m going to ride the dragon.

Katie: I want to be able to grab a pile of dust, slam it down, and shout my destination.

Travel by soot-pile. Got it.

Arianna: Yes teleporting. And yes, also dragon, but also flying car.

Caleb: I was thinking flying motorcycle with a sidecar? But honestly, I like speed and agility and stuff from sports, so honestly just having a broom, being outside in the open air and just dive down— that seems exhilarating.

Amy: I still do not understand how that logistically and realistically works for men’s balls.

Rob: You gotta hold it up.

Marion: Sports bras— lifting and separating.

Katie: Ball bra! We are adults! Grown ups! Yes. Yes we are.

Lilli: Yes and our evening shows— our 8pm shows are adults shows. Matinees are more kid friendly.

Katie: Not little kids.

Lilli: Like PG13.

Whoo boy. I’m getting an adult show when I come. Will, how you traveling?

Will: Well, if you walk into my house, you will literally see dragons everywhere you go, so I’m going to ride the dragon!

Rob: I just love the teleportation spell, that would be so convenient. But I really like the fact that the wizards have taken the time to develop and enchant a bus that will pick you up anywhere and drop you off anywhere. And they already know when you need to be picked up. I could go on about the United States and how bad public transit is here—

Amy: He could.

I don’t doubt that.

Rob: It’s free here in Havre de Grace. Ride the Tide!

Oh my. This final question will be easy for five of you…well I say that as Rob gets up and flees the table in search of his answer…the other three of you haven’t had this one yet…but if you had to sum up your experience working on Puffs with Rogue Swan using just one word, which word do you use?

Amy: Happiness.

Marion: Magical.

Will: Damnit, you stole my word.

Lilli: Happy.

Katie: Togetherness.

Arianna: Snogging.

Marion: I’m changing my answer. Nostalgic!

Caleb: Close-knit.

Will: I’ll stick with magical. In so many different ways.

Rob: Fun.

Puffs plays through May 17^th 2025 with Rogue Swan Theatre Company in residence at The State Theater of Havre de Grace— 325 St. John Street in downtown historic Havre de Grace, MD. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance online.