Mischief has been managed at Over-the-Rhine’s Know Theatre. Their current mainstage production Puffs, or seven increasingly eventful years at a certain school of magic & magic has drawn sold-out crowds, nearly doubling the theater’s goal in the first three out of five weekends of its run. Accio tickets!
“Fans of a particular British boy wizard whose adventures first captivated international readers and moviegoers around the turn of the 21st century would do well to catch Know Theatre’s next performance of this delightfully farcical comedy,” wrote CityBeat‘s Sean M. Peters upon seeing Puffs opening night, giving the magical parody a “critic’s pick” seal of approval.
With only two weekends left, Puffs has become Know’s top-selling and highest-attended show in the theater’s 22-year history. The play, which hones in on a trio of pals that hail from the loyal and under-appreciated Puff House, is directed by Andrew Hungerford (also Know’s producing artistic director) and created for anyone who has ever felt like they weren’t the hero of their own story. Written by Matt Cox, another production of Puffs wrapped up a run off-Broadway in New York this summer.
“All of the top-selling shows in Know’s history have been pieces that challenge assumptions of what kind of stories can be told on stage and the ways in which those stories get told. Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Sideways Stories from Wayside School, Hundred Days, Neverwhere and now Puffs all wrestle with different kinds of theatricality,” Hungerford told CityBeat. “They also intersect with pop culture in thoughtful and interesting ways. They’re shows that allow us to explore the particular magic that’s possible within our intimate space, bring in audiences who may not be traditional theatre-goers and give even seasoned audience members a sense of the multitudes that theatre can contain.”
With Puffs drawing inspiration from one of the 21st-century’s most famed franchises, it should come as no surprise that 36 percent of the show’s audience has been new to Know, according to audience surveys. Those surveys also indicated an “overwhelmingly positive” response, with the average score being 5 out 5.
It also set another record: The percentage of “Living Wage” tickets — $35 versus the regular $25, which is meant to help pay MainStage artists a living wage — has accounted for nearly a fourth of all tickets sold.
Three out of five of Know’s top-selling shows — including Puffs — have been under the leadership of Hungerford, who was named producing artistic director in 2014. In the last five years, Hungerford says, Know “has been gaining momentum” and building its reputation both nationally and locally, efforts which are reflected in the current success of Puffs.
Know’s current 22nd season will continue into 2020 with In The Night Time (before the sun rises), Alabaster and Lasso of Truth. While all remaining showings of Puffs are nearly sold-out, there are still a few tickets left — just make like a Golden Snitch if you want one.
For more info, visit knowtheatre.com.
This article appears in Nov 27 – Dec 10, 2019.
