'Podder' plods, then speeds up

HARRY PODDER: DUDE, WHERE'S MY WAND? Desert Star Cabaret Theatre, Murray, through Aug. 20 (226-2600). Running time: one hour, 40 minutes (two intermissions).

MURRAY — I have to admit that during the first act of this "Harry Potter" sendup there were times when I felt I had wandered into "Harry Plodder" instead of "Harry Podder."

The laughs-per-minute during some of the first five scenes didn't come close to what Desert Star patrons are accustomed to. It seemed as if the trio of writers (Amy, Anna and Laura Lewis) were trying to stick too close to the book instead of opening up to more fun and games.

But things came together during Act 2 and, overall, "Harry Podder" is an entertaining parody.

The opening-weekend matinee performance had a cast that included Brian Bahr as orphan Harry Podder, Kirsten Kenison Nagel as Hermione Ranger and Aaron Swenson as Ron Sneasley — three young students at Warthogs, the Wasatch Front's No. 1 school of wizardry. They do a fine job of replicating the young wizard-in-training and his heroic friends.

They meet at Platform 9 3/4 on the UTA TRAX line before heading off to their adventures at Warthogs, unaware that the villainous Voldie (the Enemy Who Must Not Be Named, living in the Lair That Must Not Be Named) is bent on seeking revenge against young Podder — and is desperate to see what his fate will be in the next volume of the publishing phenomenon.

Voldie is played to the hilt by Jack Drayton, assisted by the not-too-bright "Professor Squirrel" (Jana Cox).

At school, Podder and his pals are quickly immersed in studying under the watchful eyes of Bumbledore (Ed Farnsworth) and Professor McGargoyle (Matt Kohler in hilarious drag), and the students are joined by classmate Draca Malfolk, a grating, irritating character played by Kerstin Davis.

Musical director Ben Mayfield draws on some interesting selections for his score — bits and pieces from Gilbert & Sullivan, "Without You" from "My Fair Lady," and music from "Hairspray," all spruced up with clever new lyrics.

The movie's centerpiece game of Quidditch gets short shrift — just a brief mention from the school leaders in a special box, apparently overlooking the playing field, where it's noted that Quidditch would be more popular if Larry H. Miller bought the team and gave away free tickets.

The spoof concludes with a "Wild About Harry" finale in the Warthogs Dungeon (where Professor Squirrel thinks they keep all their food storage). And the program ends with Desert Star's traditional olio revue, this time showcasing rock 'n' roll tunes, some of them pretty loud.

This latest Desert Star production should improve if Act 1 gets some fine-tuning.

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E-mail: ivan@desnews.com