East View High School Enchants with Harry Potter Play
A magical experience — that’s how Tristan Guckian and Writer Collis describe their dive into the world of wizard adventures during their production of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” in which Tristan plays Scorpius Malfoy and Writer plays Albus Potter. Together they bring to life two unlikely friends thrown into a perilous world of forbidden magic as they travel back in time to save a life, only to realize that tampering with the past can unravel the fabric of the future in unexpected and dangerous ways.
Tristan and Writer’s excitement was amplified by the fact that EVHS was the first in Texas, and one of just 29 across the United States, to perform the spellbinding play. The recognition pushed them, along with the rest of the cast and crew, to dedicate months of hard work bringing the story to life on the stage. After one performance, Theater Director Jon DeMitchell applauded their efforts, calling the cast a dream to work with. “They’ve been working hard since July to be able to put on this level of a show.” There were many late nights getting everything done, from building and rebuilding a giant dementor because the first was too big for the door, to making the iconic spell book the day before opening night.
CHILDHOOD DREAMS
Cami Walther, Moaning Myrtle, was also swept up in the enchanting experience. “It’s awesome to be able to do a show that is important and meaningful to so many people, and brings memories from their childhood. Me especially — I read the books when I was a little kid and Myrtle was always my favorite in the movies. When I got to be her I was like, oh my gosh, I get to bring this character to life!”
A devoted Harry Potter fan himself, Jon loved seeing everyone’s excitement over the last few months. “Every night I tell them, ‘Thank you for loving the thing that I love.’ ” That enthusiasm has spread beyond their theater family. “From the kid with one line to the superintendent of the school district, everybody’s been all Harry Potter,” Jon says. “The math department decorated their entire hall as Harry Potter for Homecoming Week. It makes us, in our tiny little corner of the school, feel very special.”