Chapters Guelph brewed the perfect potion for fun
On Sat, July 30, 2016—also known as the eve of Harry Potter’s birthday—countless muggles (that’s non-magical folk for you non-magical folk) gathered at the Stone Road Mall Chapters in Guelph to buy Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two.
The book is actually a special rehearsal edition of the original West End production, which premiered in London on the same day. This new play by Jack Thorne was based on an original new story that Thorne developed with J.K. Rowling and John Tiffany. The fact that this is not a novel by Rowling did little to diminish the excitement at the Chapters on the night of the release.
Earl Townsend, Kid & Events Manager at Chapters Guelph, went above and beyond to brew up a truly magical night. Chapters’ employees gave customers lightning bolt tattoos, stickers, and numbers as they entered the store to represent their place in line so that everyone could enjoy the numerous Harry Potter inspired attractions set up around the store. As customers milled about, stifling yawns as midnight approached, they inched forward in lines that snaked through the bookstore’s aisles.
The in-store Starbucks became a makeshift Leaky Cauldron or Three Broomsticks and offered wizarding world drinks like butter beer. Around the store you could find smaller stations with mazes, word jumbles, and trivia all related to Harry Potter.
The University of Guelph’s Quidditch Team set up an information desk. Team member Denver Staines explained that most Ontario universities (with the exception of Western) have a Quidditch team. Guelph has 42 players split between their A and B teams as well as a rec league. Tournaments happen every weekend and try-outs are to be held during O-Week.
Staff members took photos of people in front of a green screen so they could be put inside the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. People brandished their wands to ward off a dementor.
Sciensational Sssnakes offered people the chance to touch, hold, and pose for photos with a number of different snakes. The Guelph-based environmental outreach group offers interactive, hands-on presentations for all groups and ages in order to help decrease fear through positive interaction.
The Making-Box Brigade improvised scenes related to magic and Harry Potter in the time leading up to midnight. After midnight, they did a live reading of the beginning of the play, which was enjoyed by many. While some in the store plugged their ears to avoid listening, it was easy enough to walk around a corner to avoid hearing any spoilers.
Although it has been five years since the last Harry Potter movie was released, the excitement was palpable and the fans were dedicated. As Emma Hawley-Yan put it: “I love the age range here. It’s awesome.”
Many dressed up as their favourite characters or wore Harry Potter merchandise. Whether it was a wand tucked into one’s back pocket, a lightning bolt painted carefully onto one’s forehead, or an unintentional smile that reached one’s eyes it was clear that the best bit of magic that evening was seeing a refreshingly diverse group come together to celebrate their love of Potter’s magical world.