Potted Potter (#PottedPotterTO) Premiere Interviews by Robert Lavigne - Cast and Production Team

Today, the production team behind Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Experience – A Parody by Dan and Jeff, announced that the Toronto run would be extended until April 8, 2012.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 7, 2012 

Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Experience – A Parody by Dan and Jeff  breaks records with ticket sales 

Producers announce final extension of Toronto run until April 8

This does not surprise me in the least. I was witness to the Toronto Premiere of Potted Potter. The show was a profitable mix of low production costs with high production value. It is no wonder that the show is being extended.

Think about it.

The cost of the production is two guys (Dan and Jeff), five major stage props, a variety of wigs, brooms, and dollar store items. Yet, the show is breaking ticket sales records in Toronto. The producers clearly know a winning equation when they see it.

What you see is what you get. Low Cost. High Revenue. Great Value.

This is the very nature of putting all of your costs into what matters. A great cast, a great laugh, a great concept, and a great production team. There is no reason to suspect that Potted Potter could very much be the most profitable limited run show in Toronto in 2012.

At the premiere after party, I was fortunate to sit down with Daniel Clarkson and Jeff Turner. The energy they share on stage is naturally extended to their off stage personality. It is further extended to their banter and engagement on Twitter.

It is also not a surprise that the producers of the show (Corey Ross and James Seabright) are excited about the Toronto run. During my interview with them, it was clear to me that they already had aspirations of bringing this show to the United States. The fact that the show has been extended already is a clear sign that this is not the last we will see of Potted Potter in North America.

To compliment the shows run in Toronto, a special mention also has to go out to Associate Producer, Marcello Cabezas. I have seen nobody more engaged with this brand on Twitter than Marcello. His feed and his time have been dedicated to this venture. I am sure he is above the moon right now with the announcement of this extension.

In the later part of my interview with Marcello, he outlines why it is so important to bring shows like this to Toronto. Heck, I was willing to drive in from Brantford to see it. A great time at a great value will always draw a crowd. Potted Potter is no exception to this rule. More so, they have the profit equation figured out.

Experience Life@42 Now!

Mackenzie Chiu, The Fuel House (@FuelHouseTO) - Interview by Robert Lavigne

As mentioned in a previous entry, I enjoyed a great Valentine's Day meal at the Fuel House in Toronto. The evening was part of a larger trip to Toronto from Brantford to see the premiere of Potted Potter at the Panasonic Theatre.

A Three Course Meal on Valentine's Day

I enjoyed the meal so much, I interviewed Mackenzie Chiu, the owner of the Fuel House, for this installment of The Other Side of Forty-Two. In the interview below, Mackenzie talks about his niche restaurant located in a Victorian House in the Little Italy district of Toronto.

What impressed me the most about Mackenzie Chiu and the Fuel House, apart from the food and ambience, was their keen integration with Social Media. While many restaurants have registered themselves on foursquare, very few have fully populated their entry with their address, phone number, twitter account, and web site. All aspects of these contact details are easily visible via the Fuel House foursquare page.

Make sure you check in to the Fuel House while in Toronto

Taking it one step further, the Fuel House makes use of foursquare check-in specials. By creating a "Newbie Special", the Fuel House is inviting their customers to engage on foursquare. This results in not only an increase in check-ins, but an increase in photos being shared, tips being posted, lists being curated and overall visibility across the social graph.

Take advantage of the Newbie Special upon your 1st check-in

All this is standard fare for a well developed foursquare presence. However, none of this matters if the company does not engage with those who check-in. This is where the Fuel House impressed me greatly.

Prior to my arrival, I tweeted that I was heading into Toronto and making a point of eating at the Fuel House. Upon my arrival, I checked-in to their location on foursquare and acquired the Newbie Special. As Mackenzie Chiu came out from the kitchen to take my order, he commented on my twitter mention and how someone from Brantford had requested him to drop by and say hello to a customer clearly willing to promote his restaurant.

The morale of this story?

You can have the best food, the best location, the best buzz, but nothing will impress a customer as much as that contextual touch when you cater to them as a human being. Those that understand that, warrant a mention on this blog and my return engagement.

Experience Life@42 Now!

A Three Course Meal on Valentine's Day: Fuel House, Potted Potter and Toronto

On July 2011, I moved out of Metropolitan Toronto and took up residence in the small town of Brantford, Ontario. Saying goodbye to Toronto was one of the hardest decisions I have made in my professional and personal life. I blame that decision on three people: Kevin Smith, Walter Gretzky, and Karen Thomson.

Robert Lavigne says farewell to Toronto and the Big City Lifestyle

Before leaving Toronto, I attended one last "Epic" party, the Epic Meal Time 1,000,000 Subscriber Celebration. For those not familiar with Epic Meal Time, think Bacon meets Jersey Shore with a splash of Jack Daniels. This was a fitting way to say farewell to the big city lights of Toronto.

Yes, that is indeed a Bacon Volcano worthy of Epic Meal Time lore

Catering for that event was my friend Mackenzie Chiu. Now this was no small feat given the reputation of bacon infused chaos that is the Epic Meal Time fan base. Mackenzie and his team did not disappoint providing a main course of a roasted pig stuffed with four birds, aka a Turducken in a Pig.

EAT or DIE! - Mackenzie Chiu and Robert Lavigne

Which brings us to my brief return to Toronto to celebrate Valentine's Day 2012. Since my departure, Mackenzie Chiu established a new restaurant in Toronto called the Fuel House. I could not think of any other place I would want to have this celebratory dinner with Karen.

Much to her chagrin, this picture received over 30 likes on Facebook

Normally the Fuel House serves up pub-style food and sandwiches. However for Valentine's Day, Mackenzie Chiu offered a special Prix Fixe Menu, specially put together by Peter Pietruniak, to celebrate this special occasion.

Karen enjoyed a Shrimp and Citrus Salad appetizer followed by a Salmon + Lemon Herb Butter + Basmati Rice + Sauteed Vegetables main course. As for myself, I savoured a Cream of Spinach Soup with a main entree consisting of Grilled Flank Steak + Chimichurri Sauce + Casava Fries. For dessert, we both selected the Coffee Crème Brulee.

Pan Seared Salmon Filet and Steak Frites with two glasses of champagne 

I enjoyed the food so much, I pulled Mackenzie Chiu aside and did a quick interview for this blog. I will be sharing that video and my insights on the Fuel House with you in a follow up post. Until then, I can honestly say the Victorian atmosphere was a perfect match for the meal selection. The place was buzzing with activity and they are gearing up for the expected summer growth spurt.

After our Valentine's Day meal at the Fuel House, it was off to the Panasonic Theatre to attend the premiere of Potted Potter in Toronto. I had been looking forward to this new production for over a month. As Karen had never read any of the Harry Potter books nor seen any of the movies, this would be a great way for her to experience all seven books in only 70 minutes.

Chalkboard drawings adorned every stairwell asking guest for comments

For those not familiar with Potted Potter, the show is the creation of Daniel Clarkson and Jeff Turner. The term "potted" is defined as "briefly and superficially summarized", it is also slang for being sloshed/hammered. I would not be surprised if Dan and Jeff came up for the idea for Potted Potter while frequenting local pubs in their native United Kingdom. The gist of Potted Potter is that Jeff plays Harry Potter and Dan plays literally everyone else in the seven books, all within 70 minutes.

Two actors, limited stage props and seventy minutes of hijinks ensued

On Valentine's Day, Potted Potter was making its North American debut in Toronto with a limited run that ends on March 25, 2012 (ticket info). After attending their four out of four star debut, I would not be surprised to see that run extended in Toronto or be transplanted to New York later in the year. Both Jeff and Dan were regularly engaging with the audience making for an interactive experience. I would look over at Karen throughout the show to consistently see a grin on her face, she clearly was enjoying Potted Potter.

After the premiere, we were delighted to be invited to the after show party by Associate Producer Marcello Cabezas. I am not normally one to attend after show parties, but this made for a fitting conclusion to this Valentine's Day in Toronto. We both got to meet and chat with Dan and Jeff and hear about their excursion to Canada. Both Dan and Jeff are as funny off stage as they are on stage.

 Daniel Clarkson, Robert Lavigne and Jeff Turner - Potted Potter

Given that we were at the after party, I used the opportunity to interview not only Dan and Jeff, but the show's producers. I will be sharing these video interviews in subsequent blog entries over the coming weeks. The level of excitement shared by the entire production crew after the premiere was very apparent. This was clearly a successful launch of Potted Potter in North America and well deserved at that.

So after a three course of the Fuel House, Potted Potter and Toronto, Karen and I trekked back to Brantford. While I miss Toronto greatly, there is no denying that I have found a new home in Brantford. However, it is events and food like we enjoyed this Valentine's Day in Toronto that will always bring me back for limited engagements.

Experience Life@42 Now!