Activities:
Plays: Harry Potter Meets Larry Cotter
Group Size: 5 participants
Ages: 5-12
When or where to use activity: Children's? worship service. Materials needed:
props:
dragon puppet or toy, letter in envelope, several academic-looking books, lightweight cape, preferably black
Description:
Harry Potter Meets Larry Cotter skit for chapel
(based on characters from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling, 1997, Scholastic Press)
3 speaking roles: Harry Potter
Larry Cotter (or Mary Trotter)
Questioner speaks to audience
Non-speaking roles: Owl
Person delivering cape
Dialogue: Larry Cotter meets Harry Potter
Q: [introduces Larry and Harry and Baby Norbert (a dragon puppet, optional).]
Larry: Harry, it's so cool that you have all those powers! I wish I had them! I'd love to be able to fly around on a broomstick like you do, and, and all that stuff!
Harry: Well, thanks. You seem pretty cool yourself.
L: Can you give me my powers like Hagrid gave you yours?
H: Actually Hagrid only told me about powers I already had, but didn't know I had. I can't give you powers, but maybe I can help you find yours.
L: Okay! Whatever you can do! Let's go!
H: Well, first I have to remind you of some lessons I learned the hard way lessons about powers. Then you can decide if you still want them.
First, the lesson of the scar [ Harry reveals the lighting-shaped scar on his forehead] some people who know that you have powers may try to keep you down so you won't use them.
L: You mean like that aunt and uncle did to you, the . . . Uh, uh . . .
Questioner: Does anybody know whom he means? [the Dursleys]
H: Yes, they were pretty rotten to me. They didn't want me to be any better than their son Dudley.
Second, the lesson of the letters. [An owl brings a letter in and gives it to Larry.] You need to pay attention to the people who are trying to inform you of your powers.
L: You mean, like the giant Hagrid?
H: Yes, but there were others working on me, too. And your informants will be different from mine. It depends on who is in your life who really cares about you.
Q: Does anybody know who else was trying to reach Harry and sending him letters?[Dumbledore, etc.]
H: Then I had the tough lesson of the schoolbooks [ Harry picks up a couple of books]. I thought Hogwarts School would be the greatest fun, and it did give me a much better life than I had with the Dursleys. But, boy, did we have to work on our subjects!
L: Like "History of Magic" and "Defense Against the Dark Arts."
Q: Would anyone like to name any others?
H: Yes, they were tough. And, some of us also realized we had to learn more on our own about the Sorcerer's Stone and [stage whispers] Voldemart. Which takes me to the hardest lesson of all, the lesson of the invisibility cloak. [Someone brings him a light cloth cloak and drapes it over him.]
L: You mean, how you have to go sneaking around at night when you're not supposed to?
H: Not exactly. The lesson I mean is that once you realize your powers, you may be called on to use them to save some corner of the world.
L: Who called you and your friends to save Hogwarts from Snape?
H: I guess I'd say it was our consciences. I mean, we had the knowledge about Fluffy and Nicholas Flamel, and we had some magical powers, so we just knew it was up to us to save our school, and maybe the world, from the evil that would happen if Snape got the Sorcerer's Stone. But it was sure risky!
L: I know it.
H: So, do you still want to learn your powers?
L: [points at the scar, the letter, the books, the cloak, while thinking] Yes, I do. I want to know everything I can do.
H: [suddenly gets shy and unsure of himself] This is something I've never done before. I don't remember having a course at Hogwarts on Naming Powers. But . . .[pauses and thinks]
You sure seem smart. I think you have the power of intelligence. I mean, you may need some courses and stuff, but you can learn and figure out a lot.
L: That's great! Maybe I do have that power!
H: [still thinking a lot] Hmm, your body looks pretty strong. I think you have some health and strength, and you could probably develop more. That could be a really helpful power to have.
L: [looks at his arm and makes a muscle] Yes, it could. I could do a lot if I were strong and had lots of energy!
H: What else? Well, since you enjoyed the books about me so much, I think you have great imagination.
L: I sure do! It even gets me into trouble. Can that be a good power?
H: Yeah you need imagination and creativity to have ideas for how to help, and how to save evil situations. It's really important!
Now, what else? Turns to audience: Do you see any other powers this typical guy might have?
[After audience participation]
L: Harry, thank you for Naming my Powers! You are as terrific as I thought! I want to go somewhere now and use them!
H: Don't forget the books, Larry, and take this cloak it might help you remember to be aware of the call to use your powers when it comes.
L: Thanks, Harry. [takes the books and cloak, and they both bow.]
Song: Presenting group sings "Hogwarts song" page 128 to tune:
