Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner flank the evening’s special guest, Jim Dale.(© David Gordon)
Dan and Jeff share a photo with their alternates, James Percy and Delme Thomas.(© David Gordon)
Dan and Jeff join a group of costumed Potted Potter fans to show off their wizarding skills.(© David Gordon)
Joining Dan and Jeff, as they’re affectionately known, for the opening night festivities was legendary actor Jim Dale, who received two Grammy Awards and set two Guinness World Records for his work voicing all of the characters in every Harry Potter audio book.
Before Dan and Jeff took to the stage, we quizzed them about all things Potter, from flying cars to Volde — “He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.”
Which Hogwarts house would you be in, and why?
Jeff: After doing this show about 1400 times now, I think I’d have no choice but to be in Gryffindor, as I’ve been Harry Potter more than Daniel Radcliffe, really, arguably. I have no choice but to say Gryffindor.
Dan: I’m Hufflepuff through and through, and I’ll tell you why. Essentially because I don’t want to die. And it seems to be if you’re close friends with Harry, there’s not a long life expectancy. Apart from Cedric Diggory, but he goes on to become a sparkly vampire, so he had a great career afterwards. But the rest of the Hufflepuff, you just have a great time, you drink Butterbeer, you’re with your friends, and you have a good Hogwart life without all this Voldemort nonsense.
So, if you ran into Voldemort in a dark alley, what would you do?
Jeff: Because I play opposite Dan being Voldemort all the time, I’d probably laugh at him and ask him to talk to me in a slightly camp way as if he can make me laugh.
Dan: I’d ask if he wanted a hug. I think Voldemort is very misunderstood and he just needs a hug. If that man had a hug and a kitten, he’d be a much happier guy.
Jeff: And I think that is why Dan and I would be the first victims of Voldemort.
Dan: And the kitten.
Jeff: The kitten would probably not make it out alive.
What is your least favorite flavor of Bertie Bots Every Flavor Beans?
Jeff: That depends. Is this eating yourself or is this giving to someone else?
Dan: I don’t know. I’m trying to think.
Jeff: There’s the bogey one, isn’t there?
Dan: I’ve always had earwax every time, so I don’t have a great memory of them.
Jeff: I’ve had a bogey one, and I know in the UK where they sell them, there’s an aniseed one, as well. And that’s meant to be nice. I don’t like aniseed.
Dan: So I’m gonna go with strawberry, because I don’t like strawberry.
If you could fly a car, what make and model would it be?
Jeff: Having spent the last year out here, it would have to be a Chevy. A big, all-American car. Because if you’re gonna make a car fly, make a car that is way too heavy to fly. You might as well do it properly.
Dan: I’d say the same. A Dodge Ram. Can you imagine a Dodge Ram flying over the horizon? I’d love that. Everyone could sit in the back. It would be a great time. We’d win Quidditch every time.
