On Wednesday the 24th of April I visited London’s Palace Theatre to watch Harry potter and the Cursed Child. The whole theatre buzzed with excitement. The excited murmurs, the shuffling, all added to the effect, while the silhouette of a pointed hat floated in an almost half-light. Suddenly, the music changed, swelled and cranked up a few decibels, as the stage was bathed in light.
The special effects and storyline in this play were some I’d never seen in others before. I’d always been a fan of Harry Potter so I enjoyed this production especially. The cast was very well represented and the special effects were certainly interesting and inventive. For example, whenever the Time Turner is used the whole stage seems to vibrate and undulate, making it feel as if not just the actors onstage, but also us, the audience, are travelling back in time. Another example is the train scene, where Albus and Scorpius evoke the Trolley
Witch’s true form. The actors' hair would whip around their face while from the train roof, columns of fire would sprout between the actors when the Trolley Witch stretched out her hand. The story itself was very moving. As usual with Harry Potter the magical elements were woven deeply into the plot but alongside it was the simple yet raw and powerful story of the relationship of a father and son. It also showed Harry Potter as a grown up family man, a vision I’m very sure many other Harry Potter fans (not excluding myself) have imagined since the finale of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. On top of this, Harry’s second born son, Albus, is sorted into Slytherin, the first Potter ever in that house, and befriends Scorpius Malfoy, only child of Draco Malfoy, a long time enemy of Harry Potter. With Albus’s frustrations and struggles to fit in with his peers as well as the crushing pressure he faces to live up to his Potter name, the story is exciting and inviting as well as a whole new Wizarding experience. My friend and I both owned a version of the script and we shared mine on the train ride to London. The cast is also very inclusive. Hermoine Granger and her daughter, Rose Granger-Weasley, are both black, but portray their characters perfectly and it is wonderful to watch.
In conclusion, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is an exciting and different experience which I would certainly recommend to any avid Harry Potter fan. The breathtaking special effects and moving storyline make it an unforgettable production.
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