You don’t have to be a huge fan of Harry Potter to understand “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” even if you haven’t watched any of the movies or read any of the books.
“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” is a book that has been adapted into a play, but it is more than a play—it is an experience.
Be warned that this article will contain spoilers from both the play and the books.
Even though the previous Harry Potter books hold Harry as the main character, this play focuses on his youngest son, Albus Severus Potter. This is established at the beginning of the play in a scene similar to the end credits scene of the final movie.
The play starts off with a series of moments in the school life of Albus.
His first years of school are full of worries about living in the shadow of his famous father, or being the first Potter to be sorted into the Slytherin house, but also about making friends. And he just so happens to be best friends with the son of his father’s school enemy.
Both Albus and his only friend, Scorpius, have difficult relationships with their respective fathers, both of whom hated each other when they were in school.
Jealousy and fatherly love are very big themes in this play, which are portrayed through actors’ emotions, creative on-stage movement and the use of sound and music.
However, this story isn’t about sons rebelling against their fathers or daughters seeking their own fathers via time travel, even though it is very prevalent—it is about the concept of time.
Time travel is not unknown in the world of Harry Potter, but by the time that this play occurs, it is outlawed.
To showcase the act of time travel, the play uses a mix of dance and lighting to portray what could be a very boring transition into the past and future.
The actors group together and pulse their hands over the time turner as the sound of a clock ticks in the background. The stage looks like it is pulsing as the ticking resumes, and when it stops, the scene has magically changed behind the actors.
The stage crew for this show must actually be magic users themselves to make this happen.
The constant scene changes, the objects that appear to float down from the ceiling, the actual magic that is performed by the actors and the realism of the whole show are what sell this experience as real magic.
The entire time from the beginning of act one to the end of the show, the audience is dazzled by the tricks and stage movement that are constantly being performed.
The amazing stage management and set choreography are what turn this play into its own entity, separate from Harry Potter and the world that the movies created.
The work that all of the staff and members of the crew put into this play is very noticeable.
The building itself is catered to the Harry Potter experience. The ceiling is painted with stars that move if you hold your phone up to them, the staff wear themed clothing and there are also amazing themed snacks.
Unfortunately, security had to help me and my party be relocated during the show; however, despite the situation, it was still an amazing experience.
The head of security as well as the manager were both wonderful and very helpful, and it shows that good management and leadership have a direct effect on customer enjoyment.
What could have been a bad experience at a play turned into a wonderful story and an amazing time.
Allison Cannon is a freshman with an undecided major and minoring in Spanish and Law, Justice, and Society.
