FALL 2015
PAGE 13
Play Review : " Harry Potter and the Cursed Child " Overflowing with Clichés
Allison MacLeod ‘ 19 Associate Editor
Nine years after the seventh Harry Potter book came out , J . K . Rowling is back with a new play featuring the well-known wizard . “ Harry Potter and the Cursed Child ” is currently playing at the Palace Theater in London , but the rehearsal script , released the day after the premiere , can be purchased at bookstores everywhere . “ Harry Potter and the Cursed Child ” tells the story of Harry and his friends , specifically their children , 19 years after the events of “ The Deathly Hallows .” It picks up where the epilogue leaves off . The play , written by Jack Thorne and based on a new story by John Tiffany and Rowling , follows Harry ’ s son Albus Severus Potter through his first few years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as he attempts to live up to his father ’ s legacy . Albus ’ s fears of inadequacy quickly start to materialize when he is sorted into Slytherin house , and feels like he is a disappointment . Meanwhile , Harry is overwhelmed by his Ministry of Magic work , and experiences painful flashbacks to his days at Hogwarts , all while trying to figure out how to be a good parent . After an argument between Harry and Albus , it appears that Albus has run away in rebellion , but he has really left to try to fix the past , the part that “ The Boy Who Lived ” could not . Readers will feel a beautiful nostalgia as they reenter this magical world . The script starts at King ’ s Cross Station as the Potter family gets ready to run through the barrier and onto Platform 9 3 / 4 , a quintessential moment for Harry years before and for all young wizards and witches . Immediately , fans get to feel the buzz of the first day of Hogwarts again , just like they did with Harry . In addition to the station and the corridors of Hogwarts , the book revisits important places like the Hogwarts Express , the Ministry of Magic and Godric ’ s Hollow . On top of the sentimental setting , everyone ’ s favorite characters are back . The writing maintains a good balance between preserving the original characterization from the books and allowing Harry , Ron , Hermione and company to grow , change and deal with the problems of adulthood . They are no longer 17 , but they still have the quirks that fans fell in love with . Readers will love the new characters just as much . Albus and Scorpius , Draco ’ s son , are arguably the story ’ s best additions to the world of Harry Potter . It would have been easy , even expected , for Albus and Scorpius to become rehashes of their fathers , destined to be enemies in rival houses . Instead , they unite and are best friends , supporting each other through the problems that result from being a “ Potter ” and a “ Malfoy ,” wellknown names in the wizarding world . These fully complex characters are vulnerably human and very relatable . Prepare to grow attached to them and their friendship . Unfortunately , this is where the praise ends , as the plot left much to be desired . Unlike its unpredictable predecessors , the new story is overflowing with clichés . How many times has a book , movie , or television show explored the idea that interfering with the past has consequences ? Too many . Then , the main characters always come to the conclusion that everything happens for a reason , or that the past can ’ t be changed ; this les-
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son has been taught many times before in many different settings . “ The Cursed Child ” is separated into four acts , and nothing in the first three was very surprising . The fourth act contains a few redeeming shocks , but overall , the plot-line was extremely disappointing . However , this isn ’ t meant to be a book ; it ’ s a play . A lot is left to the reader ’ s imagination and knowledge from previous Harry Potter experiences , because elaborate sets and skilled acting are supposed to take the place of a novel ’ s vivid descriptions . Taking it from script to the stage must create a magical experience that cannot be replicated on the page . For example , the stage directions call for mind-boggling magic , like Polyjuice Potions that transfigure characters right in front of the audience , and a bookcase that could swallow a person whole . Seeing all of this unfold on stage must be more effective than a short italicized description . While special effects would not make up for the lackluster plotline , they would add excitement . So , although there are no official plans , the producers have talked about an eventual Broadway production . And , maybe then we can see what the script can ' t convey . More information about the show can be found at : harrypottertheplay . com .
“ How many times has a book , movie , or television show explored the idea that interfering with the past has consequences ?”
Allison MacLeod ‘ 19