Nothing can ruin a good story or series of stories like an unnecessary sequels or prequels. Therefore I was apprehensive about eighth Harry Potter story that came forth as a stage play this summer. J.K. Rowling’s seven book Harry Potter series wrapped up perfectly at the close of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. What more could be added that would enrich their story? Plenty it turns out.
This week I sat down to read the published script for the play that premiered in London this summer. It had been a while since I read a play so it took me a few scenes to get into the story but once I did I was off on another Harry Potter adventure and happy to be so.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child excited me, made me laugh, kept me on the edge of my seat, and even made me tear up at times. Reading the play literally took me away to the magical world of wizards and witches that Rowling invented and made so real. It connected me with characters I truly cared for and caught me up with them some 19 years after their last adventure.
If you haven’t read the Harry Potter books, there’s no need to read any further. Go read the books, even if you’ve seen the movies. The Harry Potter books are to me the best series of books I’ve ever encountered. The movies are very good adaptions, but the books are absolutely amazing.
In The Cursed Child, Harry Potter is as much the main character as is his second child, Albus. Harry now married to Ginny Weasley heads the Office of Magical Law Enforcement. Albus is a student at his parents wizarding alma mater, Hogwarts. Harry still has difficulty with the fame that comes from being “The Boy Who Lived” while Albus struggles with being a child of the famous wizard.
Albus seems to be nothing like his father. There doesn’t seem to have any of the magical talents of Harry. At Hogwarts he’s sorted into the notorious Slytherin House. On top of that, Ablus’ best friend is Scorpious Malfoy, the son of Harry’s foe from his Hogwarts days, Draco.
Harry who never knew his father, doesn’t know how to be one to Albus. This creates distance and animosity between them and it’s this strained relationship that’s the crux of this story. It’s what makes it relatable to the audience despite the fantastic elements of the world where it unfolds.
The driving force of the story’s plot is regret. Harry and other characters have many deep regrets. They regret things in the past that can’t be changed, nor should they be. Yet when a Time-Turner that allows travel back through time is discovered, attempts to “fix” things take place and the incredible ride that is Harry Potter and the Cursed Child takes off at full speed.
I love the characters that J.K. Rowling breathed life into and the stories she created. Although she didn’t write the script for this eighth adventure, that task was undertaken by Jack Throne, Rowling did devise the story with him and director John Tiffany. Thorne deserves great credit as the characters, their situations, and their world ring completely true the her books.
The answer to the major question posited by the play’s title is quite elusive Who is the cursed child? The obvious answer would be Albus Potter, but that title could also apply to Scorpious Malfoy or a couple of other characters who play pivotal roles later in the tale. Harry Potter also might be the titular cursed child. That question never gets answered which is fine. It’s a loose end that the audience should decide on their own.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child absolutely deserves to be a novel in its own right. It’s that good. Hopefully we’ll get a movie in the not too distant future featuring the older cast of the eight Potter film. And as it just so happens to turn out, yesterday they announced that the play will be coming across the Atlantic to Broadway in 2018!