“So, anyway, about Harry Potter…”
When Marcus wants to veer the conversation, his go-to sequitur is “So, anyway…”
After we saw Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Parts One and Two) we discussed and dissected the show during the break, at dinner after the show, the next day while on a boat tour, at the airport, and back at home with Quinn.
This isn’t really a review, more a reflection of Marcus and my impressions and the day of theatre we experienced seeing Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in London.
Added to Our StoryTelling Pillar Analysis
Those who follow Marcus’ story and theatre analysis know we dissect stories, and individual character story arcs, into five main pillars: Set, Adventure, Conflict, Truth, and Jokes. During the break, I had an epiphany, and suggested to Marcus we were missing one: Scary Part. We tried it out on a few of our favorite stories, and yup – each memorable story has a critical and important “scary part.”
For those not familiar, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child picks up on the world of Harry Potter, 19 years after the final battles of the 7th book. Really, it picks up pretty close to the closing scene where we saw Harry and Ginny sending their middle son off to his first year in Hogwarts. Albus Severus Potter. No pressure there…
Book Vs Play
We were told, by a few people actually, they didn’t love the book. Some of those folks didn’t realize ahead of starting that it’s actually a script, and if you’re not used to reading scripts, it’s…different. BUT, it won the Tony Award for Best Play this year – so, there’s that, right?
And Neil Patrick Harris said…
Just saw both parts of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on B’way (@HPPlayNYC) and…wow. It is to plays what Hamilton is to musicals. Stop what you’re doing and see this magical show. Poetic, dramatic, respectful, exciting. The cast is sublime. Must. See. #gobsmacked pic.twitter.com/OCgz32fCC3
— Neil Patrick Harris (@ActuallyNPH) May 17, 2018
Still, it’s a serious time investment. No, I mean, seriously. Serious.
Theatre All. Day. Long.
Here was our line-up for the day: The theatre requested folks accommodate by arriving one-hour early, in order to make sure there’s plenty of time to get through security and lines and restroom breaks and drinks….there’s a two-hour break between parts one and two, then add to this the walk to and from the theatre, about a mile each way, each part ran about 2.5 hours with a short intermission, add this all up and it equals a 9-hour day for a theatrical experience. Not for the faint of heart.
I had my concerns about this both for Marcus and myself. Once the show started, however, we were enraptured into the Harry Potter world and time took on a new life of its own.
At the end of Part One I was…shaken.
OMG – Part One. Those effects! @MarcusMusical and I are impressed. Shaken, even. pic.twitter.com/s42WoGTEFE
— Mardra Sikora (@MardraSikora) July 29, 2018
The second part kept us riveted (and me a little emotional) and through it all – great effects!
What Marcus and I call “Theatre magic” created seamless, impressive moments. Talking books and the flying dementors wowed Marcus the most. My favorite effects included telephone booth portals to the ministry of magic and the use of Polyjuice potion. Characters changed into other characters at the front of the stage with no CG involved – very nice! Oh Oh Oh! and I loved the use of water in certain scenes, too.
What House Are You?
A few years ago, Marcus and I took a very unofficial on-line sorting hat quiz and he and I both came up Slytherin. Marcus has denied this Slytherin sorting at all times, but now, because our main two characters of this adventure, Albus and his best friend, Scorpius Malfoy, (Yup, you read that right, a Malfoy) are in Slytherin house, Marcus came around and now even wears the house colors.
— Marcus Sikora (@MarcusMusical) August 3, 2018
Scorpius quickly became Marcus’ favorite character.
One Set of Pillars From HPTCC
I will share with you the story arc pillars for Scorpius via Marcus.
Set: Train, Train Station, Hogwarts (Mostly)
Adventure: To go to Hogwarts and be in house Slytherin
Conflict: Outcast and dementors
Truth: Be Brave, Be brave for each other
Jokes: Yes – Lots of jokes.
Scary Part – …
I really can’t reveal Scorpius scary part…that’s too far into spoiler territory.
Alright, I don’t know how they’re going to share this performance with the masses, seems tricky to tour a two-part production – but seems tricky to even have a two-part production, so who knows?
Worth It?
Was the long day worth it?
Marcus said, “Yes. The answer is Yes.”
So, there you go.
Wow. What an experience! 9 hours?? Sounds magical though. Also? I didn’t even know there were more after book seven. Truly. Which is really strange because I loved all the books. How cool that you went in London, too! I’m going to have to research this. I wonder if I could see it somewhere closer.
It’s showing in NYC, too, right now. Now much closer, but…
That is so great that you and Marcus share this commonality and have these discussions about what you have seen and experienced.
So glad he loved it and it went well (yes, it sounds like a very long day, but anything for Harry Potter, is what I say).
I have YET to read a Harry Potter book and I feel totally left out especially after reading this. What an experience! That’s for the heads up about the script. I’ll keep that in mind.
Whaaaatttt?
I’m with Kenya, and my friends can’t believe I haven’t read any of the books, given how much I read. I don’t know why I haven’t read them, but the play sounds like an amazing experience! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and review.