This production boasts a great deal of elaborate presentation and what an amazing presentation it is!
John Tiffany’s innovative direction, Gareth Fry’s robust sound design and a gleaming set by Christine Jones paves the way for more than a little magic as Harry Potter and the Cursed Child continues live and in person at Emerson Colonial Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts through Saturday, December 20. This exciting production runs two hours and 50 minutes with one intermission and some dark imagery may not be appropriate for children. Click here for more information and for tickets.
Set Designer Christine Jones’s sterling and multi-dimensional set boasts gleaming wood and fine detail with stars and moons etched into a dome trim. Featuring spinning clocks, animated books, vaulted ceilings and swerving grand staircases, this sliding set follows its own meticulous rhythm integrating shadows which brilliantly capture the essence of Hogwarts and the iconic events of the beloved series and films. Capes swing in succession to its own mesmerizing beat in sharp and sweeping choreography that enhances the swift pace of this production.
The spellbinding and pulsating special effects by Jamie Harrison as well as the nostalgic return of beloved places and characters are the essential reasons why anyone, but especially Harry Potter fans, will delight in this show. As an avid Harry Potter fan having read the all the books including this screenplay and witnessed all the films, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’s Easter eggs and recognizable spells are all familiar and welcome territory. A wizard disappearing into a mailbox, characters drifting through walls, and haunting characters looming larger than life is just a glimpse into the stupendous magic that takes place live onstage.
Seeing magic during recorded films is one thing, but to witness this magic materialize onstage is more than exciting. It is a thrill each and every time.
Starting during Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows epilogue, Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermoine are at King’s Cross Station sending their children on the Hogwarts Express as new students to Hogwarts much like when Harry, Ron and Hermoine embarked on the Hogwarts Express for the first time years ago.
Much like J.K. Rowling’s beloved book series, this topsy turvy plot contains themes of family love, enduring friendship, and coming of age love that materializes between Adam Grant Morrison as Albus and David Fine as Scorpius. It also focuses on parenting, reputation and the consequences of one’s actions. Its winding plot is just intriguing enough to revel in the appearances of these characters and goes to great lengths to stretch the plot for the purpose of justifying revisiting all these iconic places through a time turner.
The production brings together both generations as Juliana Nightingale remarkably portrays mysterious Delphi Diggory and Larry Yando as sympathetic Amos Diggory urges Nick Dillenberg as Harry Potter to bring back Amos’s son Cedric using a time turner. When Harry refuses, Albus and Scorpius see it as an opportunity to prove themselves as great wizards.
What I did feel like the production lacked is the amount of time given to other students at Hogwarts. So much time was dedicated to the OG characters that aside from acquaintances, Albus and Scorpius seem to be the only two people that truly connect in Hogwarts which is hard to believe at such a large university with numerous cast members. Perhaps this is due to the shortening of the production which was once divided into two parts and clocked in at over four hours.
Fine is exuberantly expressive, anxious and excitable as Scorpius Malfoy. Fine defines Scorpius with bursts of chatter and bravery infused with an occasional unhinged edge while Morrison as Albus Severus Potter is more introspective and resentful trying to live up to his father’s image.
Tom Felton may have returned in his OG role as Draco Malfoy on Broadway, but Ryan Hallahan is certainly up to the task in menacing and sarcastic ways punctuated by a delightfully upturned sneer and rich vocals as Draco. Hallahan’s Draco is an impressive adversary and protective father to David Fine as Scorpius while infusing traces of Draco’s own father, Lucius.
Dillenburg as Harry Potter is well suited for the role, though the character has become more egotistical and stubborn thinking he knows best which makes for fascinating scenes with Trish Lindstrom as softer spoken Ginny. Lindstrom amiably demonstrates Ginny’s maturity and bolder practicality, especially as she tempers Harry’s anxieties.
Matt Harrington amusingly captures quirky, outspoken, and underestimated Ron who provides more than a few playful moments. He also shares some sweet scenes with Rachel Leslie as shrewd and determined Hermoine.
Some actors in this large cast take on multiple roles with finesse. MacKenzie Lesser-Roy as giddy, giggling, bold and flirtatious Moaning Myrtle is an over the top scene stealer and unrecognizable in a dual turn as serene Lily Potter. Katherine Leask closely exacts Maggie Smith’s glorious timbre and cadence as firm, yet compassionate Professor McGonagall with winking good humor before stepping into the shoes of one of Harry Potter’s perilously disdainful villains not to be revealed here. Larry Yando impressively takes on the challenge of triple roles though some land better than others.
Twists, turns, rumors and revelations abound in this elaborate production tailor made for Harry Potter fans and for those who truly enjoy onstage wizardry! Harry Potter and the Cursed Child continues live and in person at Emerson Colonial Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts through Saturday, December 20. Click here for more information and for tickets.