If you have ever enjoyed a Harry Potter film or book, have I got a show for you!!!! “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” is a truly remarkable theatre piece creating special effects equivalent to those seen on film. People disappear when putting on a vanishing cloak, fly backwards through the air when hit by a fireball and the whole stage undulates when a character goes back in time. These are just a few of the multitude of effects in the show. Not only are they truly surprising, the play has an interesting story which touches on some universal themes such as family and self-worth. There are a few inconsistencies from past Harry Potter books and films, mostly dealing with time travel, but these will most likely be noticed only by the real die-hard fans. For the rest of us, we are about to take off on a wild ride!!!
Harry (John Skelley) is married to Ginny (Trish Lindstrom) and now has a son, Albus Severus Potter (Emmet Smith), who is about to start at Hogwarts. Albus is going through a pretty standard teenage rebellion, putting most of the blame for his unhappiness on the fact that he is the son of a famous wizard and wants, no, needs to be recognized for his own merits. And it becomes obvious that he could use a serious dose of loving attention from Dad. After boarding the train at platform 9 3/4 (yes, they magically run through the wall), he and Rose Granger-Weasley (Naiya Vanessa McCalla), daughter of Hermione Granger (Ebony Blake) and Ron Weasley (Matt Mueller) meet Scorpius Malfoy (Aidan Close), the son of Harry’s former foe Draco Malfoy (Benjamin Thys). Once at Hogwarts, one of Albus’ worst fears come true when he is placed into the house of Slytherin by the sorting hat. The two boys bond when they realize their lineage is what causes them to be bullied by the other students; Albus because he is the son of Harry Potter and has not yet earned respect through his own actions and Scorpius because he is rumored to be the son of the evil Voldemort (Nathan Hosner). So, to start making a change in how they are perceived, the two boys, along with Delphi (Julia Nightingale), the niece of Amos Diggory (Larry Yando) steal the Time Turner from the Ministry of Magic and go back in the past to prevent Diggery’s son from getting killed. When they return, their presence in the past has changed history so they go back again to set things right. This time, upon returning, things have gotten far worse. Voldemort is now in control and young Albus no longer exists. To not give away any further surprises, let me say that the rest of the play is about setting right all that went wrong with some major twists and turns along the way. Be on the lookout for the all too brief appearance of Moaning Myrtle (Mackenzie Lesser-Roy) in a spot-on and hilarious portrayal.
Throughout the play, with no slight to the actors involved, the magic and illusions by Jamie Harrison are the true stars of the evening. The set (Christine Jones) and the lighting (Neil Austin), along with scenic projections (Finn Ross & Ash J. Woodward), all work as one to deliver the mind-bending effects. Consequently, it really looks as if the room undulates during time travel, fireballs come out of wands and people are hurled about during a magic fight even being pinned in mid-air. Every scene is a visual wow. The entire play is choreographed to continually keep a fluid motion, especially during set changes. Capes swirl, suitcases fly by and their owners yanked in various directions as if being controlled by an unseen puppetmaster.
It may not be the best play ever written; it’s exposition heavy at the top of the show with lots of short scenes giving you all the info needed to make the plot a cohesive one. But it is one of the most visually exciting and fun experiences you will ever have in the theatre and one you will remember for a long time to come.
“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” is playing at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood now through June 22, 2025. For tickets or more information visit their website at www.BroadwayinHollywood.com