We've seen the new 'Harry Potter' play everyone is dying to see and it is amazing [NO SPOILERS]
The first previews of the play "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" came to a triumphant end on Thursday night as the Palace Theatre, which housed the lucky few who had snagged very expensive tickets, erupted in cheers and applause.
"Cursed Child" is the first Potter play ever and it will officially premiere on July 30. It takes Potterheads back to their beloved universe almost 10 years after the release of the last Harry Potter book.
A jubilant crowd queued around the block from the theatre for the second time this week (the play is in two parts, the first part was shown on Tuesday) to discover how the adventures of the younger Potter-world generations would pan out.
Judging by the reaction of the audience and the response on social media, it is an understatement to say that it did not disappoint.
The play struck the right balance really gripping the audience in the new story and developing the new characters, while at the same time answering some burning questions about the original story and shedding light on past issues that directly influenced the outcome of the new play. The actors really did their characters justice, and the casting director, Julia Horan, should be lauded over and over again.
Jaime Parker plays an older but not necessarily wiser Harry Potter, the same goes for Paul Thornley who plays Ronald Weasley. Poppy Miller plays a fierce Ginny Weasley and Noma Dumezweni a still delightfully bossy Hermione Granger. Grown-up Draco Malfoy is played by a blonde pony-tailed Alex Price and Anthony Boyle plays his son Scorpius, while Sam Clemmett portrays a young Albus Potter, Harry's son.
The actors left an enormous amount of energy and emotion on that stage, making the public laugh out loud throughout the play (Rowling's sense of humour definitely transpires in the characters' witty responses). Some parts also made you jump in your seat. One particular scene made me wish I was further away from the stage (word of advice, if you are jumpy and are going to see this play, avoid the aisle seats).
Heart-wrenching scenes were also part of the package (don't worry - George is still alive) and waves of total silence flattened the theatre a few times, while the odd choked cry also tore through some of the heavy dialogues.
Polyjuice potion (for the muggles out there: that potion lets you transform into someone else) was used by a few characters who transform right on stage. Combat scenes included fire-spouting wands, flying people, benches, chairs, and tables and the effects of some curses on the actors made you genuinely worry.
The premise of the play's plot is the same as the books': A battle between good and evil, between darkness and light. Many of the books' themes often highlighted by Dumbledore are also present in the play: choosing between the right path and the easy path; choosing to put others ahead of oneself; and a reminder that no one is completely evil (OK so maybe Voldemort was pushing it) or completely good; and that people's flaws are part of what makes them great.
And although there was a slight variation on one of the most famous quote of the series, the message is still the same: "Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, when one only remembers to turn on the light."
The script of the play written by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany, comes out on July 31, and the play officially starts on July 30. Sadly, it won't feature any live owls, after the one that appeared in the first part of the preview was a bit too inspired by Harry and got in trouble when it refused to go back to its handler.
Oh, and to all the racists out there, Noma Dumezweni is the most amazing Hermione Granger imaginable.