In June 2000, I remember the buzz around town about the fourth Harry Potter book…it was finally going to launch! As I am not generally a fan of the fantasy genre, I hadn’t yet picked up any of J.K. Rowlings books, but SO MANY people were SO into them, that I decided to take a look and see what all the fuss was about. Hooked immediately, spent every single spare moment reading late into the night. I waited with baited breath to find out what would happen next. I did not feel the same way about the movies. The first one didn’t thrill me, so I did not see the rest….and I never did read The Cursed Child. I did, however, feel that as a lover of all things Broadway and as a Harry Potter fan, that I should see Harry Potter & The Cursed Child on Broadway.
Where is it and how long does it last?
Last Wednesday I finally took the plunge into the world of Harry Potter on Broadway. It is playing at the Lyric Theater which is very conveniently located right off Times Square, just steps from the subway.
This play has two parts, each more than two and a half hours long. I chose to see both parts in the same day, and let me say that it was a REALLY long day: I left my apartment at 1:15 for a start time of 2PM and did not get home until after 10:30 in the evening.
What is Harry Potter & The Cursed Child on Broadway about?
The mercifully cool lobby set the dark mood for what was to come. I took my seat, and the show began shortly after. I did not have time to read through my Playbill, which was kind of a mistake, because the Playbill provided (for those of us who are not super fans) a quick synopsis of all that came before . The Cursed Child begins with Harry and Ginny, and Ron and Hermione sending their children, Albus and Rose, off to Hogwarts. On the train, they meet Draco’s son, Scorpius, and we follow these teenagers through their adventures. I will reveal no more about the plot or the magic…you will get no spoilers from me!
What was it like?
Personally, I found the beginning of Part 1 to be confusing and difficult to follow. I didn’t realize that the Playbill had definitions and a recap of the previous books until later, so I had to stretch my brain to recall the details. This was very distracting for me. After a short while, I caught up and became absorbed in the storyline.
At times, Part 1 moved slowly for me. The illusions and magic did not captivate me as much as I thought they would. There was nothing scary or super unexpected until just before it was over. Part 2, on the other hand, was intense from the start. Packed with action and special effects, it moved way more quickly. It was dark and creepy and so scary that at one point, I literally jumped and grabbed the woman sitting next to me (I scare easily, but still!).
Should I take the kids to Harry Potter & The Cursed Child on Broadway?
I seriously considered taking my kids (just turned 9) along. I thought they might enjoy the rich Rowling plot and the magic. Worried that it may be too scary, I decided against it. (Also, they are not yet true fans of Harry Potter). It was definitely the right choice for my kids. The first part would have been too boring, and the second would have been too frightening.
Anything else?
Overall, I really enjoyed the show and I am SO glad that I went. The story was engrossing and the theater was gorgeous. The sets were great, and I appreciated the tricks that the cast and crew used to alter them. The relatively diverse cast was talented, if a bit too old (but that seems to be the par for the course in theater these days). I recommend seeing Harry Potter and The Cursed Child if you enjoyed the books, but think critically about bringing kids under the age of 12.
