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The Cursed Child – is it worth watching?

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In January my sister got tickets for The Cursed Child parts I & II as a surprise very early 25th birthday present. She managed to purchase them despite the ridiculously extortionate ticket prices and the mad rush whenever tickets are released.

Harry Potter and The Cursed Child

I loved reading the Harry Potter series growing up and it is the primary influence that has led me to spend so much of my time reading. I also loved watching the Harry Potter movies with my sisters and discussing them in relation to the books as each movie was released. But I am also one of the many Potterheads in the world that doesn’t agree with or enjoy the random additional tidbits that J K Rowling has been pushing out over the years. It was nice to begin with when the books had just ended, but now 10 years after the series has ended it’s all just a bit tiresome. So I wholly agree with Alana Bennett’s Buzzfeed Article: The Harry Potter Fandom Is At A Crossroads. It very clearly puts into words how most of us are feeling right now.

So to be totally honest, I wasn’t really looking forward to the show to begin with. I had mostly avoided seeing/reading anything to do with The Cursed Child since it had been announced because to me it wasn’t necessary. The fact that it wasn’t even written by J K Rowling was another reason. Sure, she has told us it should be considered canon, but I still had no interest or attachment to the story.

But my sister had bought the tickets so I decided to give it a chance and try to enjoy the production she had spent her hard earned money on. And I’m so glad I did!

Don’t get me wrong, I still have the same feelings about the Harry Potter universe – it’s time to let our characters finally rest. But the production had to be one of the best I’ve ever had the pleasure of witnessing. The thought and direction that went into every little bit of magic I saw on stage was spectacular. The use of lighting and shadows to reveal or hide certain aspects of the stage to enhance the “magic” was brilliant. I can’t complement the production staff enough!

Then there’s the actors. I didn’t like Jamie Parker’s “posh” accent whilst playing Harry, but I felt like they all did an amazing job. I was with them all the way and I was convinced that they were our beloved characters. I loved the relationship and the ensuing chemistry between Albus (Sam Clemmett) and Scorpius (Anthony Boyle). Their friendship was heartwarming and it was great to see them grow as individuals and as friends.

But then there’s the story and plot itself… it just didn’t work for me. Everything about it felt like a poorly written fanfiction. In an attempt to show our Golden Trio as mature adults, Jack Thorne dropped key personality traits which we all loved and admired. Harry as brave, loyal and caring, Hermione as fiercely determined and hardworking, and Ron as the (also) brave and stubborn guy with something to prove.

Warning: spoilers ahead.

  • Why was Albus Severus (still hate his name) sorted into Slytherin??? The sorting hat never told us and the story sure as hell didn’t either? I thought the sorting hat took your choice into consideration too??? Why would it put you in a house where you would be unhappy for the next 7 years?
  • Harry was characterised incorrectly. The Harry we all know and love was an outsider his entire life. He would never have treated his son as an “other” and should have been able to empathise with Albus’s feelings. He also didn’t have any of Harry’s snarkiness and was a coward more often than he should have been.
  • Cedric Diggory was too much of a kind and loyal person to have ever turned into a Death Eater (I also don’the understand why the evil version killed only Neville???) Sure, bullying can change a person but considering he was strong enough physically and mentally to take part in the Triwizard Tournament, I feel like he could have overcome this. Particularly since most people would have gone back to bullying Harry thanks to the Daily Prophet soon after.
  • To my absolute horror, Harry and Ron seem to have no friendship whatsoever once they’re adults. Ron simply exists as an extension of Hermione or to provide us with some comedic relief. He basically becomes the clown in a Shakespearean play. I feel like Ron doesn’t have muchad going for his life apart from family and just exists. He had so much potential in the books and I think he should have continued working with Harry and Hermione at the Ministry as an Auror.
  • Not to mention Bellatrix and Voldemort having a baby. WHAT??? As if he would have had time for baby making with all of his muggle terrorising/horcrux hiding/Potter obsessing/general evil doing. And why did Delphi choose to ignore her mother’s killer (Mrs Weasley) in all of this?

There are so many more holes in the story, but I think you get the idea.

So, whilst the production itself is amazing, I wouldn’t bother getting your hopes up. I highly recommend watching it once tickets are easily available and the price has been reduced considerably. Also, bring your own snacks and don’t buy the overpriced junk food they have to offer. Just enjoy it at face value and turn your Potterhead brain off, otherwise you’ll be sorely disappointed.

The post The Cursed Child – is it worth watching? appeared first on Digesting the Words.


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