Monday, October 3, 2016

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Harry Potter and the Cursed ChildHarry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Underwhelming: a word I have never used in association with anything relating to Harry Potter, but that's what Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is. There's too much expectation and too much hype associated with Rowling's incredible world, but she's lived up to it every single time. And honestly - this is not entirely her play. It's her ideas, but some else wrote and and adapted it, and you can tell.
The characters are not as likable and the images of who the "grown up" Harry Potter characters would be after Deathly Hallows just aren't the same.

All that negativity aside, I would watch this play. Per usual, plays really are better live. And I'm not sorry I read Cursed Child, but I'm not considering it part of the Harry Potter cannon. It's more like a really well structured piece of fan fiction. Am I allowed to say that about anything Rowling puts her name on?

As always, happy reading and let me know what you think of this one. I'm dying to talk it out with more people.
ps. Full confession that I totally geeked out when I saw the Palace Theatre adorned with Harry Potter and the Cursed Child signs as Seth and I walked through the West End in London this past June. The play was barely in previews, and it didn't make sense to drag Seth to see a show he had no interest in. My heart had an extra pitter patter for this theatre that had once been home to Les Miserables. Someday, I hope I will make it back to see another show there.