Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Spoilery Script Discussion

[MrsSallyAdams]

Posted: 8/20/16 at 2:03pm

I've just finished reading the published script for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. There's already a discussion on the boards of a Broadway transfer but I thought I'd start another thread for folks who've seen or read it to share their thoughts.

I grew up with the Potter series. 1-4 were wish fulfillment fantasies. Child from abusive home discovers he's special and travels to a fascinating, magical world. I loved the subplots, world building and supporting characters. Books 5-7 were grimmer affairs. Harry discovered his new world was full of bigotry, violence and corruption. The fun parts of the story fell away as we focused on his hero's journey. If the first book's structure was like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the seventh's was closer to The Legend of Zelda. 

Here are my initial reactions to the script.

 

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It's not the story I wanted. It may be the story modern fan culture deserves.

I'd have rather explored the post-war wizard world with some new characters. Instead we get a time travel plot to provide cameos and put familiar scenes on stage. The cast and spectacle must be terrific to earn such raves for a rather tropey plot. 

For all the scope it's a story about three people: Albus, Scorpius and Harry. Even on the page Scorpius is adorable. I can see why so many of the fans want Albus to kiss him. Harry's helicopter parenting and the Albus/Scoripus "I don't know how to quit you" shtick straddle the line between touching and camp.

Some joke titles that came to mind:

Harry Potter and the Wonderful Life
Harry Potter and the Horrible Daddy Issues
Albus and Scorpius's Excellent Adventure
Brokeback Hogwarts

What are your thoughts?

 

Updated On: 8/20/16 at 02:03 PM

[darquegk]

Posted: 8/20/16 at 11:28pm

My actual opinion is mixed, but I'm sort of amused by how much it seems to crib from the Very Potter trilogy.

[Gink]

Posted: 8/20/16 at 11:39pm

My daughter's first reaction when she started reading it was like many other's "it's fan fiction". And she's read a lot of various fan fiction in the past. I'll give an opinion when she finishes it.

 

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 9/1/16 at 3:11pm

Harry's helicopter parenting and the Albus/Scoripus "I don't know how to quit you" shtick straddle the line between touching and camp.

Saw the show recently without having read the script and the way it's directed, it really didn't come across like that at all.  I actually posted my thoughts on the show without spoilers in the Harry Potter thread on the main board.  Yes, the script is weak when compared to the previous books, but in the end, it's totally forgivable when experienced.  

[Pippin]

Posted: 9/6/16 at 6:04pm

I really enjoyed it, with a few reservations. 

 

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I cried when they said goodbye to Cedric in the maze, knowing he was going off to his death. That was a very touching moment. 

 

I just think time travel plots always create more problems and plot holes than the story is worth. While the time turner stuff was fun, and brought back great nolstagic feelings, I also wish the story was more about the wizarding world as a whole. But I won't complain, because it's Harry Potter and that's good enough for me. 

I have a broadway actor friend who saw the opening day gala, brought me back some schwag (I told him he'd better or we're not friends anymore lol), and he's one of those actors that hates everything, and complains about the prospect of being in everything else, especially when it comes to tourist fodder. I value his opinion and he not only loved it, but RAVED about it, and wants to be in it now. He said there were gasps in the audience when many of the old characters made appearances. He's not even read the books, and probably not seen all the movies, but the wizarding world of Harry Potter won him over in a BIG way when he saw it. 

 

I think a lot of the people who are not impressed simply by reading the script will have a change of opinion once they actually see it played out on a stage.