If you know me, then you know that Harry Potter is a HUGE part of my life and that I will always be on top of anything related to it. Well, ever since it was announced that the story would continue with a two-part play, I almost cried... okay, I did cry of happiness. For me, the magic has never ended.
For those that do not know what Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is, here is a brief (spoiler-free) synopsis: The events of the play take place 19 years after Harry Potter defeats Lord Voldemort and resumes when Harry is talking to his youngest son, Albus Severus Potter, about going to Hogwarts and being sorted into his house. Albus becomes friends with Draco Malfoy's son, Scorpius, and together they try to move away from the big shadows that are cast by their respective parents. To top it off, there have been rumors that Lord Voldemort had a child of his own and Harry and his friends need to solve that mystery.
The play originally opened in London and due to its massive success, it moved to Broadway in NYC. When this was announced, I made sure to follow every piece of news as closely as possible to ensure I got tickets. I signed up for the newsletter and to be fan-verified to get early access to tickets. The day they were released, I was on my computer ready to purchase them! Since the show is two parts, you have to get two separate tickets for each performance. I wanted to do both parts in a day (a matinee and a night show) but tickets were selling fast and I wanted to see it within its first performances, so I got tickets for two consecutive nights.
The show is at the Lyric Theatre and as you can see from the pictures, it is completely decked out! I avoided going to see the theatre until the night I was seeing it, and I was blown away by the display!
The moment I stepped in I knew my bank account was in trouble... I wanted to buy EVERYTHING! The had their own version of the house shirts, not like the classic house shirts you see in the official Harry Potter store. They had new wands, their own candy, and other accessories. After much consideration, I decided to buy a shirt with the name of the play and Albus Potter's wand. I opted for that wand because it is a new character and his initial is engraved at the bottom of the wand! Fun fact: only Albus and Scorpius have engraved initials.
Once you get past all the amazing merchandise, you get to see the Patronus Charm Chamber. It is an entire room dedicated to the most iconic Patronus Charms in the series. I began getting emotional when I saw this...
The details of the entire theatre made you really feel like you are inside the Wizarding World! Part 1 has one type of aesthetic on all the screens and stage, and Part 2 has... another darker aesthetic. Even the announcers before each act were relevant to what was going on.
Okay, it is time for me to talk about the play itself! IT WAS SO GOOD! I cried tears of happiness the moment it began. I felt no shame in crying because of how much love I have for this story. I was about to be transported back to when I first experienced the books, when I first experienced the movies, when I first experienced the theme park in Orlando, and when I first read the play.
I was seated in the balcony, not my first choice of where I wanted to see the play but in the end it worked out for the better because I got to see EVERYTHING. I highly recommend being on one of the higher levels because the entire theatre is the stage. There are parts of the performance I am sure I would have completely missed if I had not been seated there.
The acting was stellar from all the performers, the set was gorgeous, and the special effects... GAVE ME CHILLS! The play is so well done and it has been years since I left a show wanting to see it immediately again. They bring magic back to life in every single scene, I was entertained from start to finish.
Make sure to bring some tissues because you will cry. I cried two more times, but mainly because they bring an element of nostalgia by re-enacting some scenes from the books. The show made me fall in love all over again with Harry Potter. And to anyone who asks me if I will hold these stories dear to my heart for the rest of my life? My answer will be... ALWAYS.
