“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” Follows the Story About the Son of the ‘Boy Who Lived’

 

— by Keith Owens

 

As one who reads the entire Harry Potter saga at least once couple of years, this longtime “Potterhead” (or  as some like to call me a “Hogwartian”) has always dreamt about what happened next in the story after Harry and Ginny Potter waved to their two sons as they rode out of sight on the Hogwarts Express on September 1 on Platform 9 ¾ at King’s Cross Station – London.  Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I would watch the next chapter of Harry Potter’s life on Wednesday on the stage of the beautiful Fabulous Fox Theatre in Saint Louis.

With the lights out and the curtain drawn, with an imperceptible wave of a hidden wand and soft-spoken incantation of “Lumos” – we are transported into King’s Cross Station, nineteen years after the defeat of “He Who Must Not Be Named”. . . ok. . .I was say it. . .LORD VOLDEMORT.  With Hogwarts students saying goodbyes and parents getting their last hugs, we are introduced to the troubled relationship between Harry Potter, played by Nick Dillenburg, and his son Albus Severeus Potter.  Harry tries to reassure his son Albus (Adam Grant Morrison) that things will work out and his personal fears are unwarranted, but the chemistry between the two actors presents the growth of this unfortunate father/son relationship brilliantly throughout the play.  Albus quickly becomes friends with Scorpius Malfoy (David Fine) and both work on trying to find their place in the Wizarding World and overcome the shadow that covers them because of their fathers’ pasts.

Rumors and misconceptions drive the plot as Draco Malfoy (Ryan Hallahan) tries to defend his son Scorpius’ parentage while still fighting with his arch-rival Harry Potter.   It is not until the two boys get into trouble that Harry and Draco must put their difference aside, recognize their important roles as fathers, and save their sons.  The rest of the cast do not overshadow this conflict but enhance the storyline by bringing some of our favorite characters of Wizarding World.  Minister of Magic – Hermione Granger-Weasley (Rachel Leslie), Professor McGonagall (Katherine Leask), and Ron Weasley – husband of Hermione Granger, played by Matt Harrington, brings stability to the play and ultimately shows the adverse effects of what happens when Albus and Scorpius get deeper and deeper into trouble.  Things progressively get worse until the Wizarding World that we know is unrecognizable.  Gasps could be heard many times as the story unfolds, and the greatest gasp was right before intermission. . .keeping everyone talking throughout intermission of what was next!

The visuals and scenery of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” are amazing.   Your favorite spells are cast and brought to life on stage.   Floo power, talking painting, and dementors abound.  Scenery appeared and disappeared from the stage.  The staircases of Hogwarts move randomly as old friends from Hogwarts appear and become part of the epic saga – weaving a story that is worthy of the continuing canon of the Wizarding World.

One major thing that I was expecting to be part of the 2026 Broadway Series was that there would be more of a musical genre with interruptions of the plot line with dancing and singing.  I was anticipating for the first 20 minutes that someone was going to burst out singing but the songs never came.   The pre-recorded music created by the Music Supervisor and Arranger Martin Lowe was rich and greatly enhanced the plot and made the scene changes natural like in the Harry Potter Movies.  The choreography that the cast performed was seamless with the magic and illusions that abound to the credit of Steven Hoggett and Jamie Harrison.  Without these two behind the scenes – it would have been very hard for this play to work.

Be sure not to miss this amazing production that countless number of people who wore wizard robes and carried wands into the FOX theater and go see “Harry Potter and Cursed Child” until Sunday, April 12 and help unveil to the next generation of Potterheads the Wonderful Wizarding World of Harry Potter!