Julia Nightingale as Delphi Diggory, David Fine as Scorpius Malfoy, Adam Grant Morrison as Albus Potter in the North American tour of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Photo by Evan Zimmerman
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is an incredible production that embodies the magic of theater. It stands out as a captivating spectacle, showcasing a level of theatrical craft that’s become quite rare.
In the narrative, Harry Potter (Nick Dillenburg) sends his son, Albus (Adam Grant Morrison), off on the Hogwarts Express for his inaugural year at the wizarding school. Onboard, Albus befriends Scorpius Malfoy (David Fine), the son of Harry’s former adversary, Draco (Ryan Hallahan). United by the legacy of their famous fathers, they hatch a plan to use a time machine artifact to correct a historical wrong and carve out their own paths. They are joined in this quest by Delphi (Julia Nightingale), a woman whose family was impacted by the tragedy. However, their attempts to change the past have dire consequences for the future, leading their teenage rebellion to transform into a desperate mission to save the world.
The complexity and ambition of the play are remarkable, particularly given its wide-ranging cast and the intricate nature of the storyline. Among the standout moments are the clash with an unruly bookcase, an astonishing “underwater” scene where performers seem to swim through the air, and the truly chilling appearances of the massive spectral Dementors. And therein lied my challenge; to pick a stand-out or even several. In true fashion for this franchise, I just can’t. I can easily align myself with a house (Slytherin) given that Draco Malfoy will forever be my favorite character in this series and no one else is remotely close. I got lost in the magic and the storytelling and didn’t feel the need to sit and pick anything apart. I felt the entirety of the full piece start to finish and, despite the length already, I wouldn’t have minded another hour. It gave me an evening of complete escapism into something magical and whimsical letting me just get lost in the story forgetting real life for a few hours and it was timely needed so desperately. I applaud the full cast and crew, props and lighting for an evening of very fine entertainment throughout. BRAVO! | Diane Ruff
