If there’s anything “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” has in spades it’s magic, plus a slew of familiar Harry Potter tropes and characters in a new story focused on Harry’s and Draco Malfoy’s sons employing time travel to save Cedric Diggory, who had died during the Triwizard Tournament in the fourth book of J.K. Rowling’s series.
That’s a lot to cover, and it takes 2 hours and 50 minutes to do it, which is actually abridged from its Broadway run time of 3.5 hours, which is itself shortened by 1.5 hours from an original two-part play in London that could be seen on the same day or over two days.
This “short” version still feels like three movies long, but that’s a good thing for fans. Due to editing, the beginning scenes rush through Albus Potter’s and Scorpius Malfoy’s first three years at Hogwarts, revealing that Albus (Emmet Smith) has not only been sorted into house Slytherin (gasp!) along with Scorpius (Aidan Close), but that he is unable to live up to his father Harry’s (John Skelley) reputation.
Meanwhile, Scorpius is nothing like his father Draco (Benjamin Thys), Harry’s old nemesis. Though he has his father’s white hair, Scorpius is kind, interested in friendship and funny. But he’s shunned at school because he’s rumored to be the son of the evil Voldemort, or “he who must not be named” per Rowling’s books.
But it’s just that evilness that Scorpius and Albus threaten to unleash upon the wizarding world when they decide to use a time-traveling device to rescue Cedric from his untimely death back in Harry’s school days.
Though the plot gets thicker (and thicker) as the boys must repeat their adventure more than once to get things right — and those they think are friends are not — the story at its heart is one of friendship and fathers and sons. Harry especially has a lot to learn about relating to Albus, and has a chance to revisit his own parents.
The story is also dressed in incredible stage magic. Effects evoke the Hogwarts Express train, transfigurations of persons, eerily beautiful soul-sucking Dementors, fiery wand battles, glowing Patronuses, time ripples and more that add an other-worldly dimension and echo the films.
Music and cape-whirling choreography between scenes sustain that magical texture while cast and crew change around sets and props. Moveable stairs at Hogwarts mimic those depicted in the books and films; a gorgeously composed scene featuring swiveling staircases allows us to feel the rift between Albus and Scorpius when Harry warns Albus away from his only friend.
All the actors do justice to their demanding roles that require not only dialogue but precise movement and blocking to render the magical effects. Standouts include Close as Scorpius — making his character genuinely likeable and sympathetic through a nuanced delivery — and a truly delightful Mackenzie Lesser-Roy as Moaning Myrtle, the dramatically animated ghost of the second-floor girls’ bathroom.
“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” is written by Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, is directed by Tiffany, and features an array of creators to make the magic happen: movement director Steven Hoggett, set designer Christine Jones, costume designer Katrina Lindsay (so many capes!), music composer and arranger Imogen Heap, lighting designer Neil Austin, sound designer Gareth Fry, illusions and magic by Jamie Harrison, and video design by Finn Ross and Ash J. Woodward.
Such an impressive production is well worth experiencing, especially if you are a Harry Potter fan, but even if you just love theatrical magic. Fans can catch up with Harry, Ron and Hermione in their new adult roles — as well as other favorites (and not-so-favorites) at Hogwarts — while all audiences may appreciate the value of deepening relationships, whether between a father and son, or a true friendship between boys.
“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” continues through June 22 at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, with shows Tuesdays through Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets start at $40 and can be purchased by calling the box office at (866) 755-2929 or visiting BroadwayinHollywood.com. Run time is 2 hours and 50 minutes, including intermission.
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