Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - SPOILER THREAD

I dont think its feasible just seeing one or the other. Its one piece really and the 2 parts work together

Thanks for your comments - I'll go for the first one then. I know what you're saying about it being one, albeit very long, play but going to see this means taking time off work, sorting out domestic arrangements and a four hour round trip so two days in a row is a nightmare. I'd totally forgotten when my tickets were booked for as it was such a long time ago.

Really only seeing this for JP so wanting more bang for my buck! Having read the spoilers I would assume that he is on stage for a bit more in part 1. I think the returns small print says I need to return tickets 48 hours before hence really wanting to narrow down between the two.

Read the article though, it's very much from the perspective of "Warner Brothers want to make it into films" and not at all from the perspective of "Rowling, Tiffany, Thorne at al have agreed that it should happen".

Warner Bros likely wants a Cursed Child film but without JK's consent, it won't be made. The Potter franchise is a huge cash cow for WB but at the same time, they have to work with the author on any ideas they might have for the franchise. JK Rowling turned down many producers who wanted to do Harry Potter as a stage musical but it was Sonia Friedman who convinced her that a play about Harry's later life might work and she approved.

Now that's commitment.

Just managed to get a cancelled ticket for Wednesday. There's so little time to prepare
So happy to be seeing it with the original cast after the disappointment of finding out I'd be missing them with my ticket for July.
Does anyone know if there is any cast absences at the minute? I'm really hoping they're all there.

OK, having (finally) seen it on Wednesday I'm gonna post my thoughts.
With a long time since I read the book and coming to terms with the plot (plus the fact that I never had as much of a problem with the story as some people had), it was great to see the show and just enjoy it for what it is.
Understudies for Ginny (Lowri James) and Scorpius (James Le Lacheur) were on. Both were very good and seemed to have great chemistry with the rest of the cast, so that it was practically impossible to tell they were understudies and if I hadn't looked at the board beforehand (and not seen Anthony Boyle on the Oliviers) I probably wouldn't have noticed.
I thought the staging was incredible, and the dance-like moments between scenes were some of the best bits of the production. Imogen Heap's music for these scenes was incredible, especially at the end of Part 2 as the dementors descended. Other highlights for me were Moaning Myrtle's scene, who was played brilliantly, the transition from Harry's nightmare to him and Ginny in bed (how the hell did they do that trick?), and the murders of Lily and James near the end.
The magic was incredible. The polyjuice scene was phenomenal and, although I can guess how it was done, it was still amazing to watch. The exit from the Ministry was mind-blowing and I cannot tell at all how that was pulled off (unless there is a small trapdoor in the phone box that the actor must plummet down to be invisible as the robe is sucked through the box). However, I wasn't as impressed with the Voldemort transfiguration, which seemed to be trying to recreate the polyjuice potion effect but didn't do it as well, and when Voldemort ducks behind the door and stands back up as Harry was a laughable way for the transition back as the spell wears off.
I actually found Delphi an interesting character when she was first introduced, if not a little rushed as she only seemed to have 2 minutes on stage before the characters were forming a new trio of too-closely knit friends for the amount of time they've spent together. I also thought she portrayed the villain reasonably well. My only problem with her villainess I think comes from the writing (I'll come back to this in a bit) and not Esther Smith's portrayal - though it will be interesting to see how well April Hughes portrays the villain when I see it again in July (I'm assuming she's the new Delphi as she's the only member of the new cast who looks the right age and is sat up front in the picture with the new Albus, Scorpius and Rose).
I actually had bigger problems with Harry. I felt like he ended up shouting far too quickly, even when Harry's meant to have a temper. When I'd read the dialogue in the book I'd pictured him saying it sternly and getting increasingly shouty, but Jamie Parker seemed to go from talking normally to shouting within 2 seconds.
My biggest problem with it originated when I read the book, with how wooden and unnatural some of the dialogue seemed, though at the time I hoped it was just how the script read and would be solved with the performance. Unfortunately I was wrong. The murder of Craig Bowker felt a bit rushed. It would probably have helped if he was a bit more prominent earlier in the play, but also if there was a bit more dialogue or anything before Delphi kills him (though I have to say, the flame thrower effects throughout the show were incredible). I also think Delphi being described as pantomime villain by some comes from the text. Lines like "you're mistaken child, prophecies are the future" and "you talk too much, child" I don't think can ever be said without sounding a bit uninspired and comical.

A while ago, JK Rowling tweeted that not only would it run in London for a long time it would also tour.

There are obviously no doubts that the show could sustaine London and a Tour easily but surely this would mean extra long stays in venues? Like double the length of your average big tour. For example, Wicked played around 3 months in Manchester, where as surely Harry could play 6 months minimum. Does anyone have any clue as to when/if it would tour?

If the show does tour, how will they manage all the magic? I'm sure the polyjuice section uses trap doors as does the lake trap door, with added water! Any ideas?

There's also the fairly complex human flying, which will add complexity to a tour as well.

I agree though, I can't imagine we'll see a UK tour for the best part of a decade. A US tour is more likely to be the touring "prototype", as they are set up to cope with the technical complexities far better than our venues are.

Welcome aboard!

A lot of the music (Imogen Heap) is available on youtube/spotify/albums, however not as a "Harry Potter" album. A couple of people have started trying to work out the entire soundtrack.

I get your point about the ending - however I don't think getting deatheaters into the church would have made any sense from a story point of view. Delphi has never seen the death eaters under Voldemort's power, and probably wouldn't know how to get any of them to Godric's Hollow (and if she did, why would they believe her OR not tell ol' Voldy?). That scene felt different this week to when I saw it in previews - however I'm not sure why. Probably my memory playing a trick on me.

I don't think the guy playing the sorting hat (and Hagrid) is meant to be Kingsley Shacklebolt, no. Why would that be the case? I did quite like the final scene - it comes back to a very personal, and relatable, story about friendship/family. Which is, beneath all the magic, what the books were too.

The extra thing I'd add is having now seen the show in one day (previews) and over two evenings (this week), seeing it in one day is 100% the best way to go about it. You lose too much of the dramatic tension with a day off!

Currently on my first London trip (loving it!), and had the great pleasure of seeing this. I was crazy jet lagged, but I LOVED it. I grew up reading the books, went to midnight release parties, etc. But I was still a little confused by the plot. But overall, it was a great, fun spectacle. I loved the production, loved the random dance sequences, and overall thought the acting was quite great. The "whoosh" of moving the set pieces felt a little cheesy to me, though. I'm not sure that American audiences are going to clamor for this though? I don't know. It just felt almost cheesy at times. But at the same time, I loved it for that very reason.

so, ive heard good things about the death eaters, but am I expecting too much, like the whole theatre going cold and them flying about the auditorium... should I lower my expectations?