Nineteen years after Harry Potter defeated Voldemort, the wizarding world is back! This time, it’s the next generation causing trouble. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, now playing at Keller Auditorium through August 15, picks up with Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Draco as adults navigating jobs, marriages and kids of their own.
The real story, though, belongs to Albus Potter, Ginny’s and Harry’s youngest son, and his unlikely friendship with Scorpius Malfoy (son of Draco). When the two boys stumble into a plan involving time and the past, they set off a chain of events filled with classic Harry Potter adventures, dangers, friendship and more. And that’s all I’ll say about the plot! There’s an M. Night Shyamalan-like twist that I did not see coming, which made for an even more entertaining night out.
[Editor’s note: We recognize that author J.K. Rowling has made public statements about transgender people that we find harmful and do not support. Our coverage focuses on the beloved story and the artists bringing it to life on stage.]
I brought my friend along, and going in, our starting points couldn’t have been more different. I’ve read every book more than once and rewatch the series annually. (While I don’t think HBO needed to make a Harry Potter show, I will of course be tuning in.) My friend is the opposite: She has seen only the first movie and hasn’t read the books. Pro tip: While Google tells me it’s “not necessary” to be familiar with the series in order to watch the play, I’d disagree. There are lots of callbacks, characters and plot points — particularly from the Goblet of Fire — that a familiarity with the series, or even just the movies, helps make the play a richer viewing experience. But good news: As if anticipating this, the play bill included a QR code taking viewers to a site that provides a handy refresher.
Still, we both had a great time (I gave her a HP crash course during intermission). The spectacle is where this production truly earns its six Tony awards. The special effects are, without exaggeration, some of the best I’ve seen in theater. A Polyjuice potion transformation happens right in front of the audience. A bookcase filled with bewitched books seemingly swallows up the characters as they work to solve its riddles. A wand duel crackles with light and sound in a way that makes the fight feel genuinely dangerous. And when the Dementors appear, gliding and floating above the stage with a supernatural, boneless grace, the whole auditorium seemed to hold its breath. (We’re not sure if they were played by actors, or puppets, but either way they captured the eerie essence of a Dementor.)
The cast matches the production’s ambition. David Fine, who plays Scorpius Malfoy, brought a lightness and comic relief to the usually stern characteristics of a Malfoy. And if you’ve seen the movies, you’ll recognize the DNA of familiar characters in these performances — the clipped disdain of Snape, the twinkling patience of Dumbledore, the saccharine menace of Umbridge, and McGonagall’s brisk, no-nonsense authority all came through clearly, even with new faces in the roles.
If You Go
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
🗓️ August 1-15
📍Keller Auditorium (222 SW Clay Street)
🕣 Run time is nearly three hours with one intermission
🎟️ Tickets start at $55.40
Pro tip: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is recommended for ages 8 and older. This production uses strobe lights, and other visual and sound effects.