Thursday 4 May 2017

#6 A play

Harry Potter and The Cursed Child (Parts one and Two)  -  J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany and Jack Thorne 


I didn't use a bookmark, didn't have dinner and got completely mesmerized by this play - finished it in one sitting!

It was indeed magical to get caught up in the Harry Potter frenzy once again - albeit for half a day.  I can see why many hardcore Potterheads may be disappointed with this, since it is not in the same vibe as that of the previous seven books, it hasn't enough magic or time to get into side stories , but it is still the world we know and love.

Being a play, it has a very different dynamic to it as well.

This begins where the last book (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) left us - with Harry married to Ginny, and Ron to Hermione - coming to see their children off to Hogwarts at platform nine and three quarters.

Harry is middle-aged and the Head of Magical Law Enforcement, Hermione is the Minister for Magic (impressive!) ,Ginny is the sports editor for the Daily Prophet Wizard's Newspaper and Ron manages what we can suppose is Weasley's Wizards Wheezes (a joke shop).

Harry has three children - James , Albus Severus and Lily - and it is with the middle child that he faces a lot of problems with. Albus Severus is clearly not fitting in, unlike his happy-go-lucky older brother James. He gets sorted into the Slytherin House for startes and to top it all, he befriends the son of Draco Malfoy - who is a a very amiable and kind-hearted Scorpius Malfoy. They become very close friends.

A shadow hangs over them, since there is a a curse, a prophesy and a rumor that hangs around them. The one that affects them the most is the rumor that Scorpius is in fact Voldermort's son, not Malfoy's. This turns both of them into social outcasts at Hogwarts. So, instead of looking forward to being at Hogwarts, Harry Potter's second son, Albus Severus hates the place. This leads to a severe strain in the relationship between the father and the son.

The relationship between Draco and his son too is tested, since after his mother's death Scorpius is unable to find any comfort in his well-meaning but cold hearted father. So the friendship with Albus becomes a very important source of acceptance for him.

Scorpius: Your dad thinks the rumors are true — I am the son of Voldemort?

Albus (nods): His department are currently investigating it.

Scorpius: Good. Let them. Sometimes — sometimes I find myself thinking — maybe they’re true too.

Albus: No. They’re not true. And I’ll tell you why. Because I don’t think Voldemort is capable of having a kind son — and you’re kind, Scorpius. To the depths of your belly, to the tips of your fingers. I truly believe Voldemort — Voldemort couldn’t have a child like you.

Scorpius: That’s nice — that’s a nice thing to say.



After overhearing that a Time-Turner has been found at the Minitry for Magic, Albus decides to run away from the Hogwarts Express - find the instrument, go back to the past and alter a few things to set everything right - of course Scorpius goes with him. But, we realize how even the smallest act, when changed creates ripples which will alter their lives forever, so the plot thickens. I will reveal nothing more. :)

In the stage adaptation - Ron's and Hermione's daughter Rose, Scorpius (blond) and Albus.

Divided into four acts, this is an immensely readable play. The dialogues are simply wonderful. I especially enjoyed the loyal friendship that develops between Scorpius and Albus - plus we get to see a lot of the old, well-beloved characters once again - McGonagall, Snape, Moaning Myrtle, Cedric Diggory etc. In the adaptation for the stage they gave a different interpretation to Hermione (and hence her daughter) - they are black. This was seen as a praiseworthy move by everyone including Rowling and Emma Watson herself.

Well, if you were looking to read a continuation of the Harry Potter magic, you will probably be disappointed, but if you were missing them and are longing to read about them one last time - you have this last offering (at least that's what Rowling says). At least we can be secure in the knowledge that the true magic is always within us - we will always and forever be Potterheads. 💕

The original cast for the stage adaptation
  

 

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