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| Noma Dumezweni, Susan Heyward, Paul Thornley, Olivia Bond, Ben Wheelwright, Jamie Parker, Poppy Miller, Sam Clemmett . Photo: Manuel Harlan |
By Jack Thorne, based on a story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany
Directed by John Tiffany
Lyric Theatre
By Lauren Yarger
What's It All About?
The Broadway transfer of the London hit sequel story to the Harry Potter books. The show is presented in two parts, each just over two and a half hours, and yes, you really do need to see both parts. And no, you don't have to know the story of Harry and his magical friends to enjoy this time-hopping story by Jack Thorne based on a story by Harry Potter book author J.K. Rowling and stage director John Tiffany.
Almost 20 years after the books ended, Harry (Jamie Parker),an employee of the Ministry of Magic and his wife, Ginny (Poppy Miller) are the parents of three kids, the eldest of which, Albus Severus (Sam Clemmett) is about to head off for wizard training at Hogwarts. Joke shop owner Ron Weasley (an amusing Paul Thornley) and Hermione Granger (Noma Dumezweni), who is now Minister of Magic, send their daughter, Rose (Susan Heyward) on the Hogwart's Express as well. Note: the color-blind casting of African-American Dumezweni threw me at first and had me wondering what happened to Hermione because in the one movie I had seen, Hermione was white. All Potter fans knew that Dumezweni was Hermione immediately, of course, because they knew from the books (which I hadn't read) that Hermione and Ron got married.
At school, Harry befriends Scorpius Malfoy (a delightful Anthony Boyle), the son of Harry's nemesis Draco.
I won't tell you more, as you will want to discover the plot yourself, but I will let you know that some events and characters from the past are revisited through time travel.
What Are the Highlights?
A thoroughly absorbing story with one of the most complex plots I ever have seen on stage.
The special effects are dazzling. Intricate and at the same time, surprisingly simple. I won't give too many details because I don't want to spoil, but the time-travel effects are amazing (illusions and magic by Jamie Harrison). Millions of dollars well spent.
Thoroughly enjoyed this play, even though the Harry Potter books never appealed to me. The more than six-hour run time (I saw both parts in one day) went by very quickly.
This show has virtually no competition to win the Tony Award for Best Play. Excellence at every level of performance and creative craft. Well done in an intimate setting that makes you feel you are part of the action. It is the highlight of my season,
What Are the Lowlights?
While the time travel is done very well, there is some confusion a couple of times when harry is remembering or dreaming about past events. We haven't traveled back in time and to someone not familiar with the books or movies, it is not immediately clear that these scenes are from the past. It's a small gripe-- 99 percent of the audience recognizes little Harry (Will Coombs and Landon Haas share the role).
More Information:
Harry Potter is doing theater magic at the Lyric Theatre, which has been refurbished to accommodate this show, at 214 West 43rd St., NYC.
Additional credits:
Movement by Steven Hoggett, (fabulous) Set by Christine Jones, Costumes by Katrina Lindsay, Musica and Arrangements by Imogen Heap, Lighting by Neil Austin, Sound by Gareth Fry, Music Supervision and Arrangements by Martin Lowe.
What's It All About?
The Broadway transfer of the London hit sequel story to the Harry Potter books. The show is presented in two parts, each just over two and a half hours, and yes, you really do need to see both parts. And no, you don't have to know the story of Harry and his magical friends to enjoy this time-hopping story by Jack Thorne based on a story by Harry Potter book author J.K. Rowling and stage director John Tiffany.
Almost 20 years after the books ended, Harry (Jamie Parker),an employee of the Ministry of Magic and his wife, Ginny (Poppy Miller) are the parents of three kids, the eldest of which, Albus Severus (Sam Clemmett) is about to head off for wizard training at Hogwarts. Joke shop owner Ron Weasley (an amusing Paul Thornley) and Hermione Granger (Noma Dumezweni), who is now Minister of Magic, send their daughter, Rose (Susan Heyward) on the Hogwart's Express as well. Note: the color-blind casting of African-American Dumezweni threw me at first and had me wondering what happened to Hermione because in the one movie I had seen, Hermione was white. All Potter fans knew that Dumezweni was Hermione immediately, of course, because they knew from the books (which I hadn't read) that Hermione and Ron got married.
At school, Harry befriends Scorpius Malfoy (a delightful Anthony Boyle), the son of Harry's nemesis Draco.
I won't tell you more, as you will want to discover the plot yourself, but I will let you know that some events and characters from the past are revisited through time travel.
What Are the Highlights?
A thoroughly absorbing story with one of the most complex plots I ever have seen on stage.
The special effects are dazzling. Intricate and at the same time, surprisingly simple. I won't give too many details because I don't want to spoil, but the time-travel effects are amazing (illusions and magic by Jamie Harrison). Millions of dollars well spent.
Thoroughly enjoyed this play, even though the Harry Potter books never appealed to me. The more than six-hour run time (I saw both parts in one day) went by very quickly.
This show has virtually no competition to win the Tony Award for Best Play. Excellence at every level of performance and creative craft. Well done in an intimate setting that makes you feel you are part of the action. It is the highlight of my season,
What Are the Lowlights?
While the time travel is done very well, there is some confusion a couple of times when harry is remembering or dreaming about past events. We haven't traveled back in time and to someone not familiar with the books or movies, it is not immediately clear that these scenes are from the past. It's a small gripe-- 99 percent of the audience recognizes little Harry (Will Coombs and Landon Haas share the role).
More Information:
Harry Potter is doing theater magic at the Lyric Theatre, which has been refurbished to accommodate this show, at 214 West 43rd St., NYC.
Additional credits:
Movement by Steven Hoggett, (fabulous) Set by Christine Jones, Costumes by Katrina Lindsay, Musica and Arrangements by Imogen Heap, Lighting by Neil Austin, Sound by Gareth Fry, Music Supervision and Arrangements by Martin Lowe.
Tickets are hard to get and expensive, but there is a lottery. Check out the page at harrypottertheplay.com.
The running time of Part One is approximately 2 hours 40 minutes and Part Two runs approximately 2 hours 35 minutes. Both include one 20-minute intermission.
I am not listing additional casting, because I don't want to spoil which characters might or might not appear in this sequel.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY FACTORS:
-- Magic
The running time of Part One is approximately 2 hours 40 minutes and Part Two runs approximately 2 hours 35 minutes. Both include one 20-minute intermission.
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| Photo: Matthew Murphy |
I am not listing additional casting, because I don't want to spoil which characters might or might not appear in this sequel.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY FACTORS:
-- Magic
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