Harry Potter & the Cursed Child - Part One & Part Two...

Yesterday Darce & I went to see Harry Potter & the Cursed Child Part One & Part Two @ the Palace Theatre in London's glitzy West End.

Four visits in and I still love it. Two parts, many feelings, alarming amount of wizard parenting angst. Stagecraft so slick it should come with a warning. Cast deliver magic without breaking a sweat. Still gasp worthy, still packed full of Easter Eggs, still great

Part One (in the afternoon)…

I'll not give the plot away (#keepthesecrets & all that) other than to say that action takes place some 19 years after the final book ends picking up on Kings Cross train platform as an adult & married a Harry Potter & Ginny are waving goodbye to two of their children - Lily still has year to go but James & Albus are off to Hogwarts. Only Albus isn't happy bunny. He has his father's reputation to live up to...

There then follows 2 hours & 50 minutes of pure magic. The set, action, special effects, theatrics, wit, flair are all there in spades.

It is story of fatherhood, family, fear, redemption & broomsticks. It is compelling & gripping revisiting for many of characters made famous by Harry Potter books & films.

I laughed (a lot), I cried (a bit), I was left open-mouthed (often) & @ one point I shrieked (the shocks come thick & fast & many from left-field).

Pure theatrical stage magic. Oh, and Part One ends with a genuinely scary cliff-hanger.

Part Two (in the evening)...

Picking up where Part One left off we were transported back & forth through the Harry Potter canon; revisting some of the funniest times & most traumatic moments (yes, there were more tears).

One of the central themes in both parts of the play, if not the (hor)crux, is a father's relationship with their child. To this end the plot kicked up a notch in Part Two as conflict between Harry & Albus became even more acute & so drama heightened.

There was big twist (which I didn't see coming) & couple of flourishes which made this second play as unforgettable as first.

Great acting, great story & a brilliant top-notch production.

A must for any Harry Potter fan.

(Thank you Darce for the cast photo)