With Jack Thorne's original, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the renovated Lyric Theater is experiencing a spectacular takeover in the realm of J.K. Rowling's multi-book cosmos featuring Harry Potter, Muggles, Puggles, and Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. While the theatrical two-part stage continuation presents the world of amazement and fantasy, the core of the story comes down to the personal world of family, friendship and change presented in two performances. You can choose to see the entire five-and-a-half hour show in one day with dinner break, or in a two-day package. While this current production is originated by Thorne, Rowling and director John Tiffany have also had their hands on the show. Admittedly, a familiarity with Rowling's Harry Potter seven-book world is the key to how much you will enjoy this ambitious spectacle. Newbies can expect complications with the plot, but be assured that the slick, $68 million production values do the trick of theatrical entertainment. John Tiffany (Once) directs the smooth movements by Steven Hoggett (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time) on sets designed by Christine Jones with Neil Austin's lighting excitement, while the magic and illusions director Jamie Harrison combine to create the wizardry. Since time is elastic in this plot, clocks on the stage show racing time forward or backward. Fingers extend for skeletal fear and the go-to weapons are wands spurting fire. Ghastly figures, "Dementors," descend from the rafters, whirl overhead and grab characters wandering on stage. Costumes by Katrina Lindsay feature wide black hooded capes made for swirling and swooping in graceful fantasy. (Wands are a hot item in the mall-like lobby). To get the tale moving, for Potter and gang, time has marched on and Harry Potter (Jamie Parker) is now a middle-aged, harried employee of the Ministry of Magic. He is married to spirited Ginny (Poppy Miller), and they have three children. They open at Kings Cross station where sensitive Albus (Sam Clammett), the youngest and most sensitive Potter, is about to board the train for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Albus is less than enthusiastic but it is a family legacy and we find that threading through the story are Albus’s struggles with his father over truth and change. Also departing for Hogwarts School are Potter acquaintances, a bumbling Ron Weasley (Paul Thornley), his tough-minded wife, Hermione Granger (Noma Dumezweni) who is also the Minister of Magic and their daughter, Rose (Susan Heyward). Also entering is Scorpius (Anthony Boyle), the son of Harry's school bully, Draco Malfoy Played convincingly by Clammett and Boyle, Albus and Scorpious become close friends when they start Hogwarts, realize they are both misfits and through flashbacks and flash-forwards, they pass the adventurous good-horrible school years. The plot is heavy on adventure and motion but it is equally laden with too much repetition. Those well-acquainted with the Potter cast of characters cheered at the appearance of Rowling's famous contemptuous Minerva McGonigal (Geraldine Hughes), Albus Dumbledore (Edward James Hyland), and Byron Jennings playing a sarcastic Severus Snape. Jessie Fisher is a stand-out as Delphi Diggery who manipulates her way into many of the devious activities of Albus and Scorpius. No question about it, it is impressive. It is a show of dazzling thrills and while this production is one expensive investment, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will succeed in adding to the coffers of J.K. Rowling's legendary world of 500 million sold books and multi-billion dollar worldwide films. What a treat for budding Potterheads. Be aware though, that trimming would help the overburdened plot, and popularity does not mean that Cursed Child is a guaranteed audience pleasing for every theatergoer.
