The Cursed Child

Whatever you do, don’t read this book, I mean it, don’t do it. Unless you’ve already seen the play of course, then you can read it all you like. To read it before though, that would be an exercise of self-ruination, you’ll be cutting your nose off to spite your face. All you will have achieved is the loss of a little magic in your life, there’s precious little magic enough as it is without voluntarily reducing your own share.

I went to see the stage play of The Cursed Child last week, the cost of the tickets was a paltry £30 each, that’s £30 each for just over five hours of West End show and not just any West End show either. One of the most critically acclaimed non-musical shows for some time, especially if you’re a fan of Harry Potter, and even, as was the case with my fellow viewer (who loved it incidentally), if you’re not. That’s a trip to the cinema for two people, if you get snacks and a drink. Admittedly, we weren’t perched in the best seats in the house, I couldn’t see every wrinkle of the brow or twitch of a smile on the faces of the actors. Did I need to? No. What I could see from up in the gods, was every single aspect of the story unfold, and what a story it is. For £30 each, ridiculous.

If you haven’t read Harry Potter, don’t read any further, and stop mucking about, go and read it. It won’t change your life but it’s a very good set of books indeed, actually if you enjoy it unexpectedly it might change your life, it’s basically a gateway drug to harder stuff. Moving on…

I don’t want to say too much, but what I will say is that the play really does create a satisfying conclusion to the original stories. It starts as Harry and Ginny drop their youngest son off at King’s Cross to catch the Hogwarts express, or to put it another way it starts where the Deathly Hallows ends. Events in the play continue over the next few years until…

I implore you to go and watch this play, don’t read it, it’s a play, that’s why it’s a screenplay and not a book, reading the screenplay will not do it justice. Look out for the next ticket release, spend the time queuing and pick up an absolute bargain. If you know someone who likes Harry Potter get them tickets for Christmas, I guarantee they won’t be disappointed once they’ve seen the play.

For those readers not living in the UK or those unable to get to the play, I apologise for the strident tone of this post, I also sympathise with you and I hope that you are able to watch the play at some point in the near future, maybe you should read the book, but please do so in the knowledge that the play will never be as good if you do.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (2016) – Amazon – Book Depository