Pure magic! Harry Potter and the Cursed Child had its first preview on Tuesday, June 7, and was met with exuberant praise from Potterheads.
The play, written by Jack Thorne and based on a story by Thorne, J.K. Rowling and John Tiffany, is set 19 years after the fictional events of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows, the seventh and final book in Rowling’s beloved series, which was published in 2007.
The production, which is split into two parts, tells the story of Harry Potter (now in his late 30s), who is working as an underappreciated employee of the Ministry of Magic. The show also explores Potter’s complicated relationship with his son Albus, who is struggling to cope with the family’s legacy in the wizarding world.
Not much else is known about the play, thanks to Rowling’s social-media campaign urging fans to not release any spoilers. “Potter fans have always had each other’s backs,” the author, 50, tweeted on Monday, June 6. “Today I’m asking you to #KeepTheSecrets of #CursedChild.”
Potter fans have always had each other’s backs. Today I’m asking you to #KeepTheSecrets of #CursedChild https://t.co/0Vbl3zwN6b
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 6, 2016
“I really liked the films, but after seeing this, I would say, forget the films,” fan Callum Fawcett told Reuters after seeing the play. “This is fantastic. … It’s got everything.”
While honoring Rowling’s request not to share secrets, those who saw the show took to social media to share their enthusiasm for the latest installment in the Harry Potter narrative. See their best reactions below:
As a Potter nut @HPPlayLDN was EVERYTHING. pic.twitter.com/gZyYpSmxZh
— James Nowell (@jcnowell) June 7, 2016
All I will say is that was potentially the best thing I have ever seen… @HPPlayLDN #CursedChild #KeepTheSecrets pic.twitter.com/dbh37nKo2n
— Fraser Maxwell (@fjmaxwell) June 7, 2016
My adrenaline levels are starting to crash… Send Madame Pomfrey… That was so incredible. #KeepTheSecrets @HPPlayLDN
— Rebecca Holbourn (@2cajuman2) June 7, 2016
I just saw the best thing I’ve ever witnessed on stage, I would pay the full price of a ticket just to experience that one bit again
— Aislinn (@aislinnnj) June 7, 2016
https://twitter.com/jackmaple1/status/740300679013634048
As previously reported, Rowling received harsh criticism from certain corners for casting black actress Noma Dumezweni as Hermione Granger in the play. On June 5, she defended her decision. “With my experience of social media, I thought that idiots were going to idiot,” she told U.K. newspaper The Observer. “But what can you say? That’s the way the world is. Noma was chosen because she was the best actress for the job.”
“I had a bunch of racists telling me that because Hermione ‘turned white’ — that is, lost color from her face after a shock — that she must be a white woman, which I have a great deal of difficulty with,” she continued. “But I decided not to get too agitated about it and simply state quite firmly that Hermione can be a black woman with my absolute blessing and enthusiasm.”
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’s script will be released in book form on July 31, one day after opening night.
