HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD 2021 Previews

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 11/12/21 at 12:54am

Accio!

 Tonight, Hogwarts is back in session, as the Tony-winning Best Play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child resumes Broadway performances at the Lyric Theatre. Several principal cast members return to their pre-shutdown roles, headlined by James Snyder as the titular Boy Who Lived. New to the cast is David Abeles, who will be taking on Ron Weasley. Also joining are several new principals who were originally set to debut in the show on March 18 of last year: James Romney as Albus Potter, Aaron Bartz as Draco Malfoy, and Brady Dalton Richards as Scorpius Malfoy. 

As previously announced, the play will be condensed to one single, 3 ½- hour part upon reopening; Cursed Child was presented in two parts on Broadway before the shutdown. Previews for the revised version begin tonight and opening night is currently set for December 7.

How many Muggles are making the trip over to the wizarding world?

Updated On: 11/12/21 at 12:54 AM

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 11/12/21 at 2:15am

I'll be there!  I didn't think much of the script when it was first published but seeing it in person blew my mind, so I'm really curious what they've kept and if they've changed any of the major events this time.

[DrewJoseph]

Posted: 11/12/21 at 6:38am

Had tickets for tomorrow but unfortunately couldnt attend. Next time i’ll be in nyc will be in june. Really hoping they’ll make it until then and very excited to hear what theyve done with it!

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 11/12/21 at 10:13am

Wondering if they will invite critics to re-review it as one part? Interested in seeing its new streamlined version as someone who thought it was unnecessarily long as two parts.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 11/12/21 at 10:27am

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Wondering if they will invite critics to re-review it as one part? Interested in seeing its new streamlined version as someone who thought it was unnecessarily long as two parts."

I can't imagine they wouldn't invite critics, it's a big post-pandemic story and the curiosity factor itself is one they want to capitalize on. 

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 11/12/21 at 10:28am

Since it has an official opening night of December 7th, I'd say yes.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 11/12/21 at 11:32pm

I'm sure others will go into more detail, but the basics are that what was Part 1 is now Act 1, and what was Part 2 is now Act 2.

 

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All the flashback scenes were cut,  so no kids in the cast. Several additional scenes were cut entirely: the old wizards home intro; the Scorpius and Delphi staircase conversation from part 1; and a scene between Draco and Scorpius in the dark wizard timeline from part 2. Also the scene where they find out that Scorpius and Albus jumped off the train was cut. Harry and Ginny now find out after Harry wakes from a nightmare. 

Everything else was basically just cut lines. Some alternate lines were added here and there: Scorpius in the dark timeline has a different interaction with Craig and Polly when he finds out about Snape, and the intro to Snape is also shorter. 

The biggest character development scene is in the final scene: Albus Severus point-blank tells Harry that Scorpius is and will always be the most important person in his life. It plays out almost like a coming-out announcement. It pretty much is confusing for the audience, since Albus still acknowledged his crush on Delphi (in the church scene) and Scorpius still asks out Rose.

 

Updated On: 11/12/21 at 11:32 PM

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 11/12/21 at 11:39pm

Fosse76 said: "I'm sure others will go into more detail, but the basics are that what was Part 1 is now Act 1, and what was Part 2 is now Act 2.

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

All the flashback scenes were cut, so no kids in the cast. Several additional scenes were cut entirely: the old wizards home intro; the Scorpius and Delphi staircase conversation from part 1; and a scene between Draco and Scorpius in the dark wizard timeline from part 2. Also the scene where they find out that Scorpius and Albus jumped off the train was cut. Harry and Ginny now find out after Harry wakes from a nightmare.

Everything else was basically just cut lines. Some alternate lines were added here and there: Scorpius in the dark timeline has a different interaction with Craig and Polly when he finds out about Snape, and the intro to Snape is also shorter.

The biggest character development scene is in the final scene: Albus Severus point-blank tells Harry that Scorpius is and will always be the most inoperable person in his life. It plays out almost like a coming-out announcement. It pretty much is confusing for the audience, since Albus still acknowledged his crush on Delphi (in the church scene) and Scorpius still asks out Rose.

"

"Inoperable?" Is that a typo?

[Fosse76]

Posted: 11/13/21 at 12:00am

TaffyDavenport said: "Inoperable?" Is that a typo?"

Yes it was. I've fixed it! Damn autocorrect!

[sorano916]

Posted: 11/13/21 at 12:21am

TaffyDavenport said: "Fosse76 said: "I'm sure others will go into more detail, but the basics are that what was Part 1 is now Act 1, and what was Part 2 is now Act 2.

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

All the flashback scenes were cut, so no kids in the cast. Several additional scenes were cut entirely: the old wizards home intro; the Scorpius and Delphi staircase conversation from part 1; and a scene between Draco and Scorpius in the dark wizard timeline from part 2. Also the scene where they find out that Scorpius and Albus jumped off the train was cut. Harry and Ginny now find out after Harry wakes from a nightmare.

Everything else was basically just cut lines. Some alternate lines were added here and there: Scorpius in the dark timeline has a different interaction with Craig and Polly when he finds out about Snape, and the intro to Snape is also shorter.

The biggest character development scene is in the final scene: Albus Severus point-blank tells Harry that Scorpius is and will always be the most inoperable person in his life. It plays out almost like a coming-out announcement. It pretty much is confusing for the audience, since Albus still acknowledged his crush on Delphi (in the church scene) and Scorpius still asks out Rose.

"

"Inoperable?" Is that a typo?"

Heh. That should be "important."

I also went tonight. I purposely didn't look at my Playbill (for the character/cast list) until after the show was over.

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

I really missed the Delphi-Scorpius scene and Draco-Scorpius scene as well as the one where Harry, Ginny, Hermione, and Ron are just chatting in the kitchen. Also the classroom scene was cut and the convo when Scorpius reveals he still had the Time-Turner was moved to the owlery so the dorm scene doesn't happen anymore.

The transitions of what would have been intermissions in the different parts are a little clunky. Transition from the three getting the time turner to when they go to the Forbidden Forest was strange (skips three original scenes ). How Harry, et. al finds out Albus & Scorpius had gone missing again was never explained. They just show up at Hermione's office. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I liked this version of the maze scene and they gave Ginny a few extra lines which stood out to me. They called Scorpius 'Scorpion Prince' instead of 'Scorpion King' in the dark AU.

I also couldn't help noticing Jenny Jules wearing black sneakers for Act 2 (don't know about Act 1). Wondered if something wenr wrong with her character shoes.

The new cast are good. I've seen James as Albus, Dave as Ron, Aaron as Draco, and Lauren as Delphi before. Brady was delightful, in my opinion. A little over the top but he was a good fodder to James' Albus. The ensemble doesn't quite stand out anymore as many of their filler scenes have been cut, sadly.

In my opinion, if you didn't see the two part version and never read its script, you wouldn't feel like you missed anything. They took the main plot points and drew the lines between the scenes & removed anything that didn't add to the plot. May have lost some character building, specifically Delphi, but you could follow what was happening. Would be interesting to see what might be put back/ changed before re-opening night.

[Scarlet Leigh]

Posted: 11/13/21 at 12:58am

Anyone that knows the original 2 part version that went tonight, were there any magic moments of note that were removed in the process of trimming it down?

[sorano916]

Posted: 11/13/21 at 1:08am

Scarlet Leigh said: "Anyone that knows the original 2 part version that went tonight, were there any magic moments of note that were removed in the process of trimming it down?"

For the most part, they kept any "magic" bit.

 

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A minor exception would be the church bench floating in the fight with Delphi. However, that kinda has been in & out of the show even before the pandemic.

 

Updated On: 11/13/21 at 01:08 AM

[VotePeron]

Posted: 11/13/21 at 1:29am

Scarlet Leigh said: "Anyone that knows the original 2 part version that went tonight, were there any magic moments of note that were removed in the process of trimming it down?"

This actually encapsulates my feelings on tonight very well - truly no illusions of note were cut. And I feel that was a mistake, because what they cut instead were necessary character building moments which tie the show together. John Tiffany always describes it as the show an epic “father/son drama,” but tonight felt more like an “oddly long frantic wizard adventure with characters you kind of know.”

Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a stunning spectacle and feat of theater. But the fact they had to rewrite the final Harry/Albus scene to compensate for the lack of a deep thematic arc between the characters is not the right choice imo. Some illusions (like the Trolley witch and the Harry/Draco duel) are far less valuable to me than the missing quips and extended convos between characters.

 

[Fosse76]

Posted: 11/13/21 at 2:13am

Scarlet Leigh said: "Anyone that knows the original 2 part version that went tonight, were there any magic moments of note that were removed in the process of trimming it down?"

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

After Albus and Scorpius jump off the Hogwarts Express, there is a scene in the home for old wizards in which there are some magic "gags." It's a fun scene, but not really important. I think most of the other magic remains. 

 

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 11/13/21 at 3:31am

The last time I saw this show was in 2018 so it's been a while, and I haven't read the script in between.  The only two scenes I noticed being missing were the retirement home hijinks and the flashback of Hagrid coming to meet Harry (and is Myrtle's scene shorter?), but admittedly the play for me is more about the stage effects than the story (though I did find myself a little teary at the end this time, which I don't think happened before).

I agree that the last conversation between Harry and Albus can be a bit confusing, like I understand what Albus is trying to say, but the way it's phrased is so strange that it feels a little thrown together at the last minute, so maybe it'll change during the course of previews.  

Otherwise, I thought the whole thing flowed pretty well.  Concessions were also in full swing, with an option to have them delivered to your seat.  There seemed to be a lot of people getting up out of their seats during the show in the balcony where I sat, and I wonder if it's because it's less of a "typical theater crowd".  It seemed like a lot of people's first times experiencing the show, but the crowd was generally very appreciative of the magic effects.  We also got a short speech from the director prior to the show.

[Chowd95]

Posted: 11/13/21 at 5:06am

Did they keep the effect of Ginny waking up in bed alone and Harry just appearing out of nowhere next to her?

Updated On: 11/13/21 at 05:06 AM

[angoradebs]

Posted: 11/13/21 at 7:35am

Does a certain character still walk down the center aisle, or has that been changed? Presumably, if it was cut it is due to Covid protocol, and in that case I wonder if it would get added back later.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/13/21 at 8:47am

How long is the show now?

[sorano916]

Posted: 11/13/21 at 9:14am

"Did they keep the effect of Ginny waking up in bed alone and Harry just appearing out of nowhere next to her?"

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

Well, it was always both Ginny & Harry appearing in a seemingly empty bed. But yes, it's still in. Instead of Hagrid opening up the blanket, it was three cloaked ensemble members.

"Does a certain character still walk down the center aisle, or has that been changed? Presumably, if it was cut it is due to Covid protocol, and in that case I wonder if it would get added back later."

Still in the show. Pre-show & during intermission, there were ushers were walking around with a "Mask On" sign as reminders. 

"How long is the show now?"

Started roughly around 7pm and ended around 10:45pm so about 3 hours and 45 minutes with intermission. Will probably be tightened up to 3:30, though.

Updated On: 11/13/21 at 09:14 AM

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 11/13/21 at 10:02am

Is it a standard intermission? Over 3 1/2 hours seems like a stretch, hopefully they give ample time in between acts.

[VotePeron]

Posted: 11/13/21 at 11:18am

It was their standard 20 min intermission, as advertised. Each act was exactly 95-100 mins. I can see them shaving off a few minutes, but I am doubtful they will get it down to 3:30 exactly unless they make more cuts.

[Logan28]

Posted: 11/13/21 at 2:01pm

I saw Harry Potter last night too and there was one scene I was positive they would have kept and it was completely removed.

 

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In the original two part play, after Harry watches his parents die, a babies crib in flames appears in the middle of the stage with a crying baby Harry Potter in. Hagrid takes the baby out and carries him away. I always thought this moment was so perfect to finish this scene. Now it just cuts straight back to Hogwarts and takes a lot of the emotion out of that final poignant scene.

I also think that audience would have ate up seeing Hagrid even if it was just for a brief moment at the end. 

 

[kade.ivy]

Posted: 11/13/21 at 2:37pm

Logan28 said: "I saw Harry Potter last night too and there was one scene I was positive they would have kept and it was completely removed.

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

In the original two part play, after Harry watches his parents die, a babies crib in flames appears in the middle of the stage with a crying baby Harry Potter in. Hagrid takes the baby out and carries him away. I always thought this moment was so perfect to finish this scene. Now it just cuts straight back to Hogwarts and takes a lot of the emotion out of that final poignant scene.

I also think that audience would have ate up seeing Hagrid even if it was just for a brief moment at the end.

"

Hate to see this was cut! It was one of my favorite parts of the show…

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 11/13/21 at 2:37pm

I hope they end up publishing this version of the script as well.

[willep]

Posted: 11/14/21 at 7:16am

kade.ivy said: "Logan28 said: "I saw Harry Potter last night too and there was one scene I was positive they would have kept and it was completely removed.

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

In the original two part play, after Harry watches his parents die, a babies crib in flames appears in the middle of the stage with a crying baby Harry Potter in. Hagrid takes the baby out and carries him away. I always thought this moment was so perfect to finish this scene. Now it just cuts straight back to Hogwarts and takes a lot of the emotion out of that final poignant scene.

I also think that audience would have ate up seeing Hagrid even if it was just for a brief moment at the end.

"

Hate to see this was cut! It was one of my favorite parts of the show…"

 

Whaaaat! I agree, this was one of my favorite moments, I can’t believe they cut that! I’m very much losing interest in seeing this version of the show.