HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD Previews- Page 9

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 3/25/18 at 3:33pm

Jimmy clearly knows very little about the power of Harry Potter’s fan base.

[jpbran]

Posted: 3/25/18 at 3:38pm

What Effed said... I -- a huge HP fan -- even thought the Universal theme park was a shaky idea, and wouldn't have much staying power. And they're now planning, what, the third expansion?  

[SarahNYC2]

Posted: 3/25/18 at 6:56pm

I did not like it at all. Now I am not a Harry Potter fan but I know the basic story. I am an avid fan of Broadway shows. So I wanted to see it. I was bored. It didn't help that I was FREEZING to the point I had to where gloves, my coat and my hat.

I only paid 40 per show so at least I didn't break the bank. I just cannot understand what all the raves are about.

[JustAnotherNewYorker]

Posted: 3/25/18 at 7:53pm

VotePeron said: "... the only seats I can imagine being a little unfortunate are the rear orchestra, as the overhang of the new extended mezzanine is quite severe."

Can anyone whose sat in the rear orchestra opine on how bad it is? Managed to get some cheap tickets and wondering whether we'll miss anything...

[theatregoer3]

Posted: 3/26/18 at 9:59am

Rear orchestra will be fine. I walked in from the rear orchestra and noticed right away how good the signtlines were. The very top of the proscenium may be out of sight, but nothing happens there anyway.

[GregHut]

Posted: 3/26/18 at 10:53am

SarahNYC2 said: "I did not like it at all. Now I am not a Harry Potter fan but I know the basic story. I am an avid fan of Broadway shows. So I wanted to see it. I was bored. It didn't help that I was FREEZING to the point I had to where gloves, my coat and my hat.

I only paid 40 per show so at least I didn't break the bank. I just cannot understand what all the raves are about."

I know I shouldn't get so much delight out of your misery, but I cant help but chuckle at the mental image I have of you sitting in the theatre, noticeably miserable and grumbling to yourself about how bored you are.  Meanwhile, the 1500 other theatre goers surrounding you are sh**ting rainbows they're so overjoyed by just being there.  Must've been an interesting day for you.

[Megsamegatron]

Posted: 3/26/18 at 3:11pm

Jimmyb1969 said: " I’m surprised they didnt sell popcorn."

 

They did sell popcorn... 

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 3/29/18 at 12:08am

Saw part 1 last night and part 2 tonight. The Lyric renovation is spectacular, from the minute you enter to the moment you take your seat. We sat in the second to last row of the balcony slightly off center and the view is perfection.

I will say I am very glad to have seen this. The production is a technical marvel and features some truly stunning stage craft. However, each progressive act has diminishing returns. Act one is one big WOW after another, whetting the appetite for more. Then act two is somewhat less satisfying (that clunky kitchen fight between Draco and Harry - oy!), but features enough twists to satisfy what’s missing in terms of ingenuity.

Then... part 2 happens and it felt like all the air was let out. Gone are the remarkably well-designed sleight of hand tricks in favor of heavy-handed plot, spewing flames, and wire flight galore; all things we see in less imaginative spectacles than the experience part 1 sets up Cursed Child to be. (Also, rarely has there been a worse character written for the stage than Delphi Diggory.)

The problem, for me, is that the creators seem to have focused too heavily on giving the Potter fandom “what they want,” which is borrowed time with the characters they know and love. And I understand that completely. But then why introduce two rich, complicated characters like Scorpius and Albus, only to sideline them at every turn in order to highlight the inner life of Harry, one of the play’s least interesting characters? This results in so many missed opportunities for something more surprising or interesting to develop, separate from the main characters from the books.

Again, I’m glad I saw it. But I can’t help but feel that John Tiffany saw how plot heavy and clunky the script was and frontloaded all the “gosh wow” into the first half just to make sure people returned for part 2. Clearly, many enjoyed the whole experience, but I feel less happy the more I think about the progression of the two evenings.

Updated On: 3/29/18 at 12:08 AM

[Conif]

Posted: 3/29/18 at 10:41am

I saw it the second time these past few days. In my opinion it benefits from a second viewing as Part 2 is a whole play in itself and some of the powerful relationship changes occur after intermission. I was very moved this time by lines people said after intermission Part 2 that I barely even remember from last time and could not give my attention as I was already so filled from Part 1 and the beginning of Part 2.

I was able also to give more attention to the shifts in Harry's emotions and in Hermione's change in Part 2 from her personalities in the first Part. Delphi is not really explored until the end so she loses from our flagging attention. She deserves more thoughtful attention which I was only able to start giving in my second viewing.

I am now going to read the script again and also hear some of the audio that is floating out there on the internet (there was an audio of the script that was made for visually impaired I think).

Perhaps my imagination but I thought the actors were getting better as well. The choreography is exquisite but I think in the first half might benefit from more practice; some of the dancing (with the wands?), they seemed off sequence a bit. Part two looked great.

The authors and JK were very generous as they wanted to tell the story in the time it needed which is way more than 2 hours. As a result, it really benefits from repeated viewings. Perhaps we will get a filmed version at some point. 

edit: also cool to see was the reaction of the person next to me who cried in several parts. The heroic acts by some group members to sacrifice themselves after intermission; the tragic scene with Harry's parents (trying to be vague here so as not to give away spoilers). The things that reached her were different than what reached me. What i think is happening is that the play is rich enough to draw people in who have had many different life experiences and so things reach them in different ways.

edit 2: pro-tip to balcony viewers: I brought a binocular which helped me see facial expressions during the scenes where only 2 characters were on the stage, it was especially useful.

Also not to comment too much on the post above but my thoughts are that the play is trying to show how people pass on their rough experiences to their children (and other people in their lives) as this is all people know. And perhaps when we get jolted out of our usual ways of being by life events, then there is the possibility of change. Lots of love and compassion and a positive message for our times.

 

 

Updated On: 3/29/18 at 10:41 AM

[JennH]

Posted: 3/29/18 at 2:13pm

 

Updated On: 4/2/18 at 02:13 PM

[Serendipiteedee]

Posted: 3/29/18 at 3:05pm

I love how we all have our own personal opinions and no one fan speaks for everyone. It’s great. I personally love the big plot twist and the character it revolves around, especially how it illuminates Harry’s journey in the play. And I have so many friends who feel the same. Then there are those who feel otherwise. I love that there’s so much diversity of thought and opinion and that we don’t all agree about any one aspect.

FYI- There are fan made compilation soundtracks on Spotify for anyone interested.

[sorano916]

Posted: 3/29/18 at 3:09pm

JennH said: " I enjoyed all the cast in general, however I did take issue with Scorpio almost playing this potentially juicy character as a comic sidekick nor did I feel like he wasn't using his natural speaking voice and that's all I wanted."

Anthony's Northern Irish so his natural accent wouldn't have worked either. That being said, he had described why he picked that way of speaking in this article:

It has stood him in good stead for Scorpius, whose pinched, higher-pitched tones are the result of some careful research. “I played about with the voice a lot. I remember seeing this very posh English boy on the Tube with his mother. I was fascinated, so I moved and sat near him so I could listen. And I watched documentaries about young boys at Eton and other posh, private schools, and became familiar with that tone, the resonance, the way they inflect.”

I've seen two others on for Scorpius and they don't do the same type of accent... I prefer Anthony's take.

And although he has comic moments (as a foil to Albus' seriousness), I wouldn't say he becomes a comic sidekick, especially in the library scene and the first part of Part 2.

[Serendipiteedee]

Posted: 3/29/18 at 3:12pm

sorano916 said: "JennH said: "I enjoyed all the cast in general, however I did take issue with Scorpio almost playing this potentially juicy character as a comic sidekick nor did I feel like he wasn't using his natural speaking voice and that's all I wanted."

Anthony's Northern Irish so his natural accent wouldn't have workedeither. That being said, he had described why he picked that way of speaking in this article:

It has stood him in good stead for Scorpius, whose pinched, higher-pitched tones are the result of some careful research. “I played about with the voice a lot. I remember seeing this very posh English boy on the Tube with his mother. I was fascinated, so I moved and sat near him so I could listen. And I watched documentaries about young boys at Eton and other posh, private schools, and became familiar with that tone, the resonance, the way they inflect.”

I've seen two others on forScorpius and they don't do the same type of accent... I prefer Anthony's take.

And although he has comic moments (as a foil to Albus' seriousness), I wouldn't say he becomes a comic sidekick, especially in the library scene and the first part of Part 2."

Anthony is amazing. He brings so much depth and complexity to the role. He absolutely deserved his Olivier.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 3/29/18 at 3:29pm

Huh. I didn’t think a show with such positive word of mouth and an advance that would make any producer set for life would need to hire message board plants. And yet, here we are.

[Serendipiteedee]

Posted: 3/29/18 at 3:42pm

ColorTheHours048 said: "Huh. I didn’t think a show with such positive word of mouth and an advance that would make any producer set for life would need to hire message board plants. And yet, here we are."

Do you always have that reaction when people don’t agree with you opinions word for word? I’m not a plant, hon. I’m an obsessive fan. I wish I got paid for this, but I only do it for love.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 3/29/18 at 3:54pm

PThespian said: "ColorTheHours048 said: "Huh. I didn’t think a show with such positive word of mouth and an advance that would make any producer set for life would need to hire message board plants. And yet, here we are."

What?!?"

Check their joined dates.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 3/29/18 at 4:01pm

Serendipiteedee said: "Do you always have that reaction when people don’t agree with you opinions word for word? I’m not a plant, hon. I’m an obsessive fan. I wish I got paid for this, but I only do it for love."

Um... no? But it's mighty suspicious that two "obsessive fans" who joined the boards the day of the first previews happen to post two long-winded, intricately detailed reviews directly after my not bad, but less than enthusiastic review and even directly addressing - and attempting to negate - some of my points.

Anyway, my personal conspiracy theories aside, I liked part 1 a great deal and will think of it fondly for a long time. It's a rare feat of great storytelling mixed with great spectacle. Part 2, not so crazy about.

 

[Conif]

Posted: 3/29/18 at 4:33pm

Relax. I’ve been lurking on and off since Hamilton but only joined once I saw the first preview, initially to answer questions about seats.

Yes the show doesn’t need plants.

[GregHut]

Posted: 3/29/18 at 5:22pm

ColorTheHours048 said: "Huh. I didn’t think a show with such positive word of mouth and an advance that would make any producer set for life would need to hire message board plants. And yet, here we are."

You really can't blame them.  No one has ever heard of this Harry Potter character before now.  It's not like there's a massive worldwide fanbase that's been steadily growing for the past 20 years or anything. /s  

Honestly, I'm surprised there aren't more newly signed up fanatics posting on here.  I made an acct here because I had many questions about the CC ticket buying process.  I assume I wasn't alone considering how frustrating/confusing the process could be. 

 

[MarilynMonroeSmash]

Posted: 3/30/18 at 5:22pm

Does anyone know where the stage door is?

[Conif]

Posted: 3/30/18 at 5:24pm

43rd st to right of entrance.

[musikman]

Posted: 3/31/18 at 9:23am

Caught this Thursday and Friday night. While I agree that the play/script itself is mostly average, this has to be one of the most spectacular things I’ve ever seen. I don’t want to delve any deeper or talk about anything as to spoil any fun (hello, spoiler-filled posts above), but it really has a wonderful emotional journey that is living in this unique thetrical experience.

Also, as has been stated already, the theatre renovation is STUNNING.

[HunterK]

Posted: 3/31/18 at 10:41pm

Hi All!

Not sure if this has been asked yet, but I'll give it a go. 

Does anyone have info, suggestions or websites on where I can go to be ready for this show? I have seen all movies and read the books, but that was 3-4 years ago. I am seeing the show next week and just want to be ready to understand it all and not sit there confused (more than my regular confused look)? I just don't have to time to re-read to re-watch everything. Any suggestions would be so appreciated!

 

THANK YOU! 

[dearalanaaaa]

Posted: 3/31/18 at 10:47pm

HunterK said: "Hi All!

Not sure if this has been asked yet, but I'll give it a go.

Does anyone have info, suggestionsor websites on where I can go to be ready for this show? I have seen all movies and read the books, but that was 3-4 years ago. I am seeing the show next week and just want to be ready to understand it all and not sit there confused (more than my regular confused look)? I just don't have to time to re-read to re-watch everything. Any suggestions would be so appreciated!



THANK YOU!"

In the playbill there is a quick rehash of the whole plot up until when the show takes place. Just read that, I hadn't read the books in years and I understood everything after reading it!

[LesWickedly]

Posted: 3/31/18 at 10:48pm

If you can’t rewatch all the films, I’d recommended at least watching Goblet of Fire and both parts of Deathly Hallows. If you don’t have time for much, I believe I’ve seen that the Playbill has information on the whole series to sort of recap for you.