#anyway. as i was editing this i realised it kinda sounds like a silly argument between phum and peem kgjkdfjgfkdjgl

[jojotichakorn]

ARCHER'S PHUMPEEM PLAYLIST

17. AND IF YOU DIDN'T EXIST BY JOE DASSIN

[THE REST OF THE PLAYLIST]

[ohscorbus]

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Sunday 16th April, 2017.

This show was the first time I've ever seen it from somewhere other than the dress circle. Today I was up, up, up in the balcony! It was an... experience. As someone who's afraid of heights, I pretty much spent the whole of Act One convinced I was going to vomit on the guy in front of me. Luckily I was crying too much in Part Two to pay attention to how far I could potentially fall to my death :’)

Since I only made a handful of notes at the theatre, this 'recap' (I use that term loosely) isn't going to be as detailed or anywhere near as organised as my last one. It really is a jumbled mess of ramblings this time, sorry!

Draco Malfoy (Alex Price)

He was stood behind a chair with his arms stretched out and resting on top of the back of it with his head bowed down as he listened to Ron ramble on (Act 3, Scene 17). He was so clearly losing his patience and trying not to snap. But then Ron called his son ‘Scrupulous’ instead of ‘Scorpius’ (I really hope this line makes it into the final edition of the script!) and he shot up and pointed at Ron angrily as he glared at Harry as if to say, ‘did you hear that?! do something before I do’. He always does something along these lines and it’s hilarious. Bless Alex Price. I also love the fact Harry rarely responds to Draco which seems to wind him up even more.

Draco walking in, realising Harry was crying, and then taking a step or two back before coming to a stop is also A+ (Act 4, Scene 4). He stood there for a second and then spoke once he'd thought of something to say. I can imagine him internally like 'small talk small talk come on Draco, think of something, say anything!'

His ‘mwah ha ha ha’ was slower today. More deadpan than silly like the last one I heard (Act 4, Scene 4). Still brilliant though.

This is my new favourite thing:

Draco: “I had-”

Ginny: "Crabbe and Goyle"

Draco: *turns around to her and instantly says* "Yes"

One second later...

Draco: *turns back around and drops his head into his hands* "Ughhhhh" (Act 2, Scene 15)

Draco grabbed Scorpius by the scruff of his neck and pushed/dragged him off stage after they emerged from the lake. I’ve seen this a few times but it always makes me giggle. Or cry, when I think about how Harry always tries to hug Albus here but gets pushed off and glared at. It makes seeing them all finally connect in the later scenes even more heartwarming (Act 3, Scene 9).

There were honestly moments where I zoned out because I was looking at his sparkly buttons because they were still so distracting all the way up in the balcony. It’s becoming a problem.

There weren’t any father-son hair ruffles today. Sad times.

But talking of hair, they do these transition scenes where they move in slow motion and during the one that takes place in the church, Scorpius was tucking his hair back and Draco was smoothing his own down. Watching them both fiddle with their hair in slow motion at the same time had me giggling. It wasn’t funny, I’m just in too deep at this point.

Scorpius Malfoy (James Le Lacheur)

This was the second time I’ve seen James as Scorpius and I’m glad I got the opportunity! I don’t want to write a full comparative piece because both James and Anthony are wonderful in their own rights. But for me, the main difference between those two is Anthony radiates energy, whereas James is pure emotion. Scorpius had me in tears in this performance more than he ever has before ♥︎

I know both @torestoreamends and @the-eighth-story have already mentioned this but let’s talk about it again! Scorpius crouched down and kinda squished Albus's face with both his hands as he shouted "heeelp heeeelp heeeelp". He was so close to his face and looking right in his eyes. While the audience were laughing away, I too had my hands on my face and was internally screaming 'heeeeelp'.

When Craig bumped into Scorpius in the Voldemort AU, he fell to the ground on his knees and Scorpius was again far too kind in reassuring him and helping him back up on his feet. I love that about Scorpius. There's so much at stake if he fails to convince people he's the Scorpion King yet he repeatedly trips up (surprisingly I don’t mean literally) at almost every turn because he isn’t that person.

Albus Potter (Sam Clemmett)

Since I was waaay up high, I could see Sam waiting just underneath the surface of the water before he ‘emerges’ from the lake. On one hand, it was kinda funny. But then on the other it also looked like he'd drowned which is significantly less funny. It was interesting to see some of the 'secrets'/magic of the show though. Watching everyone run inside the maze was another highlight. One of the perks of sitting in the balcony!

Anyway, once he had surfaced, it wasn't just Scorpius who was thrilled to see him back. The audience was too. Everyone cheered and clapped and I was beaming like, yes! Clap him! He's aliiiiiive *Scorpius wiggle* I've never heard the audience react so happily to his return (usually they’re laughing at Scorpius’s reaction) that they've had to pause to let the excitement die down a bit before continuing so they could be heard. I wish everyone was that excited about Albus all the time... (Act 3, Scene 9)

(This is going to be so random and someone has probably pointed this out before but just go with it.) So you know how Sam believes Albus got stuck with hand-me-downs and that's why he's uncomfortable in his clothes a lot? Well I was thinking about his bed. His quilt on his bed at home is patchwork... (HQ picture here!)

...so what if even his bedding is technically secondhand too? He looks so uncomfortable in his bedroom in this scene. I know that's down to Harry's presence and the fact he's leaving for Hogwarts again the next day but what if it's more than just that? I couldn’t help but notice (although Albus does literally point it out to Harry) that the Slytherin bedding in his dorm is one solid colour.... (HQ picture here!)

...it isn't made up of a bunch of different pieces of other people's fabric. It's 100% green and all his. Quite early on he's adamant he belongs there (“Potter’s don’t belong in Slytherin” “This one does”), despite his dislike of Hogwarts itself. I like the idea of him finding himself in Slytherin. That over time it stops being the thing that makes him different, and becomes something that's his.

Delphi gets creepier and more violent every time I see it. She gets so close to Albus and really throws him around these days. My poor boy.

The last scene! That was the most sincere I've heard Jamie deliver those lines to Albus. The ones about how he knows what's in his heart. I mean, he's always so sincere but it felt so extra today. Before that line there was a reeeeally long pause where neither of them said anything. They just stood and looked at each other as Harry fussed with anything and everything he could on Albus and Albus, for the first time, let him. He straightened his hoodie, the hood, his tie, held his face, stroked his hair, all a couple of times over too. It was like he needed to touch, to physically reach out and show his love while he searched for the right words to tell him verbally. There was so much affection and care in his actions. Harry Potter loves his son. That line in Act 1, Scene 7 is said in anger and frustration. It’s not meant in the slightest. I know that's made abundantly clear to us throughout the show but the amount of love he poured into this moment said it all ♥︎ (Act 4, Scene 15)

Ok I’m all out of notes now but a few more things. So McGonagall says, "you can forget ever visiting Hogsmeade again" (Act 3, Scene 10). AGAIN. So Albus caved and got another permission slip? Or did Harry or Ginny owl one straight to McGonagall? What did they do there??? Oh. *Albus voice* Easy question, easy answer. Honeydukes.

Also, you can't tell me with how much James likes to annoy Albus, that he didn't at some point chase Albus round the house trying to get him with his comb that turns hair pink. Or he didn't sneak up behind him and give him one random streak of pink hair at least once. Maybe not that night since it's obvious the whole house heard there argument and I don't believe he's that cruel. But at some point...

Scorbus-y Things (because my url demands it)

Can we talk about how they have matching pajamas? That they were both wearing socks in bed? That Albus also wears a jumper to bed too??? I wonder if it's a comfort thing for Albus or a warmth thing... But yeah, Anthony's Scorpius doesn't wear socks in that scene (Act 3, Scene 14), or at least the last few times he hasn't because I've specifically written notes on him playing with his toes... god that sounds weird. What has this show done to me?

I live for Scorpius waking Albus up. Today he stood behind Albus's bed and bent down over the headboard. He held onto it as he jumped off the ground, leaning even further down towards Albus as he shouted, "ALBUS!" Honestly, one day Scorpius is going to lean a little too far down as Albus sits up a little too fast and they're going to head butt each other (Act 3, Scene 14).

Scorpius grabbed him by the wrist and put his other arm around his back as he pulled Albus back from running after his grandparents in Godric’s Hollow. Then when they both ran off stage afterwards, he ran off ahead of Albus and was pulling him by his wrist again. I love this wrist holding thing they do. It’s so sweet. (Act 4, Scene 3)

Again, this has been mentioned before but Scorpius did the back pats (back drumming?) thing during the first two hugs. It’s so Scorpius, I love it.

Aaaaand everything else:

Then there was stage door... *sigh* I still haven't been able to talk to Sam like a normal person. I think by this point he must think all I can say are hello’s that are so squeaky they put Scorpius to shame. I’ve now admitted defeat. He’s getting a letter.

JAMIE

PARKER

STILL. NOT. OVER. IT.

Although my only photo is so out of focus. I mean, what even is this?!

Also Amber Riley?!!?!!?! I made awkward eye contact with her through the restaurant windows and then had a... minor fangirl meltdown because AMBER RILEY. We saw so many Olivier winners in one day :')

So yeah, between that and Operation Easter Bunnies, I’d say we had a rather successful day. *Raises glass* here’s to many more!