#please excuse typos - it's proofreading or sleep and it's 1am so...

[ohscorbus]

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Wednesday 22nd May, 2019 [Pt. 1]

First impressions are important and if this cast means to go on as they’ve started then we’re all in for a treat! There’s honestly so much to write about and changes we need to discuss but I’m on a time limit so... let’s do this!

ACT ONE, SCENE FOUR: TRANSITION SCENE

I knew the rose was coming over from Broadway so I wasn’t surprised when Scorpius pulled it out and tried to give it to Rose on the train. I love how pleased Scorpius is with himself. A rose for Rose! Plus I know how much Jonathan really wanted it last year so I’m glad to see he’s finally succeeded. 

The instant change between the concentration on Albus’s face as he stared down the crumpled letter in his hand to the look of pure shock and overwhelming happiness as he successfully vanished it melted me. I love that he was genuinely pleased with himself, that he was excited to have gotten it right. It also highlighted the difference between him and Joe’s Albus. Joe’s Albus was quite obviously depressed. He struggled and he expected himself to. He barely trusted himself, let alone these pockets of happiness. That line, “in every shining moment of happiness is that drop of poison: the knowledge that pain will come again”, sums him up perfectly to me. Whereas Dominic has no problem finding and embracing joy in his life. He has struggles, but he’s too headstrong to deny himself.

So we have a new wand dance! There are elements of the last one in it so it’s not entirely new, but this one is without a doubt visually more pleasing. More fire, more dancing. It definitely looks more ‘magically’ and impressive. Although the line at the end after Albus’s wand fails to produce fire and instead shoots out a red/pink powder really doesn’t work for me. I know the ensemble do add lines here so I’m not sure if that’s from them or whether it’s an actual officially added line, but “even his wand wants to be in Gryffindor” just didn’t seem right. I get that it’s referring to the fact that everyone expected him to be a Gryffindor and that it’s implying even his wand thinks he’s wrong, but Albus has literally just stated very plainly that he belongs in Slytherin. Or maybe that’s the point? But like I said, I don’t know if that line is here to stay so I’ll look back at it next time.

ACT ONE, SCENE SEVEN: THE BLANKET SCENE

My favourite sibling interaction was with Lily. When she came in asking about her potions book, Albus instantly threw his hands up in surrender. He is innocent of this particular crime apparently. I love it though because it implies the Potter siblings are like every other family. Teasing and constantly ‘borrowing’ each other’s things.

If I hadn’t already been completely won over by Dominic already, he would have done it in this scene. Jamie’s Harry is quick to shout and this Albus isn’t afraid to give it right back. The two of them work brilliantly together in that sense. It felt like an argument, not an attack or retaliation. 

I also love the fact that Albus fully opens the blanket and holds it up between him and Harry so it acts like a barrier. Which is exactly what it is in a way. Harry’s history keeps getting in the way their relationship and by holding it between them like that it’s almost like he’s telling him so. Plus it’s interesting because Albus’s message is technically already written on the blanket at this point. It’s still invisible but we know it’s there. Watching him look at this clean blanket and not know yet that his future has already been literally written out and intertwined with Harry’s past was great.

Dominic’s Albus also does this thing a lot where he holds his hands out with his arms open wide in a ‘see?!’ kind of gesture. (If that makes sense? I’m terrible at descriptions.) It’s low key dramatic and I love it because I do it all the time haha. It’s like pointing out your injustice in a point proven to the universe kind of way. One of my favourite times he did that was when the love potion spilled on the blanket. He just stopped and looked at it and then held his arms out and looked pointedly at his dad and didn’t say a word. He didn’t need to, his action said it all. Of course this happened to him.

Also! New hoodie! It’s still the same Slytherin shade of green, but this one doesn’t have the white strings or zip. They’re both green now. I shall be shopping...

ACT ONE, SCENE THIRTEEN: ST. OSWALD’S

You know how the script says St. Oswald’s is chaos? Well now it actually is. They went full Broadway on us. I’m indifferent to it? On one hand I love how wild it is. I didn’t know where to look. It was utter madness everywhere which is cool, and totally what I’d expect from a wizarding retirement home. My only issue with it is the guy who works there. So before it’s him who the older wizards and witches gang up on. Now it’s him who torments the residents. Visually it’s fun and exciting, but there’s an underlining abuse of power and the vulnerable vibe there that makes me feel a little uncomfortable. I mean, they give as good as they can get and ‘win’ in the end but still... This happens enough in real life for this to make me feel a little uneasy. But on a lighter note, the biscuit palace is epic and I demand they start selling them at the bar.

ACT TWO, SCENE ONE: HARRY’S PRIVET DRIVE NIGHTMARE

There was some really small changes to this scene but I love them. Firstly, there was an extra Voldemort hand so at one point during his nightmare, little Harry’s head was surrounded by these skeletal hands and visually it was so fantastic. Harry appears trapped and it’s all focused on his head. Which is exactly where he always was and still is.

Also! A weird observation, but they have finally added an actual wet patch to his PJ bottoms so it looks like he’s literally wet himself. I’m surprised it took them so long.

ACT TWO, SCENE THREE: MCGONAGALL’S OFFICE

The new McGonagall clicked with me straight away. She’s fantastic and has this natural sort of humour to her that seems to underline everything and I love that. Especially because while you may laugh at her tone in some of these lines, she still has this aura about her that demands your utmost respect and she gets it. But then there’s this lot. I mean, she’s dealt with these as kids and now here they are again. Her tone is totally understandable. I love her. Like, you know when Ron runs in with his napkin still tucked into his jumper after accidentally flooing into the kitchens? Well no one said or did anything about it so at the very end of the scene, McGonagall reached over and pulled it off him and while she said nothing, her face said everything. They may be adults but they’re still her kids.

ACT TWO, SCENE FOUR: PRACTISING WITH DELPHI

This Albus is a little ball of determination and it’s never more obvious than it was in this scene. The pause before each Expelliarmus was so long I actually started to get concerned Dom was nervous or struggling with the wand trick. But no. One look at his face and you’ll see nothing but concentration. You just know he’s giving himself the most epic pep talk in his head as you can see the physical change in his stance once he’s mentally ready. I’m here for that.

ACT TWO, SCENE SIX: HOGWARTS THROUGH THE TREES

I just wanted to enjoy this moment so I didn’t make many mental notes. But I will say Albus’s face when Scorpius says he wanted someone like Harry Potter was actually the most tragic thing. While it obviously wasn’t expected, he also wasn’t surprised. Of course he wants a Harry Potter. Everyone does. He’s just Albus. How could he ever live up to that? It made him a little sad, and me, a lot sad. His face when Scorpius clarified he was better though was worth it all.

ACT TWO, SCENE SEVEN: NEW TIMELINE

Bless Dominic for actually collapsing in pain from his arm. I’ve missed an Albus doing this! Plus it really scares the adults (and Scorpius) and as horrible as that is, their reactions are always great to watch.

ACT TWO, SCENE EIGHT: HOSPITAL WING

We finally have an Albus and a Harry who both eat the chocolate again! I love it for many reasons but particularly with this Albus as it almost confirms what I said about him accepting happiness. Will it fix everything? No. But it may help in this moment so he’ll take it. It’s also interesting to see him happily take Harry’s advice just to then reject it later on in the conversation. He’s not deliberately difficult or stubborn or always against his dad just because he can. This one just stands his ground, without hesitation, whenever he disagrees with something. There’s a point to it. A reason. It’s so very Albus-y.

ACT TWO, SCENE NINE: HOGWARTS STAIRCASE

That very last ‘okay’ from Albus after he cuts ties with Scorpius on the staircase under Harry’s watch was most excellent. So instead of saying it to Scorpius, he turned to face Harry and blatantly said it to him in the most bitter and aggressive tone. I loooove when an Albus does this. It’s just so Albus, this one in particular too. Because he’d never say that to Scorpius because this is not okay. But this is Harry’s fault so Harry needs to know. He needs to see the consequences of breaking these two. They’re both hurt and confused and lost. Albus would absolutely throw that in Harry’s face.

ACT TWO, SCENE SIXTEEN: THE LIBRARY SCENE

So, the library scene. This is what got me really excited about the next years worth of Jonathan and Dominic shows because as focused as I was on Albus last night, I honestly couldn’t take my eyes off Scorpius here. Dominic’s Albus is small but powerful, and that seems to have brought out a little more focused anger in Jon. Like I said before, I want him to explode after years of imploding. But his Scorpius’s usual stammer and frustration always seems to stop him from fully letting go. But last night I really felt that pure, unfiltered anger and I could not have been happier. If Albus raised his voice then Scorpius didn’t hesitate to do it back. He will have his voice heard.

Albus making a little vomiting noise and face after he said James used the date he got his first broom as his trunk combination was golden. I love Albus judging his own brother. You have to really, as a sibling. It’s part of our DNA. It also lighten the mood of this scene for a second which I think was Albus’s way of letting Scorpius know they’re still friends. It was really sweet. It was like he just wanted to make him smile which, given that Scorpius was crying, is totally understandable. It was a really touching moment and said so much about Albus.

The hug is exactly what we wanted with this height difference. It’s glorious. So Albus grabbed him and then rested his cheek below Scorpius’s shoulder, all tucked in and quite happily settled into this hug. Sweet, right? Well poor Scorpius was left with both of his arms over the top of Albus’s shoulders. He looked like a puppet the way he sort of just dangled over him. Arms out and awkward. It was everything.

After he’d said he was saving that as a ‘sparkly surprise’, Albus made these firework noises and gestures up in the air with his hands. Scorpius’s ‘mildly confused but excited to find out’ reaction was perfect, as is Albus’s energy and continued enjoyment of making Scorpius smile and knowing exactly how to do it.

ACT TWO, SCENE TWENTY: SWIMMING UNDER THE LAKE

So I guess to give the appearance of these boys being underwater they’ve decided to make their hair all big and messy, like it would be if they were actually under the water. But honestly, it just looks like Scorpius has stuck his finger in a live plug socket. Or he’s been attacked by a thousand balloons. (I wouldn’t be surprised by either scenario if I’m honest.) Albus’s hair isn’t as noticeable given the fact it’s dark but his is just the same. I get what they were going for, but hair doesn’t stand up on end perfectly like that in water. So it just looks like it’s really bad static. Surely a well placed fan would do the trick? Also, I was left feeling bad for poor Dominic having to brush that out afterwards. It was wild.

I can’t give everyone else the praise they truly deserve because otherwise I’ll be writing forever, but just quickly: 

Ryan as James Potter is already A+ for his ‘daaaaad’ alone. Plus on stage he and Dominic look like brothers.

Rayxia is brilliant as I remembered. I’m so glad she’s back.

Michelle makes for a familiar and friendly but very ‘know it all’ kind of Hermione. Oh and I love her friendship with Ginny!

The Slytherin boys in the ensemble in the first task had a lot to live up to and didn’t disappoint. I’m already a fan.

Lucy as Moaning Myrtle was also familiar but fresh and she had the audience laughing.

I love Madeleine as Delphi. She’s friendly and dorky and by the end of her first scene I wanted to be friends with her too. Her reveal is going to be really interesting.

My main note on the new Polly was ‘plastic’. She’s that perfect, posh, pretty, popular blonde girl everyone had to deal with at school. You’ll either instantly dislike her or want to be her. She’s going to be fun.

Aaaaand to summarise Dominic... he’s lovely. He’s the most precious, sparkly eyed, baby faced, awkward, and determined Albus we’ve ever had and none of you are ready for him. He knows what he wants and he’ll go for it because he’s young enough to believe he knows best. He’s the most fourteen year old Albus we’ve had in that sense. He’s sweet and caring and there’s an innocent kind of joy to him but how quick that anger surfaces tells us all is not okay. The only difference is this one refuses to drown in it. What he lacks in maturity he makes up for in spirit and heart. It makes for a good year ahead!

[The part two recap is coming Friday and I’m setting myself that deadline because I’m actually seeing it again on Saturday... *whispers* I just love them all already, okay?]