Harry Potter And The Cursed Child – Palace Theatre – 09.04.2017

Well…I remember laughing at my best friend when she got ticket for this show in October 2015. I remember thinking “Seriously?”, like it would be totally out of sorts to get tickets for something one and a half year in advance.
Funny, that, as nowadays, each and every single show until May 2017 is completely sold out and the next batch of tickets is being released in 2 weeks for three more months (May 2018 – July 2018). And ever since I booked tickets for “Hamilton”, I now know NOT to laugh about booking ages in advance. Especially after I’ve seen this show last weekend.

But let me start.

I’ve never been a huge Potter-Fan. Sure, I read the books, and I thoroughly enjoyed them, and I also still think that Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson & Rupert Grint were the perfect choice for Harry, Hermione & Ron. But somehow, the movies never gripped me as tight as the books; I remember sitting through the last 200 pages of “Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows”, bawling my eyes out over the brilliance with what those last few pages have been written, with how much suspense and emotion they were put down to paper…and then sitting halfway through the “Deathly Hallows Part 2” movie, thinking: “What a load of crap, that end. Too rushed. Too very different from the heartbreaking suspense in the book. Did they even read it?” From that moment it was clear that I would never be a, as you call them, “Potterhead”.

But the play, it intrigued me, if only for the fact that information about it before it opened was scarce, and even when the previews started, it was all kept totally secret, people not being allowed to bring their phones or to say anything about it at all. It’s like being something forbidden, something you need to wait really long for to really deserve it. It seemed like the best-kept secret in the West End, and all this time, until last sunday, I didn’t really hear anything about it that could give something away and somewhat ruin my experience when I finally got to see both parts, thanks to my sister’s friend giving me her tickets as she couldn’t attend her planned weekend in London, so I could come all the way down to see it from Germany. (I LOVE her for that, btw).  So here goes the actual review.

First surprise when I got in: half of our Cast were Understudy – instead of Jamie Parker as Harry, we had Stuart Ramsay, our Hermione was Alexa Nicolas instead of Noma Dumezweni, and Scorpius Malfoy was played by James LeLacheur, not Anthony Boyle. At first, it was a small downer, as naturally, you’d hope for the complete first Cast; but, knowing the theatre business, you can’t always have that, and sometimes, the show you’re seeing turns out to be even better with the Understudies….and boy, THAT show was proof of HOW much better it was.

2nd surprise: the stage wasn’t covered up. On the contrary; after each interval, the scenery on stage changed and looked different. Especially the one after Part 1, or rather, when you come back in for the 1st Act of Part 2, was amazing. I’m always a friend of the darker sceneries, to be honest.

Now, the much praised effects. I knew that “Harry Potter And The Cursed Child” had some technical doings and standards that none other show on the West End had ever done before – which was probably the biggest reason why I was so intrigued: everybody talked about how they used new techniques, left the audience in awe with things you just can’t explain how they happened. And to be fair: I DON’T even want to know how they work, because to me, that takes away a bit of the magic, you know? But I also have to be fair when I say that I thought theere would be more effects in it than what I saw on stage. I do not want to diminish this amazing piece of theatre in any way, that is just my opinion; and I guess having such high expectations about those effects made me a bit biased. BUT the end of Part 1 ALONE made everything SO much worthwhile. Never did I have that kind of goosebumps sitting in my seat than in that moment when the end of Part 1 began and ended. I won’t say anything about it, but I BEG you, if you can, go and see it for yourself. It will be all you could hope for and more. I would pay an entire ticket simply to watch that part of the show over and over again. Stunning.

The music itself is not the same as in the movies – so if you go and see the show for that reason, too, be prepared to hear different music. Still, whenever it played, it smoothly fit the situation, and I loved how they used different scenes to fill the gaps, and even if pieces were used more than once, you don’t notice it, because the scenes always change and you’re so totally caught in the new ones that you just can’t be bothered to even think about it.

And now…the actors. WOW. There simply are not enough words to praise them enough, but I will try my best to write down what I thought and still think of them in a heap of awe, whenever I think back on sunday night. And you’ve been warned: those opinions are very biased and VERY objective, they’re solely mine and nobody has to agree, of course.

Alex Price (Draco Malfoy)

I have to admit, I’m a bit in love with him and his acting. His Draco is…just out of this world. The entire time as you sit there, watching him displaying one of the most breathtaking performances of emotion, wit, confusion, anger & even heartbreak, which is so unlike the Draco Malfoy everybody knows, you keep thinking: “God, Lucius Malfoy/Jason Isaacs, you damn genius”, only to realize that he is indeed Draco as a grown-up, NOT Lucius. I can’t praise him enough, really, because he was just perfectness in any way possible. There is no way he does not convince you that he means every single word that comes out of his mouth and every emotional despair he displays while on that stage. I also loved how the directors began the relationship between grown-up Draco and Ron Weasley right where the books and the movies left off: with digs, teasing and insulting by both sides, just like you would imagine them still to bicker after all those years. Especially towards the end, when Ron has an idea how to defeat (…), Draco’s/Alex’ reaction is beyond priceless, I still grin when I think about that scene, because it’s so somewhat adorably boyish and un-Draco-like. Or the scene where he utters a very dry “Mua. Ha. Ha.” towards Harry/Stuart and Stuart can’t help but desperately try to stop laughing. This constant switch between the serious, sometimes even desperate Draco and the one with the dry humor, trying to fit in with the others – to me, that comes very close to perfection.
Oh, and Alex as a person outside the theatre? Wonderful. So absolutely kind, patient and down to earth…you could see the pride in his eyes when you told him how he is so good he makes you forget WHO he actually is on stage – Draco or Lucius Malfoy -, and that Jason Isaacs himself (the guy who played Lucius Malfoy in the movies) saw the play and thought almost the same.
AND ALEX’ PERFUME…I am sorry, I know I’m a very creepy person now, but I can’t help it, I am absolutely obsessed with it. Ever since sunday, I can’t get it out of my head/nose and really want to find out its name so I can get it for a friend’s birthday, who I KNOW would love it.
So if you get the chance to see the show and Alex in it before Cast Change Day on May 21st, I advise you to go, because you’ll barely see anything more convincing that this man being a Malfoy.

Stuart Ramsay (Harry Potter – Understudy)

Stuart. Wow. Turns out this was his last show as Harry, and boy, was he a convincing piece of theatre. You buy into his struggle as a father of three, especially regarding his relationship with Albus, as if it’s a real family tragic right there, not some play on a stage, because his talent is a real pleasure to watch. The second he set foot on stage, forgotten was my thought what a pity it was I would now never get to see Jamie Parker being Harry, because Stuart definitely owned that stage. I still remember vividvdly how his gestures and mimics looked like he was in a real life situation, now some staged conversation with his acting colleagues. Especially his interaction with Sam Clemmett as Albus was a dream to watch…it was like standing in their living room, feeling awkward to witness a fight between father and son – in a very pleasing and heartwarming way, if that makes sense. It definitely looked like Stuart and Sam shared a real father/son bond there.
Moreover, one of my favourite things was when Draco/Alex came up to him in one scene, talking about how soon, Harry’s office at the ministry of magic might be Draco’s, ending with a VERY dry “Mua.Ha.Ha.”, and Stuart first starting to grin and then trying very unsuccessfully to hide and stifle a laugh. I loved it, and so did everyone else in the audience, gauging from their reaction.
And adding to that, Stuart is such a sweetheart; kind, humble and appreciating in any way possible. My friend and I even chatted to him about how he stayed in Germany (Hamburg) for 6 months a couple of years back, doing “Oh What A Night” at the Opererrenhaus, then “Foley” and other stuff. He also still manages a few german words, which endeared us even more to him.
I wish him all the best for whatever the future has now in store for him after Cast Change, and that he will come even further than he has already come so far – he deserves it so much.

Paul Thornley (Ron Weasley)

Close your eyes and picture the one and only person capable of pulling off being Ron Weasley on stage. Open your eyes again and look at Paul Thornley’s face. You’re welcome.
You always wondered how Ron was displayed perfectly, regarding his character in the books and the movies? Take Paul Thornley and you don’t need anything or anybody else. If I ever would have to think about how I wanted Ron to be on stage, I would not be able to stop swooning over Paul…not that I can since sunday night, anyways. There are not enough words to tell how magically perfect is, just like I always pictured him in my head. Adding to that his constant bickering with Draco Malfoy aka Alex Price and you have the stage “enemies” of your dreams. It feels difficult and somewhat wrong to try to find the right words here to do him real justice for the flawless job he does on the stage of that play, really, because it’s all in those tiny little things he pulls off on stage. Like his grinning whenever he’s faced the fact he owns a joke shop while his wife is the head of the magical ministry, the way he lightens up the stage when he steps foot on it, because you just know that whatever will come out of his mouth will be so…RON, so RUPERT GRINT. The way he lets his character being transformed back into his teenager self whenever he’s greeted by Draco Malfoy, how he is able to hop between that and his grown-up self, the family father, the caring, loving partner and friend who would do everything for his loved ones…it’s like seeing one of your favourite book/movie character being brought to life right in front of you. I keep repeating myself, so I am sorry, but unless you ever get or got to see it with your own eyes, you probably can’t grasp why I am so in a loss for words.
Apart from that, he’s one of the nicest and most calm West End Actors I ever got the chance to say Hi to. If you never got to watch him being a Weasley, you definitely miss out on something big there.

Nicola Alexis (Hermione – Understudy)

In my opinion, Nicola as Hermione is SUCH a better fit than Noma, who just looks so much older than her counterparts Harry & Ron (Jamie Parker & Paul Thornley). Her acting was beyond convincing, and I couldn’t have imagined or wished for a better 1st Hermione if I did. Especially the bossing around of Draco and the air of authority around her is wonderful to watch. I think it’s fair to say that the way the directors have written the role of Hermione, it’s the closest it could get to the actual Hermione as she was in the books and the movies, fierce and not accepting any bulls*** around her. Considering Nicola’s sweet face and her kind character off stage, it’s hard to believe that this lovely woman is playing the minister of magic on stage every now and then!

James LeLacheur (Scorpius Malfoy – Understudy)

James…words can’t express him in this role. Like…picture perfection when trying to tranform an amiable character from a book into an actual person on stage, and there you have James.
I fell in love with Scorpius when reading the book, in the instant he first shows up on the Hogwarts Express, and I fell in love with James’ way of displaying him on stage. It’s an absolute pleasure and honour to watch him doing his thing, being silly, desperate, sad, angry and happy. You forget there is an actual person underneath that peroxide blonde hair and costume, because his acting pulls you right into the world of magical wizardry. He makes watching the Play even more worthwhile, and he definitely was my highlight next to Alex Price, with whom he does not have as many interactions as with, say Sam Clemmett as Albus Potter (naturally), but any of the few of them are quite intense and make you heart ache all over for Scorpius; struggling with all the rumors surrounding his family and him, the resentment from everybody, wishing for a Happy End between him and his hard-hearted father. And especially his dorky, weird side was one of my favourite things on stage that night, because he makes everybody in the audience feel like they are him: a dorky teenager trying to fit in, not making too much of a fuss about himself. At least that’s how I saw it.
And outside the theatre, it’s safe to say that James is the exact same kind of person that you left up on that stage at curtain call – and in just the same adorable, lovely kind of way that you just can’t help liking him. I know he’s leaving after Cast Change, which, in my opinion, is THE biggest loss that show can have, because I honestly somewhat doubt even the principal Cast (Anthony Boyle) would be able to “whoo” me the way James did.

Sam Clemmett (Albus Potter)

(Firstly, I sadly didn’t get to say Hi to him; the moment he came out the theatre, he was already gone and when he went back inside and passed me again, I was somewhere else with my thoughts. Bummer.)
Sam Clemmett…what can you say about this young man to do his massive talent any justice? I am beyond happy I got to see his Albus as my first one, because his expression and gestures were absolutely phenomenal, there is no other word for it. When you see him strut over that stage, standing in his “bedroom”, face-off with his father Harry (Stuart Ramsay), and you just…BELIEVE the emotions shooting out of his mouth and eyes. He makes you want to storm onto the stage and hug him, tell him how you understand him and his struggles, how he is not as alone in this world as he believes with being the son of the legendary “Boy Who Lived”. And you also feel the wish to slap him whenever he screams at Harry, when he tells him he wishes his father was dead. There are so many conflicting emotions, and Sam takes you on his journey, juggling between those emotions, never really letting you take a deep enough breath before another mayhem starts. I have rarely seen such a young man/actor having such a tremendous talent when it comes to facial expressions, gestures and emotions. I know Sam may still be young, but he definitely has a bright future ahead of him.

Poppy Miller (Ginny Potter)

Poppy was one of the biggest changes for me; I still remember Bonnie Wright from the movies, the beautiful, shy, redhead who had to fight her way through childhood against 6 brothers. And I absolutely adored the way the writers have created “Stage-Ginny”! Barely have I seen such a fierce and strong character who makes even the strongest, most serious men (aka Draco Malfoy/Alex Price) almost weep and crawl back into themselves. Poppy gives the audience the kind of Bonnie I think a lot of women can identify with, independent, stubborn even, and at the same time, a loving mother and wife who puts her family and loved ones first – and being very convincing at it.

Esther Smith (Delphi Diggory)

(1st picture courtesy of the official twitter of @esthervonsmith!)
Esther…Delphi. Jesus Christ. I am not going to say a lot so as to not give out any spoilers in case you plan on seeing the Play and haven’t read the book/script yet, only that much: the border between love and hate with this character is SO thin it’s barely existent.
The moment Esther/Delphi shows up on stage, she just captivates you with her bouncy, funny character. And even when the Play moves along, turning right onto the “Uh-Oh” lane to doom, you can’t help but admiring the way Esther does her thing on stage. The way she uses words and expressions, her intonations, her interactions with Albus & Scorpius (in this case, Sam & James)…it gave me chills and the creeps at the same time. I was sheer blown away by such a diversive talent in that young woman and really wished I would’ve had the chance to tell her so in person, if I wouldn’t have been so preoccupied and crap with recognizing some faces. So whatever you do, I advise you to catch her as Delphi as long as you can, she’s out of this world!

So…”Harry Potter And The Curse Child” at the Palace Theatre, London. One of the biggest and most amazing surprises I ever had the honour to witness on a stage, with an extraordinary cast that has a variety of phenomenal talents and wonderful personalities off stage, a technical standard that so far is not achieved anywhere else on the West End yet, and a storyline that has so much more potential than what some people give it credit for.

I will definitely try everything to get another ticket when the next batch is being released soon, to hopefully be swept off my feet again, even by not the same amazing Cast I had this first time.

THANK YOU, Alex, Stuart, Paul, Nicola, James, Poppy, Esther, Sam and everyone else. You made this a very special theatre experience for me. And whatever you’re going to do next, I’m wishing you all the best in the world, from the bottom of my heart.