A new play based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany. Here they are: The Golden Trio! Behold the three “J”s behind the new Harry Potter story!
So… let’s talk about that. Let’s talk about the eighth story that many of us have been craving for. For a while there J.K. Rowling was quite adamant that she had no intention of going back to writing another Harry Potter book. But it couldn’t have been plainer that she wasn’t done with the magical world and that she wanted to explore the story further – particularly the part which was connected with Harry’s second son, Albus Severus Potter. Then she was approached with the idea of doing a play and apparently she liked it so much that she green-lighted it and here we are at last. The lucky ones will get to see the actual play. The slightly less lucky ones will get to read the printed version of the play. I belong to the latter group but I won’t give up hoping to see it with my own eyes one day!
So… what is it about?
It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children.
While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.
So… what do we know from this and what do we want to know?
Harry Potter is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and a father of three school-age children. I wonder if we are going to see him in full Auror mode. I’d love to! I so want to see Harry as an Auror.
Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs. What part of his past does it actually refer to? Voldemort? Dursleys? His parents? Umbridge? Snape? Dumbledore? The list can go on and on…
Harry’s youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. That’s understandable enough. His name alone is a triple legacy to carry around. In a way he is as much a marked man as his father. But the question is in what way does he struggle with it?
Past and present fuse ominously... Well, that obviously spells trouble for our heroes.
Both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places – well, that sounds even more alarming, doesn’t it? Whose darkness and what unexpected places exactly are we talking about here? Will Harry and Albus Severus, perhaps, have a horrible clash?
And, most importantly, who is the Cursed Child?
Do you have any guesses? Spoiler-free, of course! I’d really love you to join me for a discussion – before and after! Are you excited? How much? What are your expectations? Leave your replies in the comments!
P.S. I’m sure that everyone has already seen the photos of the cast and I’m not going to post them here for they will take up a lot of space. But I just want to say that I’m very happy with it and I can just imagine them looking the part. However, here are some tantalizing pictures from the show… In the first one, for example, the magic is brewing...
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| I can almost hear magic crackling in the air... |
So... why is Rose standing all alone in the centre? It is Rose, right? Why is everyone staring at her? What is going on? By the way, love the new banners!
Harry, Ron and Draco together as an unlikely trio - not something you get to see every day! Once again, what is going on here? I just love Harry's cloak!
Those are awesome pictures, Farida! I hadn't seen them yet. The first one of the set really intrigues me. Is that a clock shining so brightly overhead? Is that a clue? And definitely, seeing Draco w/ Harry and Ron...something's up.
ReplyDeleteI definitely want to be part of your discussion, but I'm totally swamped for the next 10 days, so may be slow to be a part. But after that...!!!
Oh, there's still plenty of time for you to join the discussion))) The book won't be published until July 31 and even then I'm not sure when I'll be able to get my hands on it. So stop by any time you can! I'm staying clear of all possible spoilers but I can feel them flying in the air... one have to be very careful not to see something one doesn't want to...
DeleteI agree, I would love to see Harry in action as an Auror. I'm wondering if the "cursed child" might have to do with a case that Harry is dealing with at work. And "the past that won't stay where it belongs" I assume has to do with old Death Eaters or something. I'm sure Harry has had to deal with them a lot in his line of work.
ReplyDeleteI feel bad for Albus having to deal with the "legacy" through no fault of his own, but Harry had to deal with that also by 1). being the Boy Who Live 2). being Lily and James son. But maybe the "legacy" also has to do with his names.
I love the picture with Harry, Draco, and Ron. Also, it could just be the play costumes and the influence of the movies, but Ron is dressed like a muggle. I find that interesting.
I can't wait to read this. I'm thinking about going to the midnight release party so I can read it day of.
Thank you for stopping by! It would be so great to see Harry actually doing some Auror stuff. I don't even know how that would look like on stage...
ReplyDeletePoor Albus! He does have to carry the legacy of three outstanding people on his shoulders - two of which had no one else to pass their names and legacies on. It must be extremely daunting for an eleven-year-old.
Indeed, I've just realised that Ron is not wearing a cloak like the other two. I wonder if Harry, Draco and Ron being together like that, looking worried and startled but determined, means that they are on a mission to rescue their kids?
Wow, if you can go to a midnight release, I think it would be so great! I have no opportunity, really. But I can't wait to read it even though I'm slightly apprehensive about what we'll find there.
GREAT post. Harry has always been my favorite character of the series and my favorite hero of ALL TIME so basically I'd love to see his entire life in book form. I do hope we get to see him in action as an auror. If kid Harry was that impressive, I can only imagine what he grew up to be!! I'm hoping his past issues are just PTSD - Voldy better stay DEAD. I read that the Cursed Child was in fact Albus Severus...I thought it referenced Harry at first but...I guess I was wrong? We'll see soon enough though! (Eep!)
ReplyDeleteI will NEVER stop dreaming about seeing this play live in London either - but for now, I'll be happy with the book version :) Oh and I'm happy you're joined up to HP Month ♥
Thank you very much for stopping by and for holding HP Month! I'm so happy that Harry is your favourite character. Mine too! But I sometimes think that those of us who like Harry best are very much in the minority and I find it frustrating and unfair, because he is such a great and real character.
DeleteActually, the Cursed Child being Albus Severus would make perfect sense. I also think I've read somewhere that it's him, but after reading the blurb I started having doubts and thinking that it might be someone else who has a connection both to Harry (from the past) and to Albus Severus (from the present) at the same time. Is it even possible? I might be totally wrong here, though. I'm never good at these things))
I'm so excited for Cursed Child! It's just wonderful to experience that anticipation for a new HP release again. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm very intrigued by that photo of Harry, Ron, and Draco together. Besides catching up with Harry, Ron, Hermione and their families, I'm also curious to see how Draco turned out as an adult. Not much longer to wait to find out- yay! :)
I know, right? I can't wait either! Who would have thought that we'll get another chance at that? But I'm also slightly apprehensive, because I really don't know what to expect and it would be a nerve-wracking experience to see where J.K. Rowling and John Thorne took our beloved characters. I do have a certain happy picture in my mind and I would hate to see it shattered.
DeleteI remember that Jo gave some inklings as to what sort of an adult Draco has become on Pottermore some time ago and I wonder if it is reflected in the play at all. I want to try and read it slowly, savouring every scene and moment instead of rushing forward to know the ending. But, of course, we all know how that will work :D
Whose darkness and what unexpected places exactly are we talking about here? <- this right here was my exact reaction. I'll admit, I'm so incredibly anxious, curious, excited, and terrified to read it. Like you, I also wish I could see the play. It looks like it was cast spectacularly. There are so. many. questions. I can't wait until we can get them all answered. Believe me, we will be here for the post Cursed Child discussions! We will all need to air our thoughts LOL
ReplyDeleteI'd love that! I'd love to share with the others. I hope it will be another magical experience and that it is something J.K. Rowling would write herself. I hope it preserves her style, her magic, her darkness, and her sense of humour.
DeleteI'm so excited to get a chance to read the script for this show. But there's a slim chance I'll get to see it too! Early in August I'll be going to London. My friends and I are hoping to get a crack at the Friday 40! I don't anticipate being able to get them, but it's definitely worth a try and it'd be magical if I did!
ReplyDeleteAs for the actual show, I can imagine all of Harry's kids will, at some point, have to deal with the fact that Harry is their father. I mean, Harry's got to deal with the fact that he's himself, which means it's seeped into the kids as well. It's just how parenting goes. -- I wonder how Albus Severus deals with the pressure and legacy as opposed to James or Lily. I'm not sure we'll get any of that in the play, but I do wonder. From the glimpse we get of them in the book and movie, it seems to weigh more heavily on Albus Severus than his siblings. Plus, with a name like that, it's got be hard. Three different legends to live up to. I know I wouldn't do well in his situation, that's for sure.
I'm also wondering about the three main kids, Rose, Albus, and Scorpius. I'm curious as to their relationships with each other. Will they all be friends or enemies, or maybe something else entirely. I've got a lot of questions and I can't wait for them to be answered.
Oh, that's so great!!! I hope you'll get those tickets and get to see the play and then tell us all about it! :D The best of luck to you!
DeleteYeah, so many questions... It's obvious that Albus, Rose and Scorpius are pretty much central to the plot of the play and I can't wait to read how they're protrayed and how their parents' names and legacies effected them and their attitude.
I've always imagined Albus to be a quiet, shy and calm kid, a lot like Harry in a way, but I'm wondering now if maybe I was wrong...