‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ Sweeps Into Seattle

“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” is here in Seattle, transporting theatergoers to a magical, mystical world of wizarding. The Tony Award-winning production runs now through Sept. 12 at the Paramount Theatre. 

Not a Harry Potter connoisseur myself, I came to the show with little knowledge of the plot. I had to hold on for the ride as the play moves quickly, frequently jumping back and forth in time. 

Picking up where the books left off 

The story begins 19 years after the Battle of Hogwarts. Harry, Ginny, Ron, Hermione and Draco are on Platform 9 ¾, sending Harry’s son, Albus, and Draco’s son, Scorpius, on the Hogwarts Express for the school term. 

As the play unfolds, headstrong Albus befriends Scorpius, the son of his dad’s fiercest rival. Through an encounter with Amos Diggory and his mysterious niece, Delphi, the boys decide to steal a time-turner. They launch into a well-intentioned plan to save Cedric Diggory from his tragic fate in the past.

But the changes they create using the time-turner ripple into the present (literally represented by visual ripples on the stage), wreaking havoc. They soon realize they’ve ushered in a new reality where Voldemort has killed Harry Potter at the Battle of Hogwarts and evil has won. 

Now, Albus and Scorpius must fix the events that were set in motion, and work together to defeat all the evil forces that want to reign supreme. It’s a tall order to fill, and audiences will be swept along with them as they work to save the future.

It’s easy to be caught up in the unfolding story because the actors and supporting cast are exceptionally well-trained and deliver high-quality performances, down to the smallest detail. There was not a step, word or slip that was out of place. 

I particularly enjoyed David Fine’s performance as Scorpius Malfoy. His timing and dialogue were not only well delivered, but often witty and engaging. There were several laugh-out-loud moments, to be sure.

Magical effects bring the story to life

True Harry Potter fans will likely gravitate to the detailed script and familiarity of the play. It was written by Jack Thorne, based on the original story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany. But the special effects and choreography were my magic moments. 

Numerous times the story called for either a disappearance, a change of character onstage or some sort of levitation, and somehow it all looked seamless and realistic. The wands were truly made of magic, it seemed, as they shot fire. There were even oohs and aahs from the audience for a couple of seemingly impossible effects done in plain sight onstage. How did the actors change costumes with a poof?

The choreography by movement director Steven Hoggett enhanced not only the story and special effects, but the transitions between multiple scenes. Swirling cloaks and rearranged suitcases added to the transitions in a beautiful and functional way. That alone was worth the visit.

A powerful message of friendship

“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” weaves in a strong undercurrent of friendship, love and acceptance that is heartwarming. The characters risk trusting one another and that leads to hope, healing, acceptance and a future. 

Attempting to make sense of life through our past and present is often possible with the help of friends and those who love us, a theme that will resonate with parents and adults most deeply.

What parents should know before they go

This is a long show, even though the elaborate story is compressed to fit into a single-part production. It is not recommended for children younger than 8 years old, and I would highly agree. Not only are there some dark and scary moments, but it can be loud and unsettling with some of the more dramatic effects. And little ones will likely fade before the curtain falls. The caveat I see is for huge Potter fans — this might be just the production you would regret missing.

The Paramount Theatre is an ideal location for this because there really isn’t a bad seat. The show is popular and the theater will be packed, so I recommend getting there at least an hour early. 

Note for the intermission: The bathrooms were very busy and some guests had to go up four flights of stairs to get to another bathroom. Before many could even finish washing their hands, the ushers called the audience back with an announcement that the doors would be locked for those who were not in their seats. This made it difficult for families to have a restroom break, so please be prepared to go quickly at intermission.

Although this production is marketed toward families, I saw very few children at the weeknight performance. Matinees are likely the better option for going with kids, especially due to the length of the show. Food and drinks were on offer in the theater lobby. There is also Harry Potter-themed merchandise to buy, prompting several “that is so cute!” reactions.

Magic is afoot until Sept. 12, and it might just be the perfect way to end your summer fun.