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Post by meridius on Dec 2, 2016 23:31:20 GMT
I too would have liked Delphine to be abit more crazy but she is still a young adult discovering her true character. She is still discovering herself and who knows what she may have become if her plan succeeded. Perhaps new found power would have created a very interesting character indeed similar to that of her mother. Her character is pushed to the limits in defeat when she even suggests they wipe her memory. I would have liked to see that there was some innocence in her interaction with the students, perhaps her even taken aback by it and reconsidering her actions momentarily but that was not seen in the play. Her determination to see her father dominated her character and seemed to play a part of her 'curse'. At the end of the play the audience had no remorse for the Delphine, throughout all three viewings, though one dimensional for me just meant she played her role exceptionally well.
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Post by grocker on Dec 3, 2016 0:13:28 GMT
Thoughts on the third time seeing Part One:
Still quite enjoyable to watch. It was fun to really watch the technical aspects and details of the show.
Great use and remix of Imogen Heap's 'Hide and Seek' when the boys see Hogwarts in the past for the first time.
Tom Mackley was on again as Albus, so I suspect he will be for at least the rest of this week's run.
In Wednesday's show, Albus tossed Harry's blanket and it landed on the floor. In the Thursday show, he tossed it, but straight into Harry's hands. Just a fun observation between the differences of each show.
Funny moment when Draco came through McGonagall's chimney, one of his pants legs went up a bit and we saw some of his ankle. Like a pro, he tried to get it back to normal in a subtle way. I'm curious as to how often this may occur.
An amusing comment I heard on the way out after Act II between two American girls: "Voldemort day is like a preview for a world of Trump."
Thoughts on Part Two:
Part Two was fantastic. Perhaps it's because the audience and the cast have had a day to rest in between, but it didn't feel rushed like the Wednesday show. Some key moments were given time to be savoured and therefore flourished.
It's interesting to note during the final scene that during previews, Harry is more hesitant about putting his hand on Albus' shoulder, but in Wednesday's performance and Friday's performance, he does so with more ease and almost no trepidation.
Feeling like a massive HP fan, but I am keen to see it again, particularly before it opens in Broadway. Either way, I must save for flights once again and hope my timing is right to get more tickets.
And wickedginger, I managed to get tickets via the official website/Nimax. I was mentally prepared to physically line up during our visit to London, but during the previous Friday Forty, I just kept clicking on the dates I was planning to watch the show, and very fortunately, I got single seat tickets to each one. I got my boyfriend involved with trying his luck on the website too, and between the two of us we got tickets. Didn't get to sit next to each other, but that doesn't really matter when you get to watch the show.
I was quite gobsmacked we got through, and I wish the best of luck to others for the future.
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Post by maggiem on Dec 5, 2016 13:46:05 GMT
I took me a while to get through this whole thread, having finally seen the plays on 23rd November. Happy memories include....
The polyjuice transformations, and especially Jamie's version of Anthony Boyle's Scorpius. Sam did a great job with the whole "baby/holiday" gag too.
"Voldemort Day?!" and the Dementor that flew up right in front of the Upper Circle, not to mention Umbridge's announcement about phones, recording etc... before part two got underway!
Finally, the scenes (1) with Harry and Dumbledore'd portrait, when Harry breaks down, and (2) Harry watching his parent's death. Jamie Parker nailed both scenes and was heart breaking in the latter.
FYI... scene (1) above is one of the images in the colour brochure. If you look very carefully, you can see "I must not tell lies" on Jamie's right hand. Subtle and brilliant!
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Post by Rozzi Rainbow on Dec 30, 2016 21:24:33 GMT
Wow, I'm surprised this thread had got so far down the forum, time to give it a bump!
I somehow managed to get tickets to this for Wednesday and yesterday, I posted my quick thoughts in the non-spoiler thread when I got back to my hotel last night.
I loved the snow in Godric's Hollow!! (I also love the snow in Billy Elliott.) I thought the staging was brilliant, and I loved all the different uses of the two staircases. The magic in Part 1 is truly amazing. Part 2 seems a lot darker, and more shocking. I thought it was clever how they changed the logos in the foyer to the Dark Mark while Act 2 was on, and I couldn't believe they were selling Dark Mark merchandise during Part 2.
I managed not to cry until Act 3, even then it was before I cried when I read the script - the whole scene with Snape started to get me, and it was Ron and Hermione declaring they loved each other in the alternate reality that finally set me off. And Albus telling Cedric his dad loved him. I was in a bit of a state in the interval of Part 2 - the writing on the wall really shocked me and sent a shiver down my spine, I was sat quite close to the end of the row. And I was pleased I knew about the scene with Harry's parents at the end, that was bad enough even though I was prepared for it!
I loved the various announcements for turning off phones etc, especially Umbridge saying "now sit down and be quiet" - I think we need that at all theatre shows! I thought Scorpius was a bit creepy and weird at first, he took a bit of getting used to. He reminded me a bit of Rowan Atkinson. I also thought McGonagall didn't seem to be old enough, and it seemed a bit convenient Draco just happening to have another better time-turner just as they needed it.
I loved the reference to Order of the Phoenix being a bit long and confusing. Dumbledore first walking on was great - no special effects, just him walking on stage to gasps and murmurs of appreciation. I'm intrigued by the pronunciation of Voldemort (I get that it's French, in fact I googled the translation, Flight of Death) - I assume that's how JKR always intended it to be pronounced and they Americanised it for the films.
Sorry this is all a bit random - I've just listed my thoughts as they came to me! I really did love it, it was just was I was hoping for and a lot more! So many different emotions. Hope I can go back at some point and try and take it in a bit more.
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Post by Latecomer on Jan 9, 2017 14:56:56 GMT
Saw this yesterday on Friday Forty tickets, having previously seen on July 13th last year, and show is in very good shape. We were lucky to have all the main performers (my friend would have been gutted if Jamie Parker was not on!) and woman who plays Delphine (Esther Smith?) has improved enormously....far less pantomime now! If anything Anthony Boyle needs a bit of work on his Scorpius to be as good as last July....he had a habit of rather rushing his lines and became a bit inaudible at times....shame as he was still brilliant, just somehow lost the "innocence" of his performance sometimes....I noticed the same thing when Mark Rylance brought Jerusalem back from America, it must be so hard to keep doing the same thing again and again! Dementors better than I remembered (they sort of make you chuckle with glee when they are so good!), cool dancing with cloaks splendid, struck me again how the script writer knew the characters so well....didn't put a foot wrong in how they behaved! And Jamie was great...made me cry again at the end! This play is not the best ever but I have spent all today slightly wizarded out and badly want a cloak to swirl and some Wizard music to dance to, so job done!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2017 15:57:37 GMT
I loved the reference to Order of the Phoenix being a bit long and confusing. I'm looking forward to seeing this again in May, having re-read the books for free via Amazon Prime at the rate of one a month after seeing the play last June (just about to start the last book now). I don't know about long and confusing - but Order of the Phoenix was pretty dull! Certainly seemed far worse this time round than I remembered when I read it years ago...
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Post by dazzerlump on Jan 13, 2017 11:21:41 GMT
Question, how are ;people managing to get tickets, Ive tried on 2 occasions when booking opened and each time had no luck.. has anyone won the friday forty?
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Post by Latecomer on Jan 13, 2017 12:38:59 GMT
Theatremonkey is right...In my house we do Friday Forty every week on 3 computers and a phone! Once had to call in to motorway services to link up tablet to wifi..It takes a seriously dedicated effort but was rewarded in week between Christmas and New year! ☺
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Post by kathryn on Jan 15, 2017 0:20:26 GMT
Well, this was fun. Jamie Parker and Anthony Boyle are definitely standouts for me - it's a shame Noma doesn't get more interesting stuff for Hermione.
I now understand where the 'fanfiction' criticisms I'd seen come from. But then again JKR has never been the greatest or most original writer (and personally I think her character development sucks - Harry SHOUTING is tedious but understandable when he's a teenager, you'd hope a grown man would have moved on from that. That Jamie Parker manages to pull it off is testament to his acting talent.). So, as a story I don't think it's great. As a piece of theatre, though, it just works! Even though I know how most of the illusions are done, they still look great.
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Post by nicnac on Jan 15, 2017 22:41:45 GMT
Hi all - I bought tickets for this once the casting was announced purely because Jamie Parker was in it. I was working in London at the time of booking (December 2015) so wasn't phased by seeing it on consecutive nights but my circumstances have changed and getting into town for two nights in a row is a major pain. I'm considering just seeing one of the shows.
In your view which of the two would you recommend? My priority is mainly seeing Jamie Parker so I'm guessing that part 1 is probably better from that perspective?
Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks!
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Post by kathryn on Jan 15, 2017 22:44:59 GMT
He is in both. Really: you need to see both.
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Post by infofreako on Jan 16, 2017 8:33:43 GMT
I dont think its feasible just seeing one or the other. Its one piece really and the 2 parts work together
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2017 9:17:29 GMT
Go for part 1. They really are two parts of one story, that cannot be stated enough, so you may as well start with part 1 and then look to pick up part 2 later. (Or, if you're REALLY REALLY TAKEN with part 1, you then at least have the opportunity to change your mind and suck up the inconvenience of coming back for part 2.)
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Post by nicnac on Jan 16, 2017 11:19:42 GMT
Thanks for your comments - I'll go for the first one then. I know what you're saying about it being one, albeit very long, play but going to see this means taking time off work, sorting out domestic arrangements and a four hour round trip so two days in a row is a nightmare. I'd totally forgotten when my tickets were booked for as it was such a long time ago.
Really only seeing this for JP so wanting more bang for my buck! Having read the spoilers I would assume that he is on stage for a bit more in part 1. I think the returns small print says I need to return tickets 48 hours before hence really wanting to narrow down between the two.
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Xanderl
Member
Not always very high value in terms of ticket yield or donations
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Post by Xanderl on Jan 20, 2017 11:02:12 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2017 11:33:56 GMT
Read the article though, it's very much from the perspective of "Warner Brothers want to make it into films" and not at all from the perspective of "Rowling, Tiffany, Thorne at al have agreed that it should happen".
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2017 18:12:51 GMT
JK has denied this story is true today, thankfully.
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Post by Jon on Jan 20, 2017 18:24:53 GMT
Warner Bros likely wants a Cursed Child film but without JK's consent, it won't be made. The Potter franchise is a huge cash cow for WB but at the same time, they have to work with the author on any ideas they might have for the franchise. JK Rowling turned down many producers who wanted to do Harry Potter as a stage musical but it was Sonia Friedman who convinced her that a play about Harry's later life might work and she approved.
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Post by peggs on Jan 22, 2017 16:05:52 GMT
Saw this for the first time a few weeks ago but it's taken me this long to read through the whole thread. I originally had little interest in seeing this, thinking that it would spoil rather than add to my love of the books and seemed a bit of cash cow in two parts and with pricey tickets and only really began to re-think that decision as the opening got near and the hype grew and I began to kick myself. Fortunately I have a friend who both has the patience to sit in online queues and seems to be rather successful when it comes to getting lucky getting tickets. The build up to this was crazy, I spent the week thinking of all the things that could go wrong to prevent me getting there, injury, train strikes, alien invasion you know! Due to the difficulty and price involved in getting tickets linked to the fact that the hp world was one I most happily enjoyed growing up meant I worried way more than I have for anything else I've seen in the theatre.
So fortunately after all that I did really enjoy it, i'd managed to avoid any spoilers and got the main cast and just sat and had a lot of fun as the whole thing rolled out. I loved the effects, I think the fact that a lot were really very simple if you knew how you'd done them worked for me. Great casting, such a wise decision to cast talented actors rather than go for 'names', everyone was pretty bang on the money for me. In hindsight as someone else mentioned somewhere back in this thread I'd not entirely convinced about Voldemort having a child, can't see he'd want/see the need for one, he was supposed to be immortal after all and Voldemort and sex seems such an odd notion but story wise I was happy enough to accept what I was being told. Lots of little moment and scenes to really enjoy and the overall staging and movement worked well. I'd purposely never wondered what the story might be, though that was such a good time waster in the old between the books days, or how it might work as a theatrical piece but all hats off for those involved, most cleverly done.
Did it as a one dayer which made it all the better and with a friend so made it one of those event theatre days and best of all was probably the cherry on the cake when it came to the world of potter rather than slightly spoiling the books which was my original fear. And of course I now have wooly hp scary and hat which while clearly bemusing those around me still makes me smile a bit, sucker for merchandise me.
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Post by andrew on Jan 22, 2017 20:39:57 GMT
Saw this for the first time a few weeks ago but it's taken me this long to read through the whole thread. Now that's commitment.
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Post by synchrony on Feb 19, 2017 11:14:43 GMT
Just saw this yesterday having successfully avoided any spoilers for nearly a year!
After Part 1 I just thought it was AMAZING. I was on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to come next. The lighting designer is a genius. I loved Ron, he was hilarious and exactly as I imagined him. The baby/holiday scene, LOL!!! I loved Scorpius too, and the way both Act 1 and Act 2 ended!
I really liked Trolley Witch and definitely wouldn't choose to cut her! I thought it was brilliant to find out a little bit more about her; admittedly, as she said to the boys, I have never given her any thought before. Loved the Dementors.
I continued to love it right up until Scorpius/Snape got Albus back. After that it felt a bit like everything was wrapped up and I wasn't sure where it could go from there. As it unravelled though, I found the plot got increasingly more predictable, and would have preferred more Scorpius and less 'deep and meaningful' Harry/Albus angst. I didn't find myself emotionally moved from this point forward. I think it's because I didn't find Delphi scary at all, and at no point did I ever think she might win, permanently change the past, or do any real damage. I didn't care that Craig died (I actually thought she'd killed young James for a moment which would have been much more impactful to me). There were also more plot holes for me in Part 2.
Unlike the majority, I didn't like Norma's Hermione much. I found her rather hard to hear (in terms of diction not volume). I also wasn't over-keen on the final Hagrid scene; I felt like Hagrid wasn't really needed in the play at all and was a bit shoe-horned in.
I did still LOVE it though, and had a fabulous day. I'd love to see it again from a better seat. The writing over the walls was really creepy! There were so many 'wow' moments!
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Post by kirkwoodproductions on Apr 10, 2017 20:53:36 GMT
Just managed to get a cancelled ticket for Wednesday. There's so little time to prepare So happy to be seeing it with the original cast after the disappointment of finding out I'd be missing them with my ticket for July. Does anyone know if there is any cast absences at the minute? I'm really hoping they're all there.
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Post by dillan on Apr 10, 2017 21:15:29 GMT
Just managed to get a cancelled ticket for Wednesday. There's so little time to prepare So happy to be seeing it with the original cast after the disappointment of finding out I'd be missing them with my ticket for July. Does anyone know if there is any cast absences at the minute? I'm really hoping they're all there. The entire cast performed on Saturday (zero understudies!). Obviously, due to the Olivier awards, Anthony, Noma and Jamie did not perform on Sunday. However, I don't think there should be any cast absences for Wednesday, not for the main characters anyway.
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Post by kirkwoodproductions on Apr 14, 2017 16:38:10 GMT
OK, having (finally) seen it on Wednesday I'm gonna post my thoughts. With a long time since I read the book and coming to terms with the plot (plus the fact that I never had as much of a problem with the story as some people had), it was great to see the show and just enjoy it for what it is. Understudies for Ginny (Lowri James) and Scorpius (James Le Lacheur) were on. Both were very good and seemed to have great chemistry with the rest of the cast, so that it was practically impossible to tell they were understudies and if I hadn't looked at the board beforehand (and not seen Anthony Boyle on the Oliviers) I probably wouldn't have noticed. I thought the staging was incredible, and the dance-like moments between scenes were some of the best bits of the production. Imogen Heap's music for these scenes was incredible, especially at the end of Part 2 as the dementors descended. Other highlights for me were Moaning Myrtle's scene, who was played brilliantly, the transition from Harry's nightmare to him and Ginny in bed (how the hell did they do that trick?), and the murders of Lily and James near the end. The magic was incredible. The polyjuice scene was phenomenal and, although I can guess how it was done, it was still amazing to watch. The exit from the Ministry was mind-blowing and I cannot tell at all how that was pulled off (unless there is a small trapdoor in the phone box that the actor must plummet down to be invisible as the robe is sucked through the box). However, I wasn't as impressed with the Voldemort transfiguration, which seemed to be trying to recreate the polyjuice potion effect but didn't do it as well, and when Voldemort ducks behind the door and stands back up as Harry was a laughable way for the transition back as the spell wears off. I actually found Delphi an interesting character when she was first introduced, if not a little rushed as she only seemed to have 2 minutes on stage before the characters were forming a new trio of too-closely knit friends for the amount of time they've spent together. I also thought she portrayed the villain reasonably well. My only problem with her villainess I think comes from the writing (I'll come back to this in a bit) and not Esther Smith's portrayal - though it will be interesting to see how well April Hughes portrays the villain when I see it again in July (I'm assuming she's the new Delphi as she's the only member of the new cast who looks the right age and is sat up front in the picture with the new Albus, Scorpius and Rose). I actually had bigger problems with Harry. I felt like he ended up shouting far too quickly, even when Harry's meant to have a temper. When I'd read the dialogue in the book I'd pictured him saying it sternly and getting increasingly shouty, but Jamie Parker seemed to go from talking normally to shouting within 2 seconds. My biggest problem with it originated when I read the book, with how wooden and unnatural some of the dialogue seemed, though at the time I hoped it was just how the script read and would be solved with the performance. Unfortunately I was wrong. The murder of Craig Bowker felt a bit rushed. It would probably have helped if he was a bit more prominent earlier in the play, but also if there was a bit more dialogue or anything before Delphi kills him (though I have to say, the flame thrower effects throughout the show were incredible). I also think Delphi being described as pantomime villain by some comes from the text. Lines like "you're mistaken child, prophecies are the future" and "you talk too much, child" I don't think can ever be said without sounding a bit uninspired and comical.
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Post by kirkwoodproductions on Apr 14, 2017 16:42:54 GMT
I noticed a new line from Moaning Myrtle, when she talks about Cedric Diggory and girls making love potions in the bathroom, she also hastened to add in "and some boys" - that just stuck in my head as memorable. Also, I noticed a few technical mishaps and was wondering how common these are. Rose's broomstick at the start didn't jump up when she said "up" so the actress just bent down and picked it up, one of the wands during the dance scene in Albus's third year wasn't lighting up, and there's another big one but I can't remember what that was right now. With the amount of tricks in the show, its not surprising not everything always works.
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Post by tommy123 on Apr 20, 2017 17:14:14 GMT
A while ago, JK Rowling tweeted that not only would it run in London for a long time it would also tour.
There are obviously no doubts that the show could sustaine London and a Tour easily but surely this would mean extra long stays in venues? Like double the length of your average big tour. For example, Wicked played around 3 months in Manchester, where as surely Harry could play 6 months minimum. Does anyone have any clue as to when/if it would tour?
If the show does tour, how will they manage all the magic? I'm sure the polyjuice section uses trap doors as does the lake trap door, with added water! Any ideas?
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Post by daniel on Apr 20, 2017 17:22:39 GMT
To the best of my knowledge, there are no plans to tour this at the moment, but I'm sure they will sooner or later. In what form, I'm not sure. It's well known that many of the touring circuit venues generally don't like having their stages chopped up for trapdoors, so it would have to be long enough runs to justify the cost and the work.
If it toured traditional theatres, I'd expect a very limited tour with at least 6 months in each venue...I wouldn't be surprised if it did nearer a year in places like Manchester.
The other option of course is to tour it in a purpose-built structure a la Cirque du Soleil...complete flexibility on the technical side of things but you lose the charm of being in an actual theatre.
Given how far ahead tours are booking dates these days, I'd be surprised if we see a comprehensive tour before 2025...plus Sonia will want to get it settled on Broadway, and probably Australia and US Tour too before looking at a UK tour.
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Post by danielwhit on Apr 22, 2017 13:59:00 GMT
There's also the fairly complex human flying, which will add complexity to a tour as well.
I agree though, I can't imagine we'll see a UK tour for the best part of a decade. A US tour is more likely to be the touring "prototype", as they are set up to cope with the technical complexities far better than our venues are.
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Post by shep94 on Apr 23, 2017 2:21:51 GMT
Hi guys,
Long time reader 1st time poster. It is nearly 3am and I cannot sleep after watching the show today. I read most of the spoilers before hand as I dont like to be suprised/scared. All I have to say is wow Wow WOW. I think that this has been one of the best things I have seen. I loved the illusions although I do think that the talking books could have been better. I loved the choreography and the music however I did get a bit bored of the robe flicking. I really loved all the actors in their respective parts. I felt that the friendship with Albus and Scorpius was superb. I had watched a couple of reviews where they suggested that there was a definite homo-erotic subtext between then however it was plain to see that it was the case of a bonding of 2 social outcasts. I must say that Ron was too funny which at times was great but I do feel that it took away the tension in serious scenes such as in the ministry of magic and in the church. I thought that Harry was brilliant, I really felt that the way he spoke was very reminiscent of how Daniel Radcliffe played the part and I think that his relationship with Albus was really good and for me believable. I am also convinced that the women who played Hermoine called Harry 'Jamie' towards the end of show 2 act 2.
Now for my negative.
I felt that the ending was so terrible. It felt like the writers realised they had already written 5 hours and just bodged together the ending. I think it was just flat in the church. Delph shot 3 sparks at Harry and Harry responded, she knocked his wand away almost crushed him with a pew and then other come and shoot some more sparks at her and she does a fireball and then it just seemed to end. I think it may have been better if Delph somehow coxed some deatheaters into the church and there was more of a battle where they could throw around the pews and smash the stain glass window. I think really it wasnt 'Hollywood sexy' and I would rather have seen that then Albus and Scorpius in the library under an inversability cloak. Just my thought.
I would also love for them to release the soundtrack for the show as it is absolutely sublime!
Also, was the guy who played the sorting hat also supposed to be Kingsley Shacklebolt??? I know how some people said that the ending wasnt much but I really loved it. It may have been good for the sorting hat to make a grand statement and then be re-hung in mid air???
But all in all it was a fabulous show!
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Post by danielwhit on Apr 23, 2017 12:02:44 GMT
Welcome aboard!
A lot of the music (Imogen Heap) is available on youtube/spotify/albums, however not as a "Harry Potter" album. A couple of people have started trying to work out the entire soundtrack.
I get your point about the ending - however I don't think getting deatheaters into the church would have made any sense from a story point of view. Delphi has never seen the death eaters under Voldemort's power, and probably wouldn't know how to get any of them to Godric's Hollow (and if she did, why would they believe her OR not tell ol' Voldy?). That scene felt different this week to when I saw it in previews - however I'm not sure why. Probably my memory playing a trick on me.
I don't think the guy playing the sorting hat (and Hagrid) is meant to be Kingsley Shacklebolt, no. Why would that be the case? I did quite like the final scene - it comes back to a very personal, and relatable, story about friendship/family. Which is, beneath all the magic, what the books were too.
The extra thing I'd add is having now seen the show in one day (previews) and over two evenings (this week), seeing it in one day is 100% the best way to go about it. You lose too much of the dramatic tension with a day off!
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