“The scar had not pained Harry for nineteen years. All was well.”
– Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
(Warning: the following review contains spoilers for the original Harry Potter novels)
Ah, sequels. For a loyal fan they present quite the quandary. On the one hand, how wonderful to get a new insight into the characters or world that you love. The idea that the magic continues can be rather enticing. But, on the other hand, what if they get it wrong, taking things that we love and producing something that makes us cringe? We all hope for The Force Awakens, but sometimes we get stuck with The Phantom Menace.
The Harry Potter series was a phenomenon, the highest selling book series of all time. The boy wizard Harry took seven books to finally defeat the evil Lord Voldemort, and to save his wizarding world. The series was resolved in the last book with a beautiful scene as Harry sent his son Albus Severus off to Hogwarts, safe in the knowledge that “All was well”.
But, several years on, author J. K. Rowling thrilled fans with the news of a new chapter. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a play written by playwright Jack Thorne—based on a story by J. K. herself, Thorne and Jack Tiffany. It is currently playing on London’s West End, and a “rehearsal script” has been made available for impatient fans. It continues on from exactly where the last book left off, on platform 9 ¾ with Harry saying goodbye to Albus.
But all is not well.
Albus Potter is a lost soul, struggling in his famous father’s shadow. He finds himself in the much maligned Hogwarts House of Slytherin; he befriends the son of his father’s childhood enemy; he struggles with school work and friendships. His father is a stranger, and the implied father-son closeness at in the end of the books is gone. When a Time-Turner is found by the Ministry of Magic, Albus finds a means to prove himself, and make up for some of the casualties of his father’s path to victory.
But, somewhat predictably, messing with time proves to be more complicated than intended, and the Wizarding world faces threats from the most unlikely of places.
The Good and the Disappointing
The Cursed Child is pretty entertaining for what it is. The story—after a slightly confusing start—pulls you in and engages you. The new characters are vulnerable and relatable. Scorpio Malfoy is a highlight; a nerdy teen who overshadows the “stars” with his charm and heart. And the play gives us a glimpse into a world which Harry Potter fans have loved to imagine, Ron and Hermione married and Harry with a family. To see our hero struggle and fail in his parenting was at first hard to swallow, but gives the play an authenticity, heart and maturity. And Time-travel presents some wonderful new opportunities for characters to practice self-sacrifice for the sake of others.
J. K. had mapped out the seven books before she finished writing the first. This careful plotting meant that small events from the early books take on great significance later on in the story. There is a great cohesion to the “Potterverse”. But this is sadly missing in the Cursed Child. There are several parts of the story that don’t quite add up; individuals acting out of character, inaccurate magic spells, and timelines that don’t make sense. It feels like an afterthought.
While plays can be read they are not created for the medium. The Cursed Child is terse and full of directions. The descriptions of magic are difficult to picture and the movements through time in the first few acts are awkward. It was an enjoyable experience peppered with the thought that this would be much better on stage, and even better as a novel. I swallowed it whole in two hours, a process that was enjoyable but can’t compare to an entire day of novel degustation.
Fan Fiction
One of the big criticism of the play is that it reads like fan-fiction. It’s not a stand-alone story. If you have not read the original books (foolish muggle!) the play will make little sense. Every significant character is either from the original story, or in some way related to a familiar wizard or witch. Even scenes and events from the original series are re-lived, without being explained. It is a tribute, written by Harry-lovers to Harry-lovers
Of course, this is what I loved about it! I didn’t read it for new idea or concepts. I read it because I love Harry and his world and I wanted another visit. And that is what Cursed Child did for me. If you simply had a cursory enjoyment of the movies, I would wait and see the play when it makes its way to our shores. But, for those who loved the books, the script is a wonderful (if brief) visit with our dear old friends.
This play is not a children’s story. The main characters are predominately teens, but its concerns are the concerns of adults. Harry’s life is full of regrets. Despite succeeding in defeating Voldemort, Harry must always live with the deaths of those who sacrificed themselves so that he could live. This unspoken struggle filters down to his son, who takes matters into his own hands to try to make amends.
Might-Have-Beens and The Sovereign God
This weight is a very human and familiar one. How many of us waste countless hours in the land of might-have-been, reliving past mistakes, sins and hurts? Longing for a time-turner that can take us back and help us to do-over our broken lives. Harry and Albus’ struggles were fantastical and yet so relatable to my own.
As Christians, we can so easily find ourselves living in the land of the “if only”. But this is not our true home. For our world is ruled by our Father who works all things for our good (Romans 8:28). Our Father who can take our brokenness and sin and offer not only forgiveness but freedom from our guilt (Hebrews 10:22). A Father who does not leave us alone in our efforts but whose Spirit works in us so we can complete the good works he has created us to do (Ephesians 2:10). We do not strive alone in a current of chaos.
That’s not to say there isn’t pain and regret in our lives. But, rather than offering us a Time-Turner, God offers us a better world. Not a second attempt but a renewed creation, free from pain and suffering and sin. A reality more compelling than any fantasy, where our greatest foe will be vanquished for good (Revelation 20:10) and we can sing “all will be well” with confidence.
