海角大神

Critics say the magic is real in the new London play 鈥淗arry Potter and the Cursed Child,鈥� which is set in the world of the popular boy wizard and which is earning stellar reviews.聽

鈥淧otter鈥� is currently in previews in the West End and is scheduled to officially open on July 30, which 鈥淧otter鈥� fans know is the day before Harry鈥檚 birthday. A version of the script of the show will be released in stores on July 31.聽

鈥淧otter鈥� stars Sam Clemmett as Albus Potter, son of Harry (played by Jamie Parker); and Ginny Potter (Poppy Miller); and Anthony Boyle as Scorpius Malfoy, son of Harry鈥檚 old school enemy, Draco (Alex Price). Paul Thornley and Noma Dumezweni play Ron and Hermione Weasley, respectively.聽

The play is directed by John Tiffany and the script is by Jack Thorne. 鈥淧otter鈥� author J.K. Rowling worked on the production.聽

So far, reviews of the new show have been very positive. While many reviewers are being secretive about the show鈥檚 plot, what about the production won them over?聽

praises the actor who took on the role of Harry, writing, 鈥淛amie Parker鈥� does Potter pain beautifully.鈥� Mr. Brantley also enjoyed Mr. Thornley and Ms. Dumezweni鈥檚 performances and wrote that 鈥淢r. Thorne, Mr. Tiffany and their movement director, Steven Hoggett, and set designer, Christine Jones 鈥� are all expert in mapping the intersection of the uncanny and the everyday. Along with a team that includes Katrina Lindsay (costumes), Neil Austin (lighting) and Imogen Heap (music), Mr. Tiffany and his cast conjure the self-contained world(s) of Ms. Rowling鈥檚 books with imagistic wit, precision and, occasionally, stark terror.鈥�

And was also impressed with Parker, writing that he is a 鈥渇ine actor鈥� and that the effects are impressive, with 鈥渃haracters constantly disappear[ing] inside magic cloaks, the scenery shak[ing] as if one of Harry鈥檚 many unpleasant dreams, fire and brimstone arrives when needed.鈥澛�

Mr. Jones felt it all came down to the messages of Ms. Rowling鈥檚 stories. 鈥溾�橦arry Potter and the Cursed Child鈥� works because it centers on, and feels so utterly consistent with, the two central themes of the Potter books. One is that every child deserves a loving family鈥�. Pain, Rowling always has written, is central to the human experience. Its arrival is inevitable. And thus parents cannot protect their children from agony, they only can prepare them.鈥�

Meanwhile, also praised Tiffany鈥檚 work, writing that he 鈥渉as masterminded a thrilling theatrical spectacle,鈥� though Mr. Billington writes that those who don鈥檛 know the details of the 鈥淧otter鈥� world may be a bit confused at times. 鈥淚 relied heavily on the expertise of my 11-year-old grandson,鈥� he writes. However, Billington writes that 鈥淚 got as much pleasure from the staging as from the convoluted story. Tiffany and his designer, Christine Jones, have created magic out of the simplest ingredients鈥�. Any danger that the effects would upstage the actors is overcome by a set of strong performances.鈥�