‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ can be seen at The Princess Theatre, 163 Spring Street, Melbourne near the Parliament tube station and on the free tram, circle route. This, the eighth story in the Harry Potter series, can be seen in two parts, each about two- and three-quarter hours long. You can choose to see each part on different days, as some children may find the full five and half hours, plus a three-hour dinner break a little long; although most 12 yrs. olds came out glowing and far from nodding off. The alternative is two consecutive evening shows.
This eight-and-a-half-hour marathon is now booking until May next year, with each ticket – and you will need TWO – costing around $200 each (i.e. $400 for adult’s double). The large cast, massive stage crew and numerous techs gave their all for every second of the whole show so you will experience and see the value.
All tickets are paid for when booked but can only be picked up at the actual theatre on the day of the performance. This is to stop Internet scams.
For reasons that I won’t mention, the best seats are probably rows L, M, and N 16 – 24 stalls.
The quality memorabilia costs were at an acceptable level.
‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ is an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, and is the first book to be officially adapted for the stage. Having won 24 major theatre awards in the UK it became the most-awarded production in the history of Britain’s prestigious Olivier Awards, winning a record-breaking nine awards including ‘Best New Play’ and ‘Best Director’.
The play opened on Broadway a year ago and has already won 6 Tony Awards including ‘Best Play’, 6 Outer Critics Circle Awards, 5 Drama Desk Awards and many more.
The scene: twenty years after the last book. Harry now works at the Ministry of Magic, is married and has three children including a young son Albus, who is about to start at a boarding school!
I am not going to even begin any more of the story, as the audience were ordered to #Keep the Secret – at risk of death.
The stage crew, like all of the scholars, are in black flowing robes which are swept over a table or chair that has to be moved. By the time the cape drops back down to floor level the item has disappeared. Expect real magic, fabulous lighting and sound effects that will have your seat shaking.
As a Potter virgin, I only knew about six characters, but the audience were generally well tuned in. One character walked onto the stage – whom I thought looked very normal – but the gasp from the audience and the ‘Oh no!’ in unison had me reassessing the situation.
The actors kept up an incredible pace through this marathon. Sang, danced and suffered physically. Incredible.
A lot of money, but a show to remember for EVER.