Not many directors can say they have followed the same path as author JK Rowling, such as John Tiffany. He was in Edinburgh about 20 years ago, in a cafe bar for meetings, when he spotted a familiar face on the same corner writing for three hours. “And about 18 months later she stopped coming, but I saw her face in the papers and she had written this book. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. And I just thought, ‘Oh, wow, I thought she was in a terrible play!'” He shared his shock with members of the press who were seeing the play for the first time in the region.
Of course, Rowling recognized him when he touted his expertise as a theater director, and she persuaded him to do it. “We’ve been very, very close since then and I think it’s a long story, you know, I was there when she wrote her first book, which was then rejected by 17 publishers,” he told us proudly. Together with Rowling and Jack Thorne, the trio developed the plot of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (HPATCC). The play was written specifically for the theater and consists of two parts. Each part lasts just over two hours – fans can watch the play consecutively or spread over two days.
Producer Michael Cassel, who watched the audience’s reactions from the back of the theater, was fascinated that the loyal fans did not give away any spoilers: “I have to say, since we started previews here a few weeks ago, it has been wonderful to see the audience come, experience the theater and walk out at the end of the first part and whisper to each other: ‘What? Yes, what just happened, what will happen in the second part?'”
Melbourne is the third city in the world to host the HPATCC, after London and New York. A production in San Francisco has also been announced for 2019, along with the first non-English version of the play in Hamburg. The Princess Theatre in Melbourne is performing this play and the response has been phenomenal. It was difficult to get tickets, but that just goes to show that the magic of Harry Potter is here to stay.
The 132-year-old theatre has undergone over six months of maintenance since February 2018, with the entire facade being repainted in the original colours and using a historic “mineral silica” paint system. Inside the theatre, be sure to spot the Harry Potter “H” script on the carpets and wallpaper, as well as the “nest” on the outside of the theatre. Nest and child together weigh around 1,000 kg. and was first hung in London, where it sits on the roof of the Palace Theatre. In New York, two nests are located on 42nd Street and on a billboard on 43rd Street.
The Australian-New Zealand production features a crew of 70 and a cast of 42, led by Gareth Reeves as Harry Potter, Lucy Goleby as his wife Ginny Potter and Sean Rees-Wemyss as their son Albus Potter; Gyton Grantley as Ron Weasley, Paula Arundell as Hermione Granger and Manali Datar as their daughter Rose Granger-Weasley; Tom Wren as Draco Malfoy and William McKenna as his son Scorpius Malfoy.
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The plot revolves around Harry Potter’s son Albus Severus, who is a true rebel at heart but enrolls at Hogwarts like his father and meets Scorpius Malfoy (yes, the son of Harry’s arch-enemy Draco). The two form a strong friendship that leads them into an interesting labyrinth of self-discovery, loyalty and wisdom.
As a newcomer who hasn’t read the books or seen the movies, the plot of HPATCC was easy to follow – each character gets enough time on stage to develop the specifics of their role – but I missed certain flashbacks relevant to the movies. What I really enjoyed, though, was the choreography around the props, a mastery of dance and movement in flowing capes and dresses that you could tell were beautifully tailored. There were a few “magical” moments on stage, theatrical tricks if I can call them that, but I don’t want to spoil the suspense for you.
This trip is sponsored by Visit Victoria and Qantas Airways. Qantas Airways flies to Melbourne twice daily. For more information: https://www.harrypottertheplay.com/au/
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