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Author |
|
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Series | Harry Potter |
Genre | Fantasy, Drama |
Published | 31 July 2016 (Special Rehearsal Edition) 25 July 2017 (Definitive Collector's Edition) |
Publisher |
|
Publication date | 31 July 2016 |
Publication place | United Kingdom |
Pages | 328 (Special Rehearsal Edition) 321 (Definitive Collector's Edition) |
ISBN | 978-1-338-09913-3 (US); 978-0-7515-6535-5 (UK) |
Both parts of the stage play's script have been released in print and digital formats as Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – Parts One and Two. [133] [134]
The first edition, the Special Rehearsal Edition, corresponded to the script used in the preview shows and was published on 31 July 2016, [135] the date of Harry's birthday in the series and Rowling's birthday, as well. [136] Since revisions to the script continued after the book was printed, an edited version was released on 25 July 2017, as the "Definitive Collector's Edition". [137] According to CNN, this was the most preordered book of 2016. [138]
In the United States and Canada, the book sold over 2 million copies in its first two days of release. [139] 847,885 copies were sold during the book's first week of release in the United Kingdom. By June 2017, the book had sold over 4.5 million copies in the United States. [140]
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has received a range of reviews from critics. [141] [142] [143] [144] Some audiences and critics have complimented the casting and performances, while many debate the quality of the piece and how it compares to entries in the main Harry Potter series.
Publications awarding five-star ratings included The Independent , the London Evening Standard , The Stage and WhatsOnStage.com. [145] [146] [147] [148] The Telegraph also gave five, although "there are some quibbles," while The Guardian's Michael Billington awarded four stars. [149] [150] According to Book Marks, the play's script received "positive" reviews (or a "A-" [151] ) based on ten critic reviews with four being "rave" and four "positive" and two "mixed". [152]
Anthony Boyle's performance as Scorpius Malfoy garnered particular acclaim. WhatsOnStage.com wrote that "Boyle gives a career-making performance," while The Wall Street Journal described him as "the break-out performance". [148] [153] Variety 's critic, Matt Trueman, agreed, writing, "it's Boyle who really stands out", and both Trueman and Henry Hitchings, in the Evening Standard, noted that his performance was sure to be a fan favourite. [146] [154]
The play was met with a polarising response from the Harry Potter fandom. [155] Fans responded positively to the play and its characters, with Scorpius Malfoy being particularly popular. [156] Some fans commented that the dialogue between the familiar characters was "spot on". [157] Others have noted that the play sheds light on some of the relationships between the characters, such as Harry and Dumbledore's. [158] The response had been particularly positive among fans who watched the play on stage. [159]
In response to the play's book-form publication, some fans said its story seemed more "like a work of fan fiction" and said that it diverged from previously established rules of the universe, criticising the script's characterisation. [160] [161] [162] Some also took issue with the style and plot of the script, complaining that the Time-Turner storylines had already been used, as had Cedric Diggory's death, and that the writers were rehashing old storylines and over-played tropes of the fantasy/sci-fi genre. [163] [164]
The stage play's "ambiguously gay" portrayal of the male friendship between Albus Potter and Scorpius Malfoy has been criticized as an example of "queerbaiting", [165] [166] with director John Tiffany stating his belief that it "would not [have] been appropriate" for The Cursed Child to directly address the characters' sexualities. [167] [168] [169]
Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | Tony Awards | Best Play | Won | [170] [171] | |
Best Actor in a Play | Jamie Parker | Nominated | |||
Best Featured Actor in a Play | Anthony Boyle | Nominated | |||
Best Featured Actress in a Play | Noma Dumezweni | Nominated | |||
Best Direction of a Play | John Tiffany | Won | |||
Best Choreography | Steven Hoggett | Nominated | |||
Best Scenic Design in a Play | Christine Jones | Won | |||
Best Costume Design in a Play | Katrina Lindsay | Won | |||
Best Lighting Design in a Play | Neil Austin | Won | |||
Best Sound Design in a Play | Gareth Fry | Won | |||
Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play | Anthony Boyle | Nominated | [172] | |
Outstanding Director of a Play | John Tiffany | Won | |||
Outstanding Music in a Play | Imogen Heap | Won | |||
Outstanding Costume Design for a Play | Katrina Lindsay | Nominated | |||
Outstanding Lighting Design for a Play | Neil Austin | Won | |||
Outstanding Projection Design | Finn Ross and Ash Woodward | Won | |||
Outstanding Sound Design in a Play | Gareth Fry | Won | |||
Outstanding Wig and Hair Design | Carole Hancock | Nominated | |||
Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding New Broadway Play | Won | [173] | ||
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play | Anthony Boyle | Nominated | |||
Outstanding New Score (Broadway or Off-Broadway) | Imogen Heap | Nominated | |||
Outstanding Director of a Play | John Tiffany | Won | |||
Outstanding Choreographer | Steven Hoggett | Nominated | |||
Outstanding Scenic Design (Play or Musical) | Christine Jones | Won | |||
Outstanding Costume Design (Play or Musical) | Katrina Lindsay | Nominated | |||
Outstanding Lighting Design (Play or Musical) | Neil Austin | Won | |||
Outstanding Projection Design (Play or Musical) | Finn Ross and Ash Woodward | Won | |||
Outstanding Sound Design (Play or Musical) | Gareth Fry | Won | |||
Drama League Awards | Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Play | Won | [174] | ||
Distinguished Performance Award | Anthony Boyle | Nominated | |||
Noma Dumezweni | Nominated | ||||
2020 | Grammy Award | Best Musical Theater Album | Imogen Heap (producer & composer) | Nominated | [175] |
Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | Helpmann Awards | Best Play | Nominated | [176] | |
Best Male Actor in a Play | William McKenna | Nominated | |||
Best Female Actor in a Play | Paula Arundell | Nominated | |||
Best Original Score | Imogen Heap | Nominated | |||
Best Scenic Design | Christine Jones | Nominated | |||
Best Costume Design | Katrina Lindsay | Nominated | |||
Best Lighting Design | Neil Austin | Won | |||
Best Sound Design | Gareth Fry | Nominated |
Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | Dora Awards | Outstanding General Theatre Production | Nominated | [177] | |
Outstanding Performance in a Featured Role | Gregory Prest | Nominated | |||
Sarah Afful | Nominated | ||||
Outstanding Direction | John Tiffany | Nominated | |||
Outstanding Sound Design/Composition | Imogen Heap and Gareth Fry | Nominated | |||
Outstanding Scenic/Projection Design | Christine Jones, Finn Ross and Ash J. Woodward | Nominated | |||
Outstanding Costume Design | Katrina Lindsay | Nominated | |||
Outstanding Lighting Design | Neil Austin | Won |
In July 2016, Warner Bros. Entertainment applied to purchase the rights to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, leading to speculation that the stage play was going to become a film, despite earlier claims, most notably from Harry Potter creator J. K. Rowling, that a film adaptation was not being made. [178] [179]
In November 2021, Chris Columbus, who previously directed the first two installments of the Harry Potter film series, expressed interest in directing a film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, with the intent of having the main cast members reprise their roles. [180] [181] [182] [183] When The New York Times asked Daniel Radcliffe if he would be ready to return to his role as Harry Potter, he replied that he was not interested in it at the moment, but would not deny the possibility of returning sometime in the future. [184] [185]
Draco Lucius Malfoy is a fictional character and a major antagonist in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. He is a student in Harry Potter's year belonging in the Slytherin house. He is frequently accompanied by his two cronies, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle, who act as henchmen. Draco is characterised as a cowardly bully who tricks and hurts people to get what he wants; he is also a cunning user of magic. He was played by Tom Felton in the Harry Potter film series.
Hermione Granger is a fictional character in the Harry Potter series of novels by J. K. Rowling. She first appeared in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (1997), as a first-year student on her way to Hogwarts. She becomes friends with Harry Potter and Ron Weasley after they save her from a troll in the girls' bathroom. Hermione often uses her quick wit, deft recall, and encyclopaedic knowledge to help her friends in perilous situations. Rowling has stated that Hermione resembles herself as a young girl, with her insecurity and fear of failure.
Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore is a fictional character in the Harry Potter series of novels by J. K. Rowling. For most of the series, he is the headmaster of the wizarding school Hogwarts. He is also the founder and leader of the Order of the Phoenix, an organisation dedicated to fighting the Dark wizard Lord Voldemort.
The Death Eaters are characters featured in the Harry Potter series of novels and films. They are a radical group of wizards and witches, led by the dark wizard Lord Voldemort, who seek to purify the wizarding community by eliminating wizards and witches born to non-magical parents. They attempt to create a new order within the Ministry of Magic by spreading fear through the wizarding community and murdering those who speak out against them. Their primary opposition is the Order of the Phoenix.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is a 2001 fantasy film directed by Chris Columbus and produced by David Heyman from a screenplay by Steve Kloves. It is based on the 1997 novel Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J. K. Rowling. It is the first instalment in the Harry Potter film series. The film stars Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, with Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley, and Emma Watson as Hermione Granger. Its story follows Harry's first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as he discovers that he is a famous wizard and begins his formal wizarding education.
The Harry Potter universe contains numerous settings for the events in the novels, films and other media. These locations are divided into four categories: Residences, Education, Commerce, and Government.
Harry James Potter is a fictional character in the Harry Potter series of novels by J. K. Rowling. The plot of the seven-book series chronicles seven years in the life of the orphan Harry, who, on his eleventh birthday, learns he is a wizard. He attends Hogwarts, a school of magic, where he receives guidance from the headmaster Albus Dumbledore and becomes friends with Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. Harry learns that during his infancy, the Dark wizard Lord Voldemort murdered his parents but was unable to kill him as well. The plot of the series revolves around Harry's struggle to adapt to the wizarding world and defeat Voldemort.
The following is a list of magical objects that appear in the Harry Potter novels and film adaptations.
The Harry Potter fandom is the community of fans of the Harry Potter books and films who participate in entertainment activities that revolve around the series, such as reading and writing fan fiction, creating and soliciting fan art, engaging in role-playing games, socialising on Harry Potter-based forums, and more. The fandom interacts online as well as offline through activities such as fan conventions, participating in cosplay, tours of iconic landmarks relevant to the books and production of the films, and parties held for the midnight release of each book and film.
Poppy Miller is an English actress.
Harry Potter is a series of fantasy novels by J. K. Rowling.
Rubeus Hagrid is a fictional character in the Harry Potter series of novels by J. K. Rowling. He was introduced in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) as a half-giant who is the gamekeeper and groundskeeper at the wizarding school Hogwarts. He is a member of the Order of the Phoenix and eventually becomes the Care of Magical Creatures professor. Hagrid is portrayed by Robbie Coltrane in all eight Harry Potter films.
Ronald Bilius Weasley is a fictional character in the Harry Potter series of novels by J. K. Rowling. He is introduced in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone as a first-year student on his way to the wizarding school Hogwarts. During the school year, Ron befriends Harry Potter and Hermione Granger. Being the only member of the trio who was raised in wizarding society, he provides insight into wizarding customs and traditions. Along with Harry and Hermione, he is a member of Gryffindor House at Hogwarts and is present for most of the action throughout the series. Ron is portrayed by Rupert Grint in all eight Harry Potter films.
Ginevra Molly "Ginny" Weasley is a fictional character in the Harry Potter series of novels by J.K. Rowling. She is introduced in the first novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, as the youngest child and only daughter of Arthur and Molly Weasley. She becomes romantically involved with Harry Potter and eventually marries him. Ginny is portrayed by Bonnie Wright in all eight Harry Potter films.
A Very Potter Musical is a musical with music and lyrics by Darren Criss and A. J. Holmes and a book by Matt Lang, Nick Lang and Brian Holden. The story is a parody, based on several of the Harry Potter novels by J. K. Rowling, as well as their film adaptations.
The Wizarding World is a fantasy media franchise and shared fictional universe centred on the Harry Potter novel series by J. K. Rowling. A series of films have been in production since 2000, and in that time eleven films have been produced—eight are adaptations of the Harry Potter novels and three are part of the Fantastic Beasts series. The films are owned and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. The series has collectively grossed over $9.6 billion at the global box office, making it the fourth-highest-grossing film franchise of all time.
Bellatrix Lestrange (née Black) is a fictional character in the Harry Potter book series written by J. K. Rowling. She evolved from an unnamed peripheral character in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire into a major antagonist in subsequent novels. In the final installment of the story, Rowling established her as Lord Voldemort's "last, best lieutenant". Bellatrix was the first female Death Eater introduced in the books. Bellatrix had a fanatic obsession with the Dark Lord although she was clearly fearful of his magical abilities and absolute power over his forces. She is almost as sadistic and homicidal as Lord Voldemort, with a psychotic personality.
Luna Lovegood is a fictional character in the Harry Potter series of novels by J. K. Rowling. She first appears in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2003). She is portrayed by Evanna Lynch in the Harry Potter films.
In fandom, Scorbus, also known as Albus Potter/Scorpius Malfoy, is the pairing of the fictional characters Albus Severus Potter and Scorpius Malfoy, major characters in the 2016 play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child from the Harry Potter franchise. It is a form of shipping. The two characters were initially only friends canonically. A later revision to the play following accusations of queerbaiting made their relationship more explicitly romantic.
The play, written by Jack Thorne, is set 19 years after the seventh and final book in the series by JK Rowling.
Responding to (a small pocket of) negative discussion of the casting, she tweeted: "Canon: brown eyes, frizzy hair, and very clever. White skin was never specified. Rowling loves black Hermione." UPDATE: Hold up, maybe the logic isn't quite so airtight.
JK Rowling tweeted this morning that she'd never specified Hermione's skin color in the books
As a longtime "Harry Potter" enthusiast myself, I regretfully agree with the vocal minority who did not enjoy "Cursed Child" and would rather it wasn't part of Harry Potter's story.