Review: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts One and Two

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts One and Two by J.K. Rowling
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It is important to note that this book is a play script and it was not exclusively written by J.K. Rowling. I'm not sure how much of it is by Rowling herself. The story follows Harry and Ginny Potter's son, Albus, nineteen years after the final installment of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Albus and Harry have a strained father / son relationship that seems to be exacerbated by Albus being placed in the Slytherin house at Hogwarts, along with Draco Malfoy's son Scorpius. The two boys become fast friends while their fathers remain enemies. After an argument with his father and overhearing a special request from an old family friend, Albus goes off to school and recruits his friend Scorpius to right a past wrong. In near Harry Potter fashion, the boys cause more problems than fix, causing the whole cast of original Potter characters to intervene.

I consider myself a Potter fan, but not an uber-fan. I enjoyed the script, but something seemed to be off. It doesn't quite hold the same excitement and it seems like the script writers are just trying to recreate Potter with a new generation. I would go see the show. Maybe the appeal would be better in person. Personally, I'd be good with the series ending as it did and see a new series for kids (and adults!). Uber-fans will likely enjoy this script. For others, it will probably only garner an "okay" rating.

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