Until Oct. 4, audiences can get a taste of the wizarding world through the Providence Performing Arts Center’s production of six-time Tony Award-winning “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.” Based on an original play by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” brings the movie magic of the Harry Potter universe to life on stage.
Set around two decades after the Battle of Hogwarts, the play follows the children of the original series’s main characters — Hermione Granger (Rachel Leslie), Ron Weasley (Matt Harrington), Harry Potter (Nick Dillenburg) and Draco Malfoy (Ryan Hallahan) — as they attempt to go back in time to save the life of Cedric Diggory (Josh Bates).
The production opens with a musical sequence, full of bustling students and suitcases that float around as if suspended by magic. Viewers follow Albus Potter (Adam Grant Morrison) as he runs through Platform 9¾ to catch his first Hogwarts Express. When he hits the wall, the entire stage lights up in red, and his ordinary clothing whirls into school robes. This transformation is just the first of many stage effects that immerse the audience in what feels like real magic.
Albus quickly befriends Draco’s son Scorpius Malfoy (David Fine) on the train, and the two boys’ first year at Hogwarts passes in a blur of flying lessons — during which students’ brooms literally ascend into their hands. Their second and third years rush by in a montage of classes, and Albus struggles with both his magic and making friends.
The opening of the production sets a high bar for the advanced stage effects that bring the books to life. While the actors themselves perform their roles to a tee, it is the smoke coming from the ground, the flares shooting out of wands and the dramatic swishing of cloaks that make the magic feel real. The production appeals to those nostalgic for the Harry Potter universe by incorporating many familiar sets, including the Quidditch pitch, the library and the potions classroom — all of which transport the audience directly into the wizarding world.
The remainder of the show follows Albus, Scorpius and Cedric’s cousin Delphi Diggory (Julia Nightingale) as they try to save Cedric. The actors especially excel in a scene where the characters use Polyjuice Potion, which transforms the drinker’s appearance into someone else’s likeness. After physically transforming on stage, they convince audiences that they really are Scorpius pretending to be Harry and Albus pretending to be Ron.
During their first attempt to time travel, Scorpius and Albus find themselves in a new world created by the ripple effects of their travel. Harry, a hardened version of himself, forces Albus away from Scorpius, leading to a confrontation with Draco, Harry’s old enemy. Spells bounce off of furniture on the set, throwing chairs through the air and spinning the actors around — another display of advanced stagecraft that immerses audiences in the magic.
After a second attempt to save Cedric, Scorpius finds himself alone in a world where Harry dies in the Battle of Hogwarts and Albus is never born. In this timeline, Scorpius encounters Hermione Granger, now a wanted woman, and Severus Snape, a double agent. Scenes of Scorpius and Snape discussing the alternative world from which Scorpius hails are emotional and touching, a break from the slew of action-packed sequences.
These emotional scenes are scattered throughout the production. In one moment of reflection, Harry and Ginny Potter (Trish Lindstrom) discuss how best to show Albus their love — dialogue that hits home for parents and teens alike. While the production is centered on magic, it also argues that love and friendship are crucial to any relationship.
While the production itself faithfully translates the page to the stage, it is the stage effects and set design that truly bring the magic of Harry Potter to life. Ghoulish Dementors made of flowing silk float down from the ceiling, and glowing Time-Turners cast the entire crew in golden light. Improbable and impossible things take place before the audience’s eyes, contributing to a sense of fantastical adventure. PPAC’s production of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” creates pure magic out of the ordinary.
