#cursed child notes

I got to see Cursed Child on tour in Boston! This is a slightly more edited down version of the one part show in NYC. Here are some more detailed notes!

Staging: So I was sitting really high up in the balcony but this allowed me to notice something - You could see at the front of the stage letters engraved on the floor: INLUSTRET LUMINE. I know that Inlustret Lumine was written on the stage of the Palace theatre, but I've never seen or noticed it at the New York theatre, so it was really cool that they included this detail in the touring production! For anyone who doesn't know, Inlustret Lumine is kind of like the unofficial slogan for the show, it means "let the light shine" which is just so fitting 🥹

Obviously a few changes had to be made to accommodate a touring production. Most noticeable was that there was no "lake." Instead they just used lighting to look like water, and Scorpius and Albus came from the back of the dark stage. I definitely missed how impactful it is when after Scorp comes back from the world of darkness, Albus pops up in the water next to him. But hey, I get they couldn't really bring their own water tank 😂

Also in the scene where they are swimming in the lake to charm Cedric, it looked like it was a video recording on a screen. I'm pretty sure in the main productions they actually have the actors on wires to look like they're swimming. I'm not positive on this, but I'm pretty sure.

When Snape casts his doe patronus, they also used a screen/projection which was just the doe's head, instead of the doe puppet. Definitely disappointed in this one since the puppet looks so cool!

Also understandably they couldn't cover the whole theatre with Delphi's message, so that was kept to the stage. It was still a cool effect but I'll never forget being so shook when it's revealed to be all around you!

Script and Scene Changes: Before going I re-read the original two-part script to refresh myself. They got rid of all the flashback/dream sequences which I get, but I really miss the character building scenes between Harry/Ginny, Harry/Albus, Draco/Scorpius and Hermione/Ron. I'm still pretty sad at how flat Ron's character is.

The World of Darkness scenes are noticeably shorter, including only the opening scene, Scorpius talking to Umbridge, and then Scorp going to find Snape. No Draco scene, Blood Ball, or Scorpion King. In the NYC version I saw in 2022, I made a note that they had actually changed "Scorpion King" to "Scorpion Prince" so there must have been SOME conversation with Polly that they totally cut out. (Still don't understand why they felt the need to change King to Prince 😂)

Another change for the one part version I don't understand: They remove the detail that when they turn time for the first time, Albus is sorted into Gryffindor not Slytherin. I get they were trying to cut time, but having that twist really wouldn't have taken up that much time! And I love how later it makes Harry and Albus realize, "our problems didn't start when I got sorted into Slytherin--It's deeper than that."

They also did not include Dumbledore being out his portrait in the forbidden forest. (Not sure if this was in the original production but I had called it out as being different when I saw it in 2022.)

Finally the biggest and most important change.... Albus and Scorpius at the end! The change from asking Rose out (which let's face it was always completely forced and out of left field) to instead asking her to be his friend is just sooooo heartwarmingly nice. I believe these are the lines:

Scorpius: "Pity is a start. A foundation on which to build a palace--a palace of harmony!"

Albus: "And, is that who you want to build your palace with? [Might have been "And, is that who you want in your palace?"]

And then they just STARE. AT. EACH OTHER. For a long time!! It almost looked like they're leaning into kiss before they get interrupted by Rose. Afterwards when Scorp leaves, Albus sits down on the staircase and looks really smitten/happy, like he's finally figured it out 🥹😭

When Albus and Harry talk, and he says "You know, right?" It sounds SO MUCH like a coming out. "You know right? That Scorpius is the most important person in my life. And he might aways be in the most important person in my life?"

Harry: "I think if Scorpius is going to be most important person in your life, that's a very good thing. I like Scorpius."

Oh, Harry. I really disliked the idea of making Harry a bad dad, but this redeemed it for me. Harry is finally able to see Albus for who he is. He isn't blinded by love anymore. Instead, he just accepts him, and that is a very very beautiful thing to see.

When I first saw this change in 2022, I still felt like it too open and not explicit enough. I still felt like it had an air of queer-baiting, but seeing it again I've actually changed my mind. I think it's pretty damn explicit, and they basically took it as far as they could. Would it be great to see them kiss or hold hands on stage? Yes, but at end this story is about Albus and Harry's relationship, and I understand they didn't want to over shadow that in the final scenes. But c'mon, Scorbus is canon, how amazing is that? 🥹

Actor Notes: Each Scorpius actor that've seen is very, very high energy. The original Scorpius, Anthony Boyle, definitely had the most grating voice, so I'm glad the other Scorps don't take his voice quite so far. My Scorp was actually a little effeminate which was super cute to see.

My Harry, Nick Dillenburg, had a think the deepest Harry voice I've heard! My Ginny was an understudy, Erica Sweany, and was actually the same Ginny I saw in 2022 and she was amazing! Draco was good, very very dry humor. The Sorting Hat actor is Caribbean mixed and he actually spoke the Sorting Hat with a slight Jamaican/Caribbean accent which was so fun!

The scorpion king spends a lot of time anxiously fiddling with his robes, he doesn’t know what to do with himself :(

Craig!Karl did an excellent high kick as he ran over to the scorpion king (probs to try and impress him ;))

Luke!Yann was making intense eye contact with the scorpion king as he checked whether they were ;) still ;) on ;) for ;) tonight

Yann and Karl do a very enthusiastic chant on “VOLDEMORT”

Lola!Polly pointing out as she spelt f a c t and then doing a very dramatic hair flick

“Taking to the ball” Lola was bobbing up and down like an excited penguin

“Oh Potter” was followed by the loudest “eurghhhhhh” ever like she was genuinely disgusted

“The future is ours to make” she waved her hands in the air and did a dramatic little squeal

As the staircases went off Lola!Polly collapsed down on the stairs and fanned herself after her moment with the scorpion king

The scene in Dracos office is always super super intense with Jon!Scorpius. He gets worked up very quickly, he simply cannot believe his father would be responsible for all these cruel things and he’s learnt to not bottle up how he feels anymore and he just explodes- very similarly to the library scene :(

After getting his head slammed on the table Jon kinda stays there sobbing for a bit, he’s so broken at this awful world he’s found himself in

Draco finds himself crying and fiddling with his wedding ring at the mention of Astoria and hurridly busys himself with tidying his desk as a distraction

Both of the boys were incredibly emotional and crying as they spoke about Scorpius’s mother 🥺

Draco comes to give his son a reassuring tap on the chest, but Scorpius fully flinches himself away from him, he is so scarred by the violent way his father treated him moments ago and doesn’t feel safe

When Jon mentions Albus he got all choked up on the line “my best friend” as if he knew that it was very likely he wouldn’t ever get to see him again

When Hermione whipped her wand out at him Scorpius was so panicked and fell to the floor in terror, he’s so scared and as Hermione is on top of him he lies there shaking and twitching his foot, he’s so scared of the pain that might be inflicted on him :( - which makes the torture scene and the crucios later on so much worse

Scorpius tried to point out to Ron that his wands the wrong way round

I cannot remember for the life of me what was going on here but I have in my notes “Tom reaching out his hands and jazz handing at the dementors” and I felt like that needed to be shared

Scorpius took the biggest gulp before going into the lake, he knows the fate of the world relies on him

I adore how excited Dombus is about seeing a mermaid and then he dramatically re-enacts the ‘pincers’ and flails his arms around dramatically

The lake hug is one of the cutest hugs ever they’re both just so happy to see each other and hug so tight 🥺

Jon whacked the tie into the pool with such force it splashed Dom so hard

Draco imitates the awkward way Scorpius says ‘hello dad’ so sassily with a little wave

Dombus tries so hard to pretend like he’s got no idea what the time turner is - he’s not a good liar ;)

In trouble again! Had some great moments including but not limited to Luke!Yannns iconic staircase cartwheel parkour display, and Rayxia shouting at Ronnie to “go that wayyyyy”

Draco is such a little suck up to Mcgonagall, he sticks his hand up and proudly says “seems fairrrr” he can’t help himself but be a teachers pet

On the stairs when RGW finds out she didn’t exist Ryan!James does the most reassuring shoulder pat, we stan supportive cousins

Doms reply of “no” after the are you okay is so broken and hurt and lost

Albus is properly snuggled up in the slytherin dorm scene, until Scorpius crawls out of bed and gets right round in his face to shout and wake him up

“Malfoy the unanxious” Jon puts his hands on his hips and looks so proud of himself 🥺

“I’m not sure being fearless is good for your health” on fearless Dom mocked Scorpius’s confident movements and it’s the cutest thing

Jon then sat down on the bed next to Albus as they had their little heart to heart, and Scorpius kept hugging his knees, there was a lot of touching going on here between the boys too

Albus tucks himself back into bed, ready for a good nights sleep before Scorpius ruins that chance

Ronnie!Cbj looked so worried when he realised scorbus were missing, we stan one prefect in training, he gave a determined nod at his orders from Minnie G and ran off as fast as he could

The owlery Scorpius drapes his legs down the stairs and has his hand resting right behind Albus leaning in super close

“A much underestimated part of modern witchcraft”- Scorpius then gave Albus a little nudge and it was super cute

Dombus gets very emotional when describing what the dark au was like :(( he thinks it’s all his fault

Scorpius was crouching as far away from Delphi as possible he was clearly very frightened of her :((

Michelle!Hermione was blushing so hard at the “I bloody love you” and giggling like a little girl as she tapped on Tom!Rons chest

Joward!Draco was full on shaking his head at Rons revelation of Albus and his ‘older girlfriend’ like he knew it couldn’t be true since it’s clear Albus is in love with his own son

After Ron messes up Scorpius’s name and calls him “scrupius” Joward angrily shouted “SCORPI” But got cut off before he could say scorpius and just ended up venting out scorpi and it was very sweet

Scorpius flinched as soon as the wand was pointed at him :(((

After Delphi turns to Scorpius, Albus screamed “NO, no PLEASE NO”

Dombus charges forward at Delphi on the first crucio, hes so desperate to try and save his friend, and when he gets stopped he writhes on the floor in pain but trying to get up and save Scorp

Jon collapses on the floor completly broken after the first crucio, everytime a wand had been pulled at him since the dark au hes flinched, afraid at what awful spell will come out of the wand- I think this is because he’s always been so enfatuated with magic, he loves it and all the clever ways it can be used to help people, but then he sees the horrors it can cause in the dark world and truly appreciates how the awful things it can do, and everytime a wand gets drawn on him he’s terrified, if he could use those awful spells in a situation like that then surely anyone could, and then it finally happens, hes tortured and it breaks him because he knows that another version of himself was using it on innocent people

Before the maze Luke was giving the biggest cheers and Gordon was waving his slytherin scarf around like a windmill

Act Four

In the second EGM there were several shouts of “SHAME” and “ridiculous!”

When Ron stepped up to defend his friends but said he had no idea what was going on everyone clapped

Scorpius nearly started tearing up when they mentioned Ceeby :(

Albus grabbed Scorpius’s hand (once again) to drag him along to godrics hollow :))

Lola waved at Luke after they put the pumpkins down and they did the biggest grin at each other and swunggggg their hands together as they exited :))

When hiding from bathilda bagshot Albus ran the furthest I’ve ever seen him run and had absolutely nowhere to hide so just stood by the wall at the front of the stage with his arms crossed and his head down trying his best to not look toooo suspicious (hint: it didn’t work)

Whilst watching his grandparents, Albus and Scorpius were stood super close together, Albus so happy he’s seeing his grandparents, Scorpius wanting to be as close to Albus as possible to make sure he’s okay

Both of the adorable little nerds were jumping up and down after seeing Bathilda Bagshot

Jamie!Harry is still sobbing over his interaction with Dumbledore and awkwardly turns away when Draco walks in because he doesn’t want to show how vulnerable he really is and puts on a brave face to the world

Joward!Dracos awkward laugh at this office will soon be mine is everything. “Hahahahah. Ha.”

Draco was getting very emotinal about Astoria and the blood malediction

Audience: all decide that this is the perfect moment to have a coughing fit

Albus speaks of his grandma with so much admiration and love

Scorbus are so excited about their plans, Dom grabbed Jons shoulders in pure excitement before realising it wouldn’t work

They both mime out the cot and standing over the baby and when Albus shouts “helpppppppp” dead seriously, he started jazz handing before they both collapsed into laughter at how stupid it was

If you’ve seen Doms Albus you’ll know what I’m on about but the pause after Scorpius says “I’d choose you” hes sooooo touched, and so happy about it that he’s literally speechless, and then he starts to open his mouth to say, ‘I’d choose you too” but then in true awkward Albus style he panics last minute and makes the joke about it but it’s so cute and you can see Scorpius knows that he would choose him too

Jon!Scorp listens so intensely to what Albus has to say, even when he has no idea what is going on, he wants to support him and bounces up and down with Albus because he knows he’s super clever and just needs the encouragement!

Tom!Ron leaning in for a hug after the “you’ve got really nice hair Draco” and Joward being super sassy and turning away

Scorpius ran away from Draco when he came towards him, he’s still haunted by the dark world :(

But then they leaned in for the hug and it lasted foreverrrrr neither of them wanted to let go and when they finally broke apart Joward started holding Jons cheeks 🥺

Albus and Ginny’s hug was super cute as always and then Albus kept his arm wrapped around ginny long after she broke apart

Susie and Jamie are the perfect Hinny, in the church they have a beautiful heart to heart and the they lean in together so that their foreheads are touching and it’s the cutest thing ever

Scorpius is glowing after being referred to as like Hermione, it means so much to him to be referred to the girl who was “the brightest witch of her age” and the current minister for magic

Scorpius does not want his dad to volunteer to be voldemort he’s shaking his head and trying to protect him in case something goes wrong and he loses the last member of his only family :(

After the suggestion of ‘zaPping” Delphi, Draco makes zapping hand actions before he can stop himself and then looks at his hands in absolute disgust

Albus steps in front of his dad when Draco makes a comment, he’s so desperate to protect him

There was a lot of reassuring holding going on with Scorbus as Albus watches his dad turn into voldemort :(

When Ron and Scorpius are looking out for Delphi, they were having a conversation and then Jon made binoculars with his hands to mime his being on the lookout

Dombus takes Harry’s wand away during Lily and James and just holds Jamie’s hand 🥺

Draco was stroking Scorpius’s head :((

Yolly did another hand hold as they walked across the stage and Lola!Polly was giggling :))

Jon says “oh yeah right” after the mention of Rose after their hug so quickly and confused, Rose is literally the last thing on Scorpius’s mind right then bless him

Jamie!Harry did a large shudder before muttering out “pigeons!!”

Jamie!Harry did the biggest laugh at Albus’s pigeon racing joke and it was reallyyyyy sweet

Oops! It’s been a week since my third visit and only now I am writing this! Better later than never.

Not sure if I can properly expand on the other notes I made and if I do, they are going to be heavily towards Harry and Ginny as I just couldn't keep my eyes off Jamie and Poppy both nights!

Warning: this could get long!