I had intended this to be a review of the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child script book but I can’t do it. I know a lot of people who have only read the script didn’t like it and I think I know the reason why. Reading the script is nothing like actually seeing the play. It’s sort of similar to how you can’t really enjoy a musical soundtrack until you’ve actually seen the musical because it misses out on so much of the context.
I realise you get the stage directions in the book (which are really weird by the way, this must be the only script to make jokes in the stage directions) but even the stage directions don’t fully convey what’s actually happening in the theatre. There is a moment in these plays which might just be the most terrifying thing I’ve seen in the theatre, but in the book it’s a single sentence. The two don’t compare.
DON’T READ THE CURSED CHILD SCREENPLAY
I think part of the problem with Cursed Child has been all the hype surrounding it. I mean everyone has been calling it the 8th Harry Potter book. And it’s just not. It’s a story told in the Potter universe but this is not a Harry Potter book. It’s a script. I’m now going to say something which may annoy people. If you are a fan of Harry Potter don’t read this book.
This story was intended to be told as a play and that is the way you should see it. And yeah I realise a lot of people can’t see the play due to money problems or living too far away from London. The theatre is inherently elitist because you actually have to go somewhere and pay to see it. But this is a problem with all the shows currently running not just Cursed Child.
Oh I should also mention, I’ve heard rumors that the script in this book is not the final version from the show. And though I spotted some minor changes from the book the two are very similar (but then again, it’s been two months since I saw the play and my memory is terrible).
The Paper Kind 
11 responses to “Don’t Read Harry Potter and The Cursed Child”
I am a massive theatre nerd, and I get that plays should be seen as live theatre, and not as plays. But my problem with Cursed Child was that the actual basic story is boring and crap and cringey. In my mind no amount of fantastic staging (and I fully appreciate that it probably LOOKS amazing from a staging point of view!) can make up for the fact that I hated the story!
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Yeah there were definitely some problems with the story, I wrote a whole post just about that. But I still ended up enjoying it. Or maybe it’s better to say I don’t hate it.
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I see your point. I’ve tried reading it but gave up.
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Yeah I nearly gave up a few times too.
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I wish I have the means to actually go and watch it. However, I agree with you. There is definitely a difference in reading experience.
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I couldn’t read it. I got about 100 pages in and had to give up, sadly 😦
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Yeah I understand why. I nearly gave up a few times.
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Tbh, I read it and really enjoyed it. The story was a bit odd, and yeah, it’s weird reading it as a script. But I think it’s really a preference thing. I have a lot of friends who hated it, and a lot who loved it. I wish I were able to see the play, but London is very far away
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Yeah it’s definitely a love it or hate it kind of story. It doesn’t help that it’s Harry Potter which has been such a huge thing for so many people.
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Well said.
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I am a 10 year old boy living in India. I am a big Harry Potter fan. I have read the script of the Cursed Child. We don’t have theatre performances of this here. I have just started writing similar mystery and adventure stories on my blog : https://shortstories4kids.wordpress.com/. Would love to have your feedback on my stories
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