With the play officially open in the West End, it is only right that the script is published for those who can’t get tickets through legitimate means or just want to revisit the story again…but is it worth a read?
Many fans were disappointed on reading their copies of the new story that it was a script as opposed to a novel, leading to claims that J.K.Rowling in someway disappointed them or let them down. Not true.
As a Harry Potter fan and a great reader who, like many would normally find it difficult to read a script to get the story across – but in this case it was just as easy as reading any novel.
The main reason for this is because the stage directions have been written in a very similar style to the original Harry Potter novels, that same sense of humour and descriptive nature that is beloved from the original series – just in less detail.
Perhaps it is this lack of detail and the reader having to use their imagination more creatively than from reading the likes of Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone that some people are struggling with, which admittedly is a bit of a struggle at the beginning but the further into the story you get, the more absorbed you get – so stick with it.
It wouldn’t be fair to discuss the plot for those intending on seeing the show or reading the script for themselves, but there is certainly plenty of twists and turns to keep readers on the edge of their seats involving a variety of different characters. But there are a lot of ‘what ifs’ as well, twisting elements of the story around and giving it a new perspective that is really quite intriguing.
Again, there have been a few comments about it being simply ‘fan fiction’ but I didn’t see it like that. I see it as more of an opportunity to properly tie up the loose ends of the story, which did seem to be left hanging at the end of Deathly Hallows as well as a chance to see how the characters we know and love grew up into adult life in the wizarding world.
With this new story, readers and audiences get to see familiar characters from a very different perspective, throwing into light elements of their character that were perhaps slightly hidden in the books but can come to life properly on stage and even in the script.
Engaging, gripping and entertaining, it is the fitting conclusion to a story that has captured the world’s imagination. If you are a Harry Potter fan but not convinced by the idea of script rather than a novel then give it a chance – you will be hooked as the little seven or eight year old girl sitting on the train near me the other week looked reading it and I can’t wait to see how it all comes together on the stage.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is available to buy on Amazon now.