"Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" - Emerson Colonial Theatre (Boston, MA.) - REVIEW
(Cover Photo: A moment from "HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD" now playing at the Emerson Colonial Theatre in Boston, MA. through December 20, 2025. Photo Credit: Matthew Murphy)
By Kevin T. Baldwin
METRMAG Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
"Bravery doesn't forgive stupidity. Always think. Think what's possible."
- ("McGonagall") / Jack Thorne
The Emerson Colonial Theatre
Presents the Broadway Play
"HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD"
LIMITED ENGAGEMENT!
Six-Time Tony® Award-Winning Best Play
Produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender and HARRY POTTER Theatrical Productions.
Based on an original story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany
Written by Jack Thorne
Directed by John Tiffany
Cast Includes: Kaleb Alexander as “Sorting Hat,” Julianna Austin as “Polly Chapman,” Josh Bates as “Cedric Diggory/James Potter Jr./James Potter Sr.,” Danny Bó as “Yann Fredericks,” Ashley Bufkin as “Madam Hooch,” Nick Dillenburg as “Harry Potter,” David Fine as “Scorpius Malfoy,” Ryan Hallahan as “Draco Malfoy,” Matt Harrington as “Ron Weasley,” Abbi Hawk as “Trolley Witch,” Nathan Hosner as “Voldemort,” Chris Jarman as “Voice of Phone Box,” Torsten Johnson as “Professor Mazoni,” Katherine Leask as “Professor McGonagall/Professor Umbridge,” Rachel Leslie as “Hermione Granger,” Mackenzie Lesser-Roy as “Moaning Myrtle/Lily Potter, Sr.,” Trish Lindstrom as “Ginny Potter,” Naiya Vanessa McCalla as “Rose Granger-Weasley/Young Hermione,” Adam Grant Morrison as “Albus Potter,” Julia Nightingale as “Delphi Diggory,” Zach Norton as “Karl Jenkins/Viktor Krum,” Will Rhem, Jr. as “Teacher,” Timmy Thompson as “Craig Bowker, Jr.,” Paul Thornley as “Voice of Ludo Bagman,” René Thornton, Jr. as “Station Master,” Larry Yando as “Albus Dumbledore/Amos Diggory/Severus Snape.”
Other Roles Played By: Kaleb Alexander, Julianna Austin, Josh Bates, Markcus Blair, Danny Bó, Riley Bocchicchio, Ashley Bufkin, Casey Butler, Erin Chupinsky, Simon Gagnon, Abbi Hawk, Nathan Hosner, Danielle Lee James, Torsten Johnson, Katherine Leask, Mackenzie Lesser-Roy, Evan Maltby, Naiya Vanessa McCalla, Julia Nightingale, Zach Norton, Chanté Odom, Elise Southwick, Ayla Stackhouse, Jennifer Thiessen, Timmy Thompson, René Thornton Jr., Larry Yando.
Additional Creative Team:
Movement Director - Steven Hoggett; Set Designer - Christine Jones; Costume Designer - Katrina Lindsay; Composer/Arranger - Imogen Heap; Movement Captain - Jennifer Thiessen; Assistant Movement Captain - Simon Gagnon; Lighting Designer - Neil Austin; Sound Designer - Gareth Fry; Illusions & Magic - Jamie Harrison; Music Supervisor/Arranger - Martin Lowe; Casting – Jim Carnahan CSA, Alexandre Bleau CSA; Video Designers – Finn Ross, Ash J. Woodward; Hair, Wig and Make-Up - Carole Hancock; International Associate Director - Des Kennedy; Associate Director - Colette Robert; International Associate Movement Director - Nuno Silva; Associate Movement Director - Chelsey Arce; International Scenic Supervisor - Brett J. Banakis; International Costume Design Associate - Sabine Lemaître; International Associate Lighting Designer - Nick Solyom; International Associate Sound Designer - Pete Malkin; International Illusions & Magic Associate - Chris Fisher; Associate Costume Designer - Miriam Kelleher; Associate Lighting Designer - Bailey Costa; Associate Sound Designer - Will Pickens; Illusions & Magic Associate – Skylar Fox; Hair & Wigs Associate - Carrie Rohm; Make-Up Associate - Sarah Jordan; International Technical Director - Gary Beestone; Production Management - Juniper Street; Production Supervisor - Rolt Smith; Production Stage Manager - Kate McDoniel; Company Manager - Susan Brumley; General Manager – Bespoke Theatricals; International Executive Director - Diane Benjamin; International Executive Producer - Pam Skinner; International Associate Producer - Max Bittleston; Executive Producer North America - Thomas Swayne; Associate Producer - Daniel Unitas.
Performances:
November 9, 2025 through December 20, 2025
(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)
EMERSON COLONIAL THEATRE, 106 Boylston Street, Boston, MA. 02116
TICKETS:
By phone # 888-616-0272
Box Office Hours: Monday-Friday: 9am - 8pm (EST); Saturday-Sunday: 10am - 8pm (EST)
THE EMERSON COLONIAL THEATRE Box Office is located at 106 Boylston Street, Boston, MA. 02116
THE EMERSON COLONIAL THEATRE website is the official source for tickets:
http://www.emersoncolonialtheatre.com/
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(Warning: The following review contains spoilers)
As Thanksgiving approaches, Emerson Colonial Theatre in Boston welcomes the six-time Tony® Award-Winning "HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD" and it is definitely one show for which many "POTTER" fans will give thanks.
Produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender and HARRY POTTER Theatrical Productions, the two-act theatrical event is based on the original "HARRY POTTER" saga by J.K. Rowling, written by Jack Thorne from an original story by Thorne, J.K. Rowling, and John Tiffany.
Since its West End premiere in London back in 2016, "HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD" has undergone extensive changes in both the number of acts/chapters to the story and its overall length.
The London West End production of "CURSED CHILD" won nine of its 11 Olivier Award nominations including Best New Play, while the Broadway production went on to receive 10 Tony Award nominations in 2018 for which it would win six, including the award for Best Play.
Taking place nineteen years after the events of "HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS" the story of "...CURSED CHILD" follows Albus Severus Potter (Adam Grant Morrison), the second son of HARRY POTTER (Nick Dillenburg), who is now “Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Magic.”
Don’t know what any of that even means even though you read that last paragraph three times?
You’re not alone, but hang on - there’s more.
Rowling herself referred to the play as "the eighth HARRY POTTER story.”
(Photo: Julia Nightingale, Aidan Close and Emmet Smith in a scene from "HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD" now playing at the Emerson Colonial Theatre in Boston, MA. through December 20, 2025. Photo Credit: Matthew Murphy)
Now, a slight digression here which might help those few folks out there LESS familiar with the "HARRY POTTER" franchise (yes, much like Muggles - and Wiggles - they DO exist).
Back in 2018, my family was set to travel to Universal Studios in Florida and, at the time, my wife and two daughters were laser-focused on the "HARRY POTTER" part of the amusement park.
Me? Not so much.
"POTTER" never seemed to “grab” me, although I tried to follow along with the series as best as I could.
I had similar issues with the two Tolkien trilogies which also became a blockbuster motion picture franchise (please - nobody rat me out to Stephen Colbert).
However, to keep the family peace while on vacation, to help me prepare for all the things "POTTEResque" I was about to endure, before we went, I decided to watch ALL of the "HARRY POTTER" movies in sequence in a concerted effort to educate myself and give myself some semblance of what it was I about to experience at the park.
Yeah - It didn’t help.
I still needed my wife and daughters to help me understand just what the hell was going on in all the eight films and I wasn’t about to read ANY of the original Rowling stories.
To this day, I wouldn’t know a Gryffindor from a Slytherin nor a Wiffenpoof, Slip’n’slide, Heffalump nor Woozle.
I mention this only to signal those coming to see "...CURSED CHILD" that such knowledge of all the lexicon and vocabulary associated with the prior "HARRY POTTER" series is NOT necessarily obligatory.
Does knowing some of the prior story arc HELP?
Of course.
Is it required?
Not really, as even if you do not “get” some (most) of the references, you will still be astounded by the sheer level of creativity involved in this spectacular production.
(Photo: Aidan Close and Emmet Smith in a scene from "HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD" now playing at the Emerson Colonial Theatre in Boston, MA. through December 20, 2025. Photo Credit: Matthew Murphy)
One of the smartest things this production now playing at the Emerson Colonial Theatre did creatively is in the use of onstage magic which includes slight-of-hand, illusion, misdirection, mirrors, lights and incredibly technical wizardry.
Just like any good magic show, there are moments happening nearly every few minutes that will have you asking yourself "just how the hell did they DO that?"
This show also contains a phenomenal use of musical underscoring that makes this story flow very much like a musical, complete with choreographed moves by the performers at nearly every turn.
Above all, it is still just a hell of a lot of fun to watch.
Still…it wouldn’t hurt to bring along a "POTTERhead" (a fan of all things "HARRY POTTER") to help you get through the stuff you won’t understand.
I did by bringing along my youngest.
(Photo: A moment from "HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD" now playing at the Emerson Colonial Theatre in Boston, MA. through December 20, 2025. Photo Credit: Matthew Murphy)
Anyway – back to our story:
Taking place in 2017, years after the epilogue of "DEATHLY HALLOWS," HARRY POTTER's son, Albus arrives to attend school at Hogwarts and expecting to get “sorted” into Gryffindor.
However, Albus instead gets sorted into Slytherin along with Scorpius Malfoy (David Fine), son of Harry's former(?) foe Draco (Ryan Hallahan) and Draco’s unseen wife, Astoria.
Albus had just previously met Scorpius Malfoy and Rose Granger-Weasley (Naiya Vanessa McCalla) on the Hogwarts Express train enroute to Hogwarts.
In the story, the older Ron Weasley (Matt Harrington) and Hermione Granger (Rachel Leslie) also appear, as Hermione is now the Minister of Magic while Ron manages “Weasley's Wizard Wheezes.”
Albus struggles at Hogwarts, utterly unsuccessful at living up to his father's legacy, thus making him resentful of his father. HARRY also appears to have his own issues dealing with mischievous malcontent son Albus.
(Photo: Aidan Close, Mackenzie Lesser-Roy and Emmet Smith in a moment from "HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD" now playing at the Emerson Colonial Theatre in Boston, MA. through December 20, 2025. Photo Credit: Matthew Murphy)
Both Morrison and Fine give exceptional performances as the boys who are bullied over the next years.
Not only is Albus mocked by classmates for not living up to his father’s legacy, Scorpius is the subject of scandalous rumors that he is not Draco’s offspring but rather the son of evil Lord Voldemort.
Around this same time, HARRY POTTER's scar starts hurting again, raising concerns that Voldemort may be returning.
At this juncture, if you don’t know about the scar or who Voldemort is, stop reading here, go learn everything POTTER then return to continue reading this review.
Back? Good. Let’s resume -
In a connecting plot, HARRY has acquired a prototype of a “Time-Turner” which allows folks to travel in time.
Albus overhears HARRY talking to Amos Diggory (played by the versatile Larry Yando who also plays Albus’ namesakes “Albus Dumbledore” and “Severus Snape”), who is cared for by his niece Delphi (Julia Nightingale).
Diggory lost his son Cedric, through pivotal events in an earlier chapter in the "HARRY POTTER" saga and begs HARRY to use the “Time-Turner” device to go back and prevent the death of his son, Cedric.
After overhearing his father refuse to help the Diggorys, Albus decides to play the hero and enlists both Delphi and Scorpius to aid him in his quest.
(Photo: A moment from "HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD" now playing at the Emerson Colonial Theatre in Boston, MA. through December 20, 2025. Photo Credit: Matthew Murphy)
While adhering to the pledge to #KeepTheSecrets requesting those who have seen the play not to reveal its major twists, I will still point out that the story moves into areas of other standard time travel cautionary tales of “if you change one part of history, the rippling effect could prove disastrous”…and, of course, it does.
At a nearly three-hour runtime, this is a superbly crafted production, highlighting unrestrained brilliant onstage storytelling that equally entertains both the veteran POTTERhead and the completely uninitiated.
Catch the Hogwarts Express (or maybe at least catch the Green Line) to go see "HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD" which continues at the Emerson Colonial Theatre in Boston until December 20th, 2025.
Approximately two hours, 50 minutes with one intermission.
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
@MetrmagReviews
@Theatre_Critics
ABOUT THE SHOW
“One of the most defining pop culture events of the decade” – Forbes
Six-Time Tony® Award-Winning Best Play!
Emerson Colonial Theatre (an ATG Entertainment venue) is pleased to announce that the six-time Tony® Award-winning production of "HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD" will premiere in Boston as part of its first ever North American tour.
"HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD," the first "HARRY POTTER" story to be presented on stage and the eighth story in the "HARRY POTTER" series, has sold over 10 million tickets worldwide since its world premiere in London in 2016 and holds a record 60 major honors, with nine Laurence Olivier Awards including Best New Play and six Tony Awards including Best Play.
The international phenomenon has cast its spell worldwide…the touring production is based on the acclaimed Broadway production. "HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD" picks up right where the last "HARRY POTTER" film left off:
Nineteen years after HARRY, Ron, and Hermione saved the wizarding world, they’re back on a most extraordinary new adventure – this time, joined by a brave new generation that has only just arrived at the legendary Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
When HARRY POTTER's headstrong son Albus befriends the son of his fiercest rival, Draco Malfoy, it sparks an unbelievable new journey for them all – with the power to change the past and future forever.
The most successful non-musical play in Broadway history, "HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD" has the unique distinction of being named by the Guinness World Records as the highest grossing non-musical play in Broadway history with over $270 million total sales and over 2.5 million tickets sold.
TICKETS available by phone # 888-616-0272
BUY TICKETS
ABOUT THE EMERSON COLONIAL THEATRE
In its storied history, THE EMERSON COLONIAL THEATRE has debuted such seminal Broadway shows as Anything Goes, Porgy and Bess, Oklahoma!, Born Yesterday, Follies, A Little Night Music, Grand Hotel and La Cage aux Folles, among others. Reviving a great theatrical tradition, Boston’s newly restored EMERSON COLONIAL THEATRE officially re-opened its doors in July 2018 with the pre-Broadway World Premiere of Moulin Rouge! The Musical. THE EMERSON COLONIAL THEATRE, which opened in 1900 with a production of Ben-Hur, is the oldest continuously operated theater in Boston; as well as being amongst the most magnificent, having retained most of its original period details. A theatre for the community, EMERSON COLONIAL THEATRE will once again contribute to the rich cultural landscape of Boston, with a new and varied program of Broadway shows, live music, comedy and events.
106 Boylston Street
Boston, MA. 02116
