As is inescapable in a play that is a continuation of a series, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is packed to the brim with references to the original book (and movie!) series. Many elements of the play are simply part of that world - all the way from characters, locations and themes, down to the well-loved school houses.
However, if you look even deeper into the story, there are many more 'hidden' references within the script. It's a true testament to Jack Thorne's writing brilliance and intense knowledge of the Harry Potter universe given just how extraordinary some of these are. Due to the sheer amount of references (and due to the fact that we are huge geeks), this blog post will only cover Part One of the play.
The first reference happens right at the top of Act 1. The Potters arrive at King's Cross, and Harry and Ginny instruct young Albus how to get onto Platform 9 3/4. They both echo exactly what Mrs Weasley first said to Harry all the way back in Philosopher's Stone. 'All you have to do is walk straight at the wall between platforms nine and ten' ... 'Don't stop and don't be scared you'll crash into it, that's very important. Best to do it a run if you're nervous.'
In the next scene, when Albus voices his fears of being sorted into Slytherin to his father, he says, 'Slytherin is the house of the snake, of Dark Magic... it's not a house of brave wizards.' This is just like when Hagrid first takes Harry to Diagon Alley and reintroduces him to the wizarding world. Hagrid later tells Harry that, 'There's not a single witch or wizard who went bad who wasn't in Slytherin. You-Know Who was one.' So even though the play begins 19 years later after the Battle of Hogwarts, some of the same old prejudices remain...
 |
| The Potters and Granger-Weasleys at Platform 9 3/4 London Cast Three |
The first reference happens right at the top of Act 1. The Potters arrive at King's Cross, and Harry and Ginny instruct young Albus how to get onto Platform 9 3/4. They both echo exactly what Mrs Weasley first said to Harry all the way back in Philosopher's Stone. 'All you have to do is walk straight at the wall between platforms nine and ten' ... 'Don't stop and don't be scared you'll crash into it, that's very important. Best to do it a run if you're nervous.'
 |
| Rose Granger-Weasley about to be sorted Cherrelle Skeete, Original London Cast |
Though Rose Granger-Weasley is later sorted into Gryffindor, she is shown to be both ambitious and proud, traits usually reserved for members of Slytherin house. 'We've got the pick of anyone we want,' she announces a bemused Albus. It's quite similar to what Draco said to Harry on their first Hogwarts Express ride when he spotted him sitting with Ron Weasley. 'You'll soon find out some wizarding families are better than others, Potter. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort.' Draco holds out his hand to shake Harry's, but Harry declines. This is of course parallelled in Cursed Child when Albus immediately becomes fast friends with Scorpius Malfoy.
As Scorpius says, or rather, sings, 'Sweets they always help you make friends!' and it's true in the Potter books. We see it firsthand in Philosopher's Stone when Harry and Ron journey to Hogwarts for the first time, enjoying their sweets and bonding over Chocolate Frog cards.
Another similarity is found upon Albus being sorted into Slytherin. The reaction from his schoolmates is immediate and confused. A fellow Slytherin, Craig Bowker, proclaims, 'Whoah! A Potter. In Slytherin,' as if in awe. It cleverly echoes that of Harry's own sorting in Philosopher's Stone; "Percy the Prefect got up and shook his hand vigorously, while the Weasley twins yelled, 'We got Potter! We got Potter!'" Whilst of course there is a contrast between the excitement of Harry being placed into Gryffindor and the quiet surprise of Albus in Slytherin (appropriately showing off the two boys differences), the astonishment of both houses gaining a Potter still stands.
Similarly, it's interesting to note what the Sorting Hat said during his annual song in Harry's first year; 'Or perhaps in Slytherin / You'll make your real friends...', which is of course true of Albus and Scorpius's friendship.
Later on in the scene, Albus has his first flying lesson. Unlike Harry, whose "broom jumped into his hand at once," Albus suffers further humiliation. The stage directions state that "His broom doesn't move. Not even a millimetre. He stares at it with disbelieving desperation." This reference is quite on the nose, but once again holds purpose of establishing just how different Harry and Albus truly are.
Most of the references so far have been included to demonstrate the juxtapositions between Albus and Harry, if that hasn't been glaringly obvious. This is understandable as the next generation of characters are still being established. Notorious beauty, Polly Chapman, says of Albus, 'Even portraits turn the other way when he comes up the stairs!' Harry also shared the experience of entering school not quite knowing just how famous he was, yet in his case "The people in the portraits along the corridors whispered and pointed as they passed." Whether there is any truth to Polly's words is not known, but it's still interesting to note the difference between the two.
'See you at Christmas, Dad!' It might be a fleeting comment made by James Sirius Potter, but it's also another allusion to Harry's own childhood and how it differs to that of his own children. It's a security that Harry never felt; a confidence in knowing that he has a place to call home. This is despite Harry finding a loving family environment with the Weasleys. Even as late on in the series as Order of the Phoenix, Harry doesn't assume he as a place with them at Christmas, he thinks he'll be spending the holidays alone at Hogwarts. Until Ron puts him at ease, declaring 'You're coming too! Didn't I say?' It's quite heartwarming to note that (some of) Harry's children feel a sense of certainty that he never did.
As we start to get into the meat of the story, we discover that Harry has raided the house of Theodore Nott, after a tip-off that he is in possession of an illegal Time-Turner. The character was actually first seen in Philosopher's Stone, when he was sorted into Slytherin alongside Draco and his cronies. A "weedy-looking boy,' Theodore wasn't best pleased when Harry outed his father as a Death Eater. He was a true equal of Draco in terms of class and blood status, though Rowling did say he was "somewhat cleverer" than Malfoy. She wrote drafts including bits of his backstory, but could never make it work. So perhaps Theodore Nott's involvement in Cursed Child is a sort of wish fulfillment on Jo's part.
Hermione is also revealed to be Minister for Magic, a role which was probably expected from most people. It's an instant reminder of Dumbledore's will reading in Deathly Hallows, when Hermione reminded then Minister for Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour, of the law, he replied, 'Are you planning to follow a career in Magical Law, Miss Granger?' Hermione quickly shot back, 'No, I'm not... I'm hoping to do some good in the world!' Turns out she did both! Queen.
After Harry's falling out with Albus over the blanket, Ginny reminds him to be honest with Albus. Harry says, 'The truth is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution,' echoing what Dumbledore said to him in the Hospital Wing when he was 11-years-old.
As Scorpius points out, there are a number of banned and cursed books Hermione keeps on the bookshelf in her office. Two are mentioned in the books; Magick Moste Evil, in which Hermione finds a brief mention of Horcruxes, and Sonnets of a Sorcerer mentioned in Chamber of Secrets, which Ron tells Harry curses the reader to speak only in limericks. Fifteenth-Century Fiends, another book owned by Hermione Granger, was one of the books Harry looked at in the Restricted Section when searching for information on Nicolas Flamel in the film adaptation of Philosopher's Stone.
As for Hermione's library itself, her weaponising of it is very similar to the obstacles used to protect the Philosopher's Stone. It's particularly akin to Snape's potion puzzle, requiring logic and intelligence.
The first time we see Albus in Act 2, he is practising Expelliarmus with Delphi. As we know, Expelliarmus was Harry's 'signature move,' as proclaimed by Lupin in Deathly Hallows. It was the spell Harry used to defeat Lord Voldemort at the Battle of Hogwarts. Delphi has a particular 'flair for the dramatic,' and was likely teaching this spell to Albus, not only for its simplicity, but also for how poetic it would be for the spell that ended her father's life to be the same spell to bring him back.
When Harry is in the Forbidden Forest looking for Albus and Scorpius, he comes across Bane, a centaur he first met back in Philosopher's Stone. Back then, Bane chided Firenze, another centaur, for carrying Harry on his back, saying, 'It it not our business to run around like donkeys after stray humans in our Forest!' Harry must've forgotten this as he goes on to ask Bane for help in locating Albus...
In one scene, Harry gives Albus a bar of chocolate, supposedly on Madam Pomfrey's orders. It's reminiscent of Professor Lupin giving Harry chocolate when teaching him how to perform the Patronus Charm in Prisoner of Azkaban. But it's also a sad reminder of Harry's first year, when he ended up in the Hospital Wing and on waking discovering the table beside him piled high with sweets. Tokens from 'friends and admirers,' according to Dumbledore. No such token for Albus.
Act 2, Scene 15 gives us another one of those clever little quotes that are taken directly from the original books. In the play, Draco refers to Crabbe and Goyle as 'two lunks who wouldn't know one end of a broomstick from another.' In Order of the Phoenix, upon their joining the Slytherin Quidditch team, Angelina Johnson assures her team that 'They don't look bright enough to tell one end of a broom from the other,' so it's a niche reference for observant fans to catch.
All of these references, from the big to the small, form part of what makes watching Harry Potter and the Cursed Child such an interesting, encapsulating, and honestly magical experience, and we haven't even finished yet! Stay tuned for our blabberings on Part Two!
P.S. Happy Voldemort Day...
As Scorpius says, or rather, sings, 'Sweets they always help you make friends!' and it's true in the Potter books. We see it firsthand in Philosopher's Stone when Harry and Ron journey to Hogwarts for the first time, enjoying their sweets and bonding over Chocolate Frog cards.
 |
| 'Sweets they always help you make friends!' Samuel Blenkin, Helen Aluko and Theo Ancient, London Cast Two |
Another similarity is found upon Albus being sorted into Slytherin. The reaction from his schoolmates is immediate and confused. A fellow Slytherin, Craig Bowker, proclaims, 'Whoah! A Potter. In Slytherin,' as if in awe. It cleverly echoes that of Harry's own sorting in Philosopher's Stone; "Percy the Prefect got up and shook his hand vigorously, while the Weasley twins yelled, 'We got Potter! We got Potter!'" Whilst of course there is a contrast between the excitement of Harry being placed into Gryffindor and the quiet surprise of Albus in Slytherin (appropriately showing off the two boys differences), the astonishment of both houses gaining a Potter still stands.
Similarly, it's interesting to note what the Sorting Hat said during his annual song in Harry's first year; 'Or perhaps in Slytherin / You'll make your real friends...', which is of course true of Albus and Scorpius's friendship.
 |
| Albus's first flying lesson Theo Ancient and cast, London Cast Two |
'See you at Christmas, Dad!' It might be a fleeting comment made by James Sirius Potter, but it's also another allusion to Harry's own childhood and how it differs to that of his own children. It's a security that Harry never felt; a confidence in knowing that he has a place to call home. This is despite Harry finding a loving family environment with the Weasleys. Even as late on in the series as Order of the Phoenix, Harry doesn't assume he as a place with them at Christmas, he thinks he'll be spending the holidays alone at Hogwarts. Until Ron puts him at ease, declaring 'You're coming too! Didn't I say?' It's quite heartwarming to note that (some of) Harry's children feel a sense of certainty that he never did.
 |
| Harry attempts to comfort Albus, as observed by his family London Cast Two |
As we start to get into the meat of the story, we discover that Harry has raided the house of Theodore Nott, after a tip-off that he is in possession of an illegal Time-Turner. The character was actually first seen in Philosopher's Stone, when he was sorted into Slytherin alongside Draco and his cronies. A "weedy-looking boy,' Theodore wasn't best pleased when Harry outed his father as a Death Eater. He was a true equal of Draco in terms of class and blood status, though Rowling did say he was "somewhat cleverer" than Malfoy. She wrote drafts including bits of his backstory, but could never make it work. So perhaps Theodore Nott's involvement in Cursed Child is a sort of wish fulfillment on Jo's part.
Hermione is also revealed to be Minister for Magic, a role which was probably expected from most people. It's an instant reminder of Dumbledore's will reading in Deathly Hallows, when Hermione reminded then Minister for Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour, of the law, he replied, 'Are you planning to follow a career in Magical Law, Miss Granger?' Hermione quickly shot back, 'No, I'm not... I'm hoping to do some good in the world!' Turns out she did both! Queen.
 |
| Paint and Memory Barry McCarthy and Jamie Ballard, London Cast Three |
As Scorpius points out, there are a number of banned and cursed books Hermione keeps on the bookshelf in her office. Two are mentioned in the books; Magick Moste Evil, in which Hermione finds a brief mention of Horcruxes, and Sonnets of a Sorcerer mentioned in Chamber of Secrets, which Ron tells Harry curses the reader to speak only in limericks. Fifteenth-Century Fiends, another book owned by Hermione Granger, was one of the books Harry looked at in the Restricted Section when searching for information on Nicolas Flamel in the film adaptation of Philosopher's Stone.
 |
| One trio disguised as another, exploring Hermione's charmed bookcase Noma Dumezweni, Paul Thornley and Jamie Parker, Original London Cast |
As for Hermione's library itself, her weaponising of it is very similar to the obstacles used to protect the Philosopher's Stone. It's particularly akin to Snape's potion puzzle, requiring logic and intelligence.
The first time we see Albus in Act 2, he is practising Expelliarmus with Delphi. As we know, Expelliarmus was Harry's 'signature move,' as proclaimed by Lupin in Deathly Hallows. It was the spell Harry used to defeat Lord Voldemort at the Battle of Hogwarts. Delphi has a particular 'flair for the dramatic,' and was likely teaching this spell to Albus, not only for its simplicity, but also for how poetic it would be for the spell that ended her father's life to be the same spell to bring him back.
When Harry is in the Forbidden Forest looking for Albus and Scorpius, he comes across Bane, a centaur he first met back in Philosopher's Stone. Back then, Bane chided Firenze, another centaur, for carrying Harry on his back, saying, 'It it not our business to run around like donkeys after stray humans in our Forest!' Harry must've forgotten this as he goes on to ask Bane for help in locating Albus...
 |
| Harry searches for Albus Jamie Parker, Original London Cast |
In one scene, Harry gives Albus a bar of chocolate, supposedly on Madam Pomfrey's orders. It's reminiscent of Professor Lupin giving Harry chocolate when teaching him how to perform the Patronus Charm in Prisoner of Azkaban. But it's also a sad reminder of Harry's first year, when he ended up in the Hospital Wing and on waking discovering the table beside him piled high with sweets. Tokens from 'friends and admirers,' according to Dumbledore. No such token for Albus.
Act 2, Scene 15 gives us another one of those clever little quotes that are taken directly from the original books. In the play, Draco refers to Crabbe and Goyle as 'two lunks who wouldn't know one end of a broomstick from another.' In Order of the Phoenix, upon their joining the Slytherin Quidditch team, Angelina Johnson assures her team that 'They don't look bright enough to tell one end of a broom from the other,' so it's a niche reference for observant fans to catch.
All of these references, from the big to the small, form part of what makes watching Harry Potter and the Cursed Child such an interesting, encapsulating, and honestly magical experience, and we haven't even finished yet! Stay tuned for our blabberings on Part Two!
P.S. Happy Voldemort Day...
Excellent reading! A very good account of what happens
ReplyDelete