Jonas Schwartz – Theatermania
The play’s real star is Jamie Harrison and his eye-deceiving illusions. Even in the condensed version, actors flip upside down, get sucked through tiny boxes, change costumes (by Katrina Lindsay) in a snap, and shoot fire from their wands. Read more…
Travis Michael Holder – TicketHoldersLA
The star has to be Jamie Harrision’s worldclass and inexplicable illusions, the dazzling barrage of Copperfield-esque magic impossible to imagine could be happening live in real time. From flying tricks that would make Peter Pan stop in mid-flight to fire and smoke effects and a somewhat disquieting wavering device that makes the entire stage wobble whenever characters time travel—topped by fantastic onstage transformations that zap actors into suddenly becoming other actors before our very eyes—the LA engagement of the Tony and Olivier-honored masterpiece is an event not to be missed. Read more…
Patrick Chavis – LA Theatre Bites Podcast
7.3 out of 10! Average Show! Listen more…
Edward Hong – The Nerds Of Color
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child finally arrives in Los Angeles at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre and for what I watched at opening night yesterday, the jaw-dropping wonder of seeing the incredible special effects and experiencing the fantastic soundtrack by Imogen Heap cover up the over-the-top forced acting from most of the main cast and the rushed blitz pace of the first act. Read more…
Harry Potter and The Cursed Child is breathtaking to look at, especially in the sumptuous Hollywood Pantages. Read more…
Well, it took nine years, but the Harry Potter play has finally arrived in Los Angeles. I knew it would possibly be a while before it got here after premiering in London in 2016, but I didn’t imagine it would be quite so long of a delay. It got to Broadway in 2018, won Best Play at both the Olivier and Tony awards, and even made it to San Francisco back in 2019. But now it’s here at the Pantages, albeit in a shortened version – it used to be five hours, now it’s a bit over three. Was it worth the wait? Yes, it was. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a fantastic show in both meanings of the word. It’s pure, satisfying spectacle of a kind rarely seen onstage these days, a feat of theatrical wizardry that truly dazzles. Read more…