# Harry Potter and the Cursed Child \[open spoilers\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 11, 2016, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-open-spoilers/745815 "2016-02-11T14:23:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-open-spoilers/745815/1 "2016-02-11T14:23:21Z")
> **[Harry Potter Part 8 to publish this summer | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2016/02/10/entertainment/harry-potter-part-8-publish-summer-feat/index.html)** > > Harry Potter is back for another round of magic, struggles with the darkness and parents. Coming this July - looking forward to it! ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-open-spoilers/745815/2 "2016-02-11T15:54:47Z")
So is JK actually writing a novelization, or are they just publishing the script itself? Reading play scripts kind of sucks, IMHO. And I liked this: ‘The limited preview edition is not the final edition, a move made to allow the play’s creative team to make changes while the play is in previews, according to the publisher. A “Definitive Collector’s Edition” will be available later.’ “We’re going to tweak the play a few times, re-releasing the book on each occasion, to get the rubes to buy the same thing as many times as possible. Wait, did I say that out loud?” commented a spokesman for Rowling. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-open-spoilers/745815/3 "2016-02-11T17:32:40Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > So is JK actually writing a novelization, or are they just publishing the script itself? Reading play scripts kind of sucks, IMHO. This is my exact question. I hope it is a novelization. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-open-spoilers/745815/4 "2016-02-11T17:44:37Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > So is JK actually writing a novelization, or are they just publishing the script itself? From the article: > [@](#): > > The “special rehearsal edition” script book will be available at midnight on July 31, a day after the Harry Potter play opens in London. > [@](#): > > “We are so thrilled to be publishing the script of ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,’” said David Shelley, CEO of Little, Brown Book Group, in a statement. “J.K. Rowling and her team have received a huge number of appeals from fans who can’t be in London to see the play and who would like to read the play in book format – and so we are absolutely delighted to be able to make it available for them.” Sure sounds to me like it’s just the script. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-open-spoilers/745815/5 "2016-02-11T17:45:26Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > This is my exact question. I hope it is a novelization. But if she is on record as having said ‘there will be no more Harry Potter novels’ (which I believe is the case), then publishing plays and such would be a way of keeping her word while publishing more HP stuff. (Epic poetry, next!) ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2016, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-open-spoilers/745815/6 "2016-02-11T20:55:44Z")
When this was linked on Reddit, it was said that this would not be a novelization. A script seems the most likely. I don’t think reading scripts is that bad. But a play is short enough that you could probably make it a novella. There’s a reason why whole books aren’t used in movies. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-open-spoilers/745815/7 "2016-02-13T02:31:07Z")
I’ve found that reading scripts goes much more smoothly if you don’t read the names of who’s saying each and every line. Usually it’s obvious, and you can always stop to look if it’s unclear (as in a multi-character scene). The script flows much better that way. ---
**Author:** ![appleaday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/41988e/32.png) [@appleaday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleaday)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-open-spoilers/745815/8 "2016-08-05T22:31:12Z")
Okay, so this has been released now . . . I read it yesterday, and was rather disappointed. I’m curious to know what other people’s reactions might be. Has anyone seen the stage production? ---
**Author:** ![Fair\_Rarity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fair_rarity/32/153_2.png) [@Fair\_Rarity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fair_Rarity)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2016, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-open-spoilers/745815/9 "2016-08-07T00:49:58Z")
I only read the script book. I was underwhelmed. I didn’t HATE it and it didn’t RUIN IT FOREVER or anything. I just didn’t love it. I was moved at times and I see where it’s maybe better, even possibly really good, as a live play, but as a script reading for pleasure it was meh. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2016, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-open-spoilers/745815/10 "2016-08-07T00:58:10Z")
The Wiki article has a lot more detail: [Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Potter_and_the_Cursed_Child) ---
**Author:** ![appleaday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/41988e/32.png) [@appleaday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleaday)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2016, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-open-spoilers/745815/11 "2016-08-07T04:44:09Z")
It might well be a spectacular play with all the special effects. Actually, I’d really like to see it. (Maybe someday in the far distant future it might play in Seattle). The problem is, the special effects may dazzle, but is there anything much left when those are taken away? Guess I’ll reserve final judgement until I’ve seen a performance (if I ever have the opportunity). ---
**Author:** ![kbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4491bb/32.png) [@kbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kbear)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-open-spoilers/745815/12 "2016-08-09T01:09:41Z")
I logged on the other day to try for a new batch of tickets going on sale. Unfortunately I didn’t wake up early enough…I’m currently on North American time…there were 160,000 people ahead of me. Needless to say I did not get a ticket :-/ ---
**Author:** ![appleaday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/41988e/32.png) [@appleaday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleaday)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-open-spoilers/745815/13 "2016-08-09T07:53:02Z")
Wow – 160,000! And I thought Seahawk tickets were hard to get. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-open-spoilers/745815/14 "2016-08-09T18:31:47Z")
How soon before pretty much every middle school in the country has its students pester its administration to be able to do the play - only for the students to get their first lesson in performance licensing (and even then, a few of them decide, “Let’s do it anyway; if we do it just for the school and don’t charge anything (or, since the proceeds go to the school), then it shouldn’t be a problem”)? ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-open-spoilers/745815/15 "2016-08-09T18:37:33Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > But if she is on record as having said ‘there will be no more Harry Potter novels’ (which I believe is the case), then publishing plays and such would be a way of keeping her word while publishing more HP stuff. (Epic poetry, next!) Somehow I doubt any of her fans would mind if she broke her word on this subject. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-open-spoilers/745815/16 "2016-08-11T15:32:48Z")
I read in on an airplane two days ago. I liked it a lot, but am surprised by the fact that Delphi really is Tm Riddle’s daughter. I had figured it would be revealed she was misled or deluded. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-open-spoilers/745815/17 "2016-08-11T23:30:23Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I read in on an airplane two days ago. I liked it a lot, but am surprised by the fact that [spoiler!] That’s pretty much the point where I realized that I had pretty much been reading fan fiction. It was a decent enough short read though. Although, I am curious about just how old Amos Diggory is supposed to be. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-open-spoilers/745815/18 "2016-08-11T23:40:00Z")
Amos diggory? He’d b 60+ I guess. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2016, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-open-spoilers/745815/19 "2016-08-12T00:02:54Z")
That’s not old at all for a wizard (in Rowling’s universe, anyway). ---
**Author:** ![Elemenopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5e925/32.png) [@Elemenopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elemenopy)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2016, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-open-spoilers/745815/20 "2016-08-12T00:09:48Z")
Read it over 2 evenings while on vacation. It was all right. Would like to see it performed. Although I kept expecting some obvious gay twist to the two best friends, given how pointedly their affection was highlighted(in script form). I’m neither delighted nor disappointed, I just thought it was leading…somewhere. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-open-spoilers/745815.md?page=2)