“The scar had not pained Harry for nineteen years. All was well.” –J.K. Rowling, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows"
Well, your scar may not hurt, Harry—but I sure do feel some type of way after the recent HP news. Eight years after I closed a hard-covered book full of the magical world of "Harry Potter," J.K. Rowling released hurtful news. Originally, when I happened across the announcement of "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child," I imagined it would be the next and ever-coveted installment of "Harry Potter." To my dismay, and many, many others, the almost dream turned nightmare when I found out it was merely a play. Now, I am all for a good play. (Think "Wicked" on Broadway.) My main issue with the play is that it’s in London. London! That’s nine hours and 35 minutes away from Akron. Not to mention tickets are on sale for over $1,000 United States dollars. Add that onto the plane ride, hotel, and transportation you’d need to get there and Bam! you’re out a few grand.
Then my question for J.K. Rowling is—why? Why in the world would you tour a massive cult following in London and not anywhere in the United States? If you check social media, multiple people have made the same comments in regards to the breaking news. While HP fans haven't gotten an official statement from the writing god herself, I'm assuming her response will go something like:
Though Rowling may not have mentioned if the play hints at an eight edition, she does consider the play a part of the "Potterverse." While she did not write the play herself, Jack Thorne, John Tiffany, and Rowling did collaborate on the play as confirmed by a June tweet:
Set 19 years from the "Deathly Hallows" epilogue, the play will follow the life of an overworked Harry Potter. While following his life in the ministry, the story will also unfold pieces of Albus' (his son's) life too. One of the more alarming parts of the description teaser on the Harry Potter the Play website is, "As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places."
Chills. I have straight chills. What in the world could that possibly indicate? Voldemort is dead and gone, or so we've been lead to believe and if Harry Potter's scar isn't hurting, what darkness is about to bust on in? It's almost as if they're hinting that Albus might turn out to be a bad egg and ruin the lives of many...I would sure hope they don't put him in Slytherin, partially named after Snape or not.
Speaking of Slytherin, what would be interesting to know is how Malfoy's children have grown up—in the sense of, will they follow the legacy and become Slytherins? Or will they turn into protagonists in this new world of witchcraft and wizardry?
I can't imagine the Potters turning into the villains of Rowling's stories, but then again she does enjoy removing fan favorite characters at the most inopportune times...(Dobby was a free elf...) Whatever the case, I really do hope that Rowling makes some sort of edition open to theaters closer to the U.S. Even better, she should just write the story into a book, make it a trilogy, and give us back our favorite fictional trio.
Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint would be the coolest parents to watch raise children. We're all thinking it. Plus, one of them should randomly have to take over Hogwarts and my money's on Watson. Those of us who grew up with the dynamic trio would really enjoy an adulthood version of the books, Rowling... So maybe you can whip up a summoning charm and give the people what they want!
