The latest tale in the saga of The Boy Who Lived enjoyed its San Francisco premiere on sunday at the Curran Theatre, bringing a stupefying dose of theatrical magic to West Coast audiences. With a plot shrouded in as much secrecy as the Department of Mysteries and expectations as towering as a flying Ford Anglia, did this new chapter of J.K Rowling's Wizarding World win over the critics?

The answer is mostly yes! Whilst everyone was reminded to keep schtum about the story, the incredible theatrical effects and mastery were highly regarded, with SFiST declaring it "a wild ride and dazzling piece of theater" and "a production that is difficult to compare to anything else in modern theatrical history". 

Broadwayworld's Linda Hodges praised the cast highly, writing; "the acting in "Cursed Child" is uniformly stellar. Special accolades must go to Benjamin Papac (Albus) and Jon Steiger (Scorpius) who command the stage for most of the five hours of the show. Yanna McIntosh (Hermione Granger-Weasley), David Abeles (Ron Weasley), Angela Reed (Ginny) and of course John Skelley as Harry Potter had a synergy that honored the decades of friendship and love that their characters share."

Whilst the mammoth two-part production might Confundus some Muggles, it's safe to say that whatever your thoughts on this sequel, seeing it live on stage is an unmissable experience!

What is the Cursed Child about?

The producers of The Cursed Child want every Potter fan heading into the play to be surprised by its twists and turns, so we won't reveal too much. We can say that Harry, Ron and Hermoine are now all in their late 30s, married with kids and respectfully employed. Harry and Ginny's son Albus is just starting his first term at Hogwarts, yet his father's reputation hangs heavy around his neck, and he resents being only known as the son of The Boy Who Lived. Yet when sinister forces from Harry's past reemerge into the world, Albus must embrace the Potter legacy for the battles to come...

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is now playing at the Curran Theatre.