Our son Keaton and his partner Jessica wanted to really surprise us with an unusual Christmas gift, so imagine the incredulous looks we bore when the torn wrapping revealed Harry Potter: The Cursed Child theatre tickets! We've been fans of JK Rowling's genius since we first read the 7 books to our kids during their childhood nightly reading ritual, then revisited the HP magic with the 8 movies produced following the global fever that ensued. Although we've yet to read the actual Cursed Child novel, we'd heard from our daughter that the production was outstanding and we were tickled to be able to see it first hand! The show is wrapping up a long run at the Ed Mirvish Theatre in downtown Toronto and since we're retired, the kids reasoned that a matinee was the correct choice since we could make a day of it in 'The Big Smoke' while avoiding the murky darkness of the back roads home to Wasaga afterward.
Aren't they thoughtful?
We don't venture into the bowels of the city much these days ... sorry about the image I just prompted ... and the thought of navigating the Toronto crazies to pay a ridiculous sum to park was repulsive enough that the decision was made to use the ol' TTC in its stead. We quickly realized that it's been so long since the Big Smoke entered our psyche that we didn't realize that the TTC now extends north to highway 7, near the IKEA store, avoiding the bulk of the potential traffic woes.
All it takes is money! Turned out to be the best $28.40 I've ever spent!
Parking in the TTC lot was easy peasey at 10:00 am, and we successfully navigated the PRESTO purchase, found some seats, and settled into the hour or so commute. Our naivety was on full display as we emerged from the concrete cavern of Dundas Station, beset by complete disorientation, an affliction I am unaccustomed to. Thanks to my sheer stubbornness, I convinced Joyce I knew what I was doing, and we walked 10 minutes the complete opposite way before coming to the conclusion that she was correct all along ... something she has enjoyed reminding me off multiple times since ... prompting a a hustled U-turn thanks to fears of being late for the curtain raising.
Our quickened pace meant that we hurried past a number of school groups resplendent in HP-appropriate attire lest we find ourselves behind them at the entrance. When we finally arrived at Ed Mirvish Theatre, we quickly realized that Dundas Station is just around the corner. Not wishing to completely come clean, I rationalized that we (a) got to see some of the city again, and (b) weren't going to be sitting waiting for an unreasonable time as the theatre filled prior to the curtain call.
Were we to still feel the angst of Covid, we'd have found ourselves beset by all manner of fears as we sardined ourselves into the entrance way to the theatre's foyer. The space was filled with all things HP as people ordered Butter Beers, secured souvenir paraphernalia, and grabbed traditional theatre fare prior to the curtain rising. I made the rookie mistake of dismissing the ever-so-slight bladder twinge, an oversight that came back with a vengeance by the time intermission hit, some 2 hours later. The line up to the loo was enormous, my insides screaming, and the foyer shoulder to shoulder, but thankfully the queue dissipated quickly and (TMI) I was able to solve my issues just in time. Crazy as it may sound (again, TMI), I challenged on a world record with how long it took to take care of business, much to the chagrin of the other overflowing bladders waiting their turn. HaHaHa!
Should you and your loved ones feel the pang of longing for the theatrical arts, The Cursed Child is a wondrous example of theatre magic, Polyjuice transformations, Dementor attacks, wand battles, and hexed stairways but a few of the delightful slights of hand. Sadly, what was amazing in display, sorely lacked in story, the characters wanting for 'meat' and the plot flittering this way and that like a rookie disapparator. I personally felt for the parents of the many, many youngsters who would spend the trip home answering queries of confusion.
Having said that, we came away with a very positive warm fuzzy about our experience, certainly NOT disappointed in any way, shape, or fashion.
Annnnnd, we even made it back to the beach before dark!
Thanks KP + Jess! Thanks a million times over!
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