'Harry Potter' play makes record
J.K. Rowling’s boy wizard bewitched the page and the screen, and stage sequel Harry Potter and the Cursed Child cast its spell at British theater’s Olivier Awards on Sunday. Cursed Child won a record nine prizes, including Best New Play, at Britain’s equivalent of Broadway’s Tonys. Hilariously repetitive comedy Groundhog Day was named Best New Musical.
The plot for the Harry Potter play picks up 19 years from where Rowling’s last novel left off. It depicts Harry and his friends as adults and follows the adventures of their offspring at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Star Jamie Parker, who plays adult Harry, won Best Actor.
The show dominated Sunday’s awards, scooping prizes for sets, lighting, sound, costumes, Best Director for John Tiffany and three acting awards.
Parker beat rivals including Ian McKellen and Ed Harris to the Best-Actor prize. Noma Dumezweni took the SupportingActress prize for playing the grown-up Hermione Granger, and Anthony Boyle was named Best Supporting Actor as Scorpius Malfoy, son of Harry’s childhood enemy Draco Malfoy.
In other categories, Billie Piper was named Best Actress for playing a woman whose desire for a baby leads to tragedy in Yerma.
Former Glee star Amber Riley was named Best Actress in a musical for a powerhouse performance in Dreamgirls, and her co-star Adam J. Bernard was named Best Supporting Actor in a musical. Best Supporting Actress in a musical was Rebecca Trehearn for Show Boat.
Composer Andrew LloydWebber saw two of his musicals take awards. The child rockers of School of Rock The Musical won the prize for Outstanding Achievement in Music, while an open-air production of Jesus
Christ Superstar in London’s Regent’s Park was named best musical revival.
Actor-director Kenneth Branagh received a special award for his contribution to theater during the black-tie ceremony.