‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ stops using live owls
They were supposed to be a secret, but when word leaked that the new “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” in London was using real owls during performances, fans of the saga went wild on social media.
Alas, the owls have officially flown the coop before the blockbuster West End production officially opened. Producers of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” said they made a decision that live owls will no longer be used.
The two-part play “is currently in its preview stage, with the process designed to allow the creative team time to rehearse changes or explore specific scenes further before the play’s official opening,” they said in a statement Thursday.
“As part of this process, earlier this week the decision was made not to feature live owls in any aspect of the production moving forward.”
The announcement comes after unverified statements on social media said the owls were not behaving during some performances, with some saying that the birds were failing to hit their marks and getting lost in the theater. The British division of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals expressed satisfaction with the decision.
Owls have played an important part in the “Harry Potter” books. Hedwig, a snowy owl, was Harry’s pet and loyal companion.
“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” tells the story of an adult Harry Potter who is working in the Ministry of Magic and is a husband and father of three school-age children.
The play also focuses on his son Albus, who “must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted,” according to the Pottermore website.