Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

[Irene]

I have friends going to see the Play in New York City.

I have read the book, and wondered how one would stage a play with many flash backs?

[august]

Oh that's easy - plenty of plays are told in flashback.

The first challenge is scene changes, but if everything is set in one place - Hogwarts for example, then that's not an issue. But if locations jump all over the place, then it's the same challenge one
faces for a show that has a linear narrative. The Wizard of Oz, for example, has a huge amount of scene changes. Shrek the Musical is another that comes to mind. Also Oliver!
and Les Miserables and Spamalot. So....

- you can build lots of scenery that can be quickly and easily moved on and off stage, and use lots of stagehands to make those changes.

OR...

- you can use painted scenic drops (ballets and operas often do this, where you aren't expecting complete realism, and the scenery isn't why you're there anyway) that can be dropped down
and pulled back up in a matter of seconds, and then you just roll in a few pieces of furniture and props to complete whatever the setting is.

OR....

- you have a non-realistic, non-representational set. Particular locations can be established just by a change of lighting, and maybe a projected image. This is from Pippin, and the setting changes from
the interior of a small chapel to the court of the Holy Roman Empire...but it doesn't really matter, because you're paying attention to the singing. :bg:

Morning Glow from Pippin From YouTube SF-Fandom not responsible for video content

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And then this is supposed to outdoors, in the fields outside a castle in the country:

No Time at All from Pippin From YouTube SF-Fandom not responsible for video content

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Now as for how you make it clear what is flashback and what isn't... well, many options. If the setting is different, then it's clear what is taking when. If it's an adult remembering his childhood,
then you can use a younger actor. Or the adult actor can step into the flashback scene with maybe a slight costume change, but act much younger, signifying that this is in the past.

[august]

Interestingly, the NY Times has an article about this that touches on some of those very issues - click here.

[Irene]

I read part of the article. Doesn't give anything away.

I'm thinking of a large stage with the main scene, and small mini-stages that slide on & off. [The technology is there. Thanks for reminding me of Les Mis. and I've seen CIRQUE including the one where the whole stage lifts/rotates on it's side, and even gets a ship on the top].

The story skips around locations, years, characters and just about everything. I suppose, the small sets (flashback) can appear in side location.

[august]

Yep, and I think this photo from the article gives a good idea - my guess is that the stairs roll on and off, while the castle's stonework remains constant in the back. So you could then roll in something else to
represent Harry and Ron's room, or a classroom, or the forest.

[august]

Here's another USA Today article about the opening. :bg: