“Harry Potter & The Cursed Child” runs through Saturday, October 4 at the Providence Performing Arts Center. (Contributed Photo)

Let’s get this out of the way. In Harry Potter terminology, I guess I’m a Muggle. Officially (according to Wikipedia anyway) is “a person who lacks any sort of magical ability.” In my mind, a Muggle is someone who’s not fully steeped in the lore of Potterworld.

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, I saw “Harry Potter & The Cursed Child” the other night at the Providence Performing Arts Center. Potter’s fandom was well-represented, with youngsters and adults alike wearing Hogwarts capes and carrying magic wands. 

The show focuses on Albus Severus Potter, the second son of Harry and Ginny Potter. He struggles to live up to his father’s legacy. “I didn’t ask to be his son!” he exclaims at one point.

Just the fact that he gets sorted into Slytherin House instead of his father’s beloved Gryffindor is enough to set him apart. 

Young Potter befriends Scorpius Malfoy, son of Harry’s arch-nemesis Draco Malfoy, and the two decide to travel back in time to right a perceived wrong. Enough said, without spoiling anything. 

“Harry Potter & The Cursed Child” runs through Saturday, October 4 at the Providence
Performing Arts Center. (Contributed Photo) Credit: Matthew Murphy

Admittedly, it was a little tough to follow the story, not having read any of the books or seen more than two of the movies. But the Potter fans were impressed. For instance, the mere entrance of Professor Umbridge elicits a gasp.

The star of this show, however, is the special effects, and they are impressive. The wand fight between Draco (Ryan Hallahan) and Harry (Nick Dillenberg) is especially good, with both being tossed through the air.

There are special effects surrounding the various time travels, wands firing off targeted flames, flying brooms and more. The entrances and exits of Voldemort’s Dementors are also particularly good, especially when they spirit a character away.

This is not a musical, but there’s an abundance of very well-choreographed movement in the show.

Adam Grant Morrison plays Albus Potter with a ton of teenage angst and determination.

David Fine as Scorpius Malfoy is very good, and provides quite a bit of comic relief, as does Matt Harrington as Ron Weasley.

Mackenzie Lesser-Roy has an especially hilarious turn as Moaning Myrtle.

And kudos to the actors who pull double duty in the show. Larry Yando plays both Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape, while Katherin Leask plays both Professor Umbridge and Professor McGonagall.

“Harry Potter & The Cursed Child” is a delight for Harry Potter fans, and impressive for its special effects. 

“Harry Potter & The Cursed Child” runs through Saturday, October 4 at the Providence Performing Arts Center. For tickets and information, visit www.ppacri.org or call the box office at 401.421.ARTS.

“Harry Potter & The Cursed Child” runs through Saturday, October 4 at the Providence Performing Arts Center. (Contributed Photo)

Frank O’Donnell has worn many different hats. As an actor, he’s performed in three professional theatrical productions and countless community theater productions. He’s written, produced and directed four holiday-themed shows and once helmed the Notfanuttin’ Players, specializing in audience-participation dinner shows. He’s been performing as a stand-up comedian since 1982 and has been inducted into the RI Comedy Hall of Fame. He’s written comedy for other performers, like Bob Hope, Jay Leno and Joe Piscopo. He’s opened for performers as diverse as the Judds, Michael Bolton, Chicago, David Brenner, Gilbert Gottfried and more. He’s been writing reviews and features about theater in Rhode Island for better than two decades. His work to help save the monarch butterfly has been chronicled on NBC Nightly News and he is president of the Keri Anne O’Donnell Memorial Fund. A native of Providence and long-time resident of North Providence, Frank now calls Jamestown home. He and his wife Karen – who he met when both were students at Classical High School – have four children, and recently became grandparents.