#a terrified child played by jeremy strong
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im sharing the first chapter of a terrified child played by jeremy strong here on tumblr! (this is post 1 of 2! read the second post here)!
this chapter is available to buy as a single issue! 56 full-color pages in 7"x7", all copies come signed & dedicated. $20, follow the link to purchase thru ko-fi or DM me to claim yours!
spectacular new cover design by @formyths
#comics#ezra david mattes#a terrified child played by jeremy strong#memoir#experimental#alternative comics#colored pencil#traditional art#jeremy strong
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A review of A TERRIFIED CHILD PLAYED BY JEREMY STRONG by Ezra David Mattes!
#comic#comic art#cartoonist cooperative#comic artist#comic books#cartoonist#a terrified child played by jeremy strong#ezra david mattes
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i keep forgetting i have a fanart blog. listen maybe i will make a regular art account one of these days. but my graphic anti-memoir a terrified child played by jeremy strong is currently updating on patreon and the first issue will debut at the TCAF digital marketplace.
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A List of Older Fandoms for Quarantine Viewing
I thought it might be fun to put out a list of older fandoms or smaller fandoms that might be of interest to folks here. As we’re all still stuck with quarantine, perhaps you’re looking for some new/old media? Perhaps this list could help?
This is halfway between a rec list and a charting of my own fandom history. For anyone looking for some new fandoms to check out that are various flavors of interesting and a little older, check ‘em out!
Feel free to add your own!
In no specific order (other than maybe my DVD shelf??)
Patrick O’Brien books/Master and Commander - this was a fairly good-sized fandom back when the movie ‘Master and Commander’ came out. A must-watch for anyone who likes historical fiction, age of sail, and powerful homoeroticism.
David Drake’s Royal Cinnabar Navy series - did you ever want Master and Commander in space, but Stephen Maturin is a librarian named Adele Mundy who is a sharpshooter and utterly terrifying and wonderful and beloved ace representation? Fair warning: this series contains grapic descriptions of violence from an author who’s still working through his Vietnam PTSD. Here be dragons.
Adam Adamant Lives! - an Edwardian adventurer got frozen in a block of ice by his arch-nemesis The Face, thawed out in 1969, and now fights crime with a young woman sidekick and an actor-turned-butler who spouts limericks. It is a completely insane show and joyously dumb. Everyone involved is having a whale of a time. It’s hard to come by, but so worth watching it for the pure silliness.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer - I can’t believe this has become a fandom some people haven’t heard of, but here we are, far enough out from the massive cultural impact of Buffy that I need to remind folks. 1990s series about a cheerleader-turned-vampire slayer, struggling with both the supernatural and with high school (which is much worse).
Angel - spinoff of Buffy, and in some ways my preferred series? It has so many problems, and the writing of seasons 3 and 4 is quite weak, but the characters are strong, the stories are solid, and Alexis Denisof’s Wesley Wyndam-Pryce remains one of my favorite character arcs in television.
Marble Hornets - here’s another fandom that doesn’t feel like it should be old, but it’s now over a decade since its premiere. One of the early webseries, Marble Hornets is still one of the best. Well done horror with occasionally iffy amateur acting, easily overcome with a surprising touch for cinematography. I’m a sucker for amateur film, especially when it’s well done and ambitious.
Babylon 5 - This was the first fandom I posted about on here, and still one of my great loves. Arcs before arcs on television were a thing. Huge overarching stories playing out over seasons. Great political intrigue on a space station. The grandest, most tragic Shakespearean romance that ever played out between two middle-aged alien diplomats.
Carnivale - HBO prestige show before they had prestige shows. Bought the DVDs on the cover art alone, and they were so worth it: “1934. The Dustbowl. The last great age of magic.” Like most HBO shows, every possible content warning does probably apply to this show, though it’s not nearly as extreme as Game of Thrones, so if you could watch that, you can probably watch Carnivale.
Firefly - space western courtesy of Joss Whedon. Only one series long, but really well done. Probably Whedon’s best work.
Homicide: Life on the Streets - early 1990s police procedural with a twist: it wanted to be a very accurate, realistic portrayal of a homicide unit, based on a documentary novel. The characters all feel real, you’re certain they all smell like cigarettes, coffee, and sweat. Also, can we applaud a show that has a female homicide detective who doesn’t wear makeup, has frizzy red hair, and never wears heels? Kay Howard is such a fantastic character. Frank Pembleton and Tim Bayliss and John Munch and Gee are all such wonderful, real characters. Another great show for prestige-television-before-it-existed.
The Last Detective - British detective series about a detective who gets small, mournful cases ignored by everyone else and solves them mostly through dogged work rather than brilliance. This show is the most melancholy show I have ever seen, shockingly good in the quietest way possible, and remains one of my favorite detective series ever.
M*A*S*H - have you ever wanted a proper tragicomedy billed as a sitcom? There’s a reason this show is still considered the greatest sitcom ever made. Fair warning: the early seasons really haven’t aged well, and a lot of the comedy doesn’t land. But if you’re willing to stick with it to the later seasons, you’ll find a show that shifts toward one of the greatest tragicomedies ever.
Sapphire and Steel - 1970s/1980s British horror/sci-fi show about two mysterious beings that appear to resolve science fiction reinterpretations of horror concepts. Despite a shoestring budget, the writing is phenomenal, and the acting is perfect, particularly the icy intimacy between the two leads, David McCallum and Joanna Lumley.
Sherlock Holmes - before the modern interpretations, there was the 1980s series starring Jeremy Brett. If you want the single most accurate interpretation of Conan Doyle’s work, with characters who feel and look like they’ve stepped off the page (and the series that singlehandedly rehabilitated the character of Inspector Lestrade), this series is a must-watch. This has been my go-to comfort viewing for years.
Also, if you’re a Sherlock Holmes nut, and you’re desperate for more content, and willing to navigate a Cyrillic DVD menu for subtitles, might I suggest the late 70s Russian Sherlock Holmes series? Vasiliy Livanov’s Holmes is such a different interpretation of the character, and he’s a delight. And Vitaliy Solomin’s Watson is possibly my favorite Watson ever. He’s so done with everything.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - sort of the forgotten middle child of the Star Trek series, but in many ways it’s one of the most ambitious. It was a rival/developed at the same time and somewhat by the same team as Babylon 5, so there are some striking similarities (space station, overarching stories, etc), but while B5 manages the political intrigue better, DS9 does a war better. It’s the darkest of the Star Trek series, investigating the more tarnished edges of the utopia. The characters are more deeply developed and flawed, and I love them all. Andrew Robinson’s portrayal of tailor-with-a-mysterious-past Garak is probably the best character Star Trek ever created in any series.
Hope those of you looking for new things to watch and dig into might find something in this list!
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•|Ask of Me Darling|•
A list of who I write for, I have my limits though. Request are open. Boy x Boy and Girl x Girl are fine! LGBTQ+ Safe blog. There are limits to what kinks ill write about. This blog is strictly 18+ ‼‼ If you're Not comfortable with depictions of Homosexuality this blog ain't for ya sweets
SLASHERS
(include but are not limited to)
• Jason Voorhees - Friday the 13th
• Thomas Hewitt - Texas Chainsaw Massacre
• Bubba Sawyer - Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
• Michael Myers - Halloween
(2007-R. Zombie)
• Jeepers Creepers - Jeepers Creepers
• Billy Loomis - Ghostface
• Stu Macher - Ghostface
• Bo Sinclair - House of Wax
• Vincent Sinclair - House of Wax
• Art the Clown - Terrifier
• Pyramid Head - Silent Hill
• Hannibal Lecter - Hannibal
(Mads Mikkelsen-TV)
• Asa Emory/The Collector - The Collector
• Charles Lee Ray/Chucky - Child's Play
(Human Only)
• Yautja(s) - AvP/Predators
• Brahms Heelshire - The Boy
• Harry Warden - My Bloody Valentine
• Freddy Krueger - A Nighmare on Elm Street
• Patrick Bateman - American Psycho
TELEVISION
(Include but are not limited to)
TVD/TO
• Damon Salvatore
• Stefan Salvatore
• Jeremy Gilbert
• Bonnie Bennett
• Mason Lockwood
• Tyler Lockwood
• Caroline Forbes
• Katerina Petrova/Katherine Peirce
• Kai Parker
• Klaus Mikealson
• Elijah Mikealson
• Rebekah Mikealson
• Kol Mikealson
• Marcellus Gerard
• Lucien Castle
The Peaky Blinders
• Thomas Shelby
• John Shelby
• Arthur Shelby
• Finn Shelby
• Bonnie Gold
• Alfie Solomons
• Michael Gray
The Sopranos/The Many Saints of Newark
• Peter-Paul "Paulie Walnuts" Gualtieri
• Silvio Dante
• Tony Soprano
• Meadow Soprano
• Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero
• Furio Giunta
• Uncle Sally
• Dickie Moltisanti
• Johnny Soprano
VIDEO GAMES FALLOUT 4
• Porter Gage
• Piper Wright
• Preston Garvey
• Cait
• Nick Valentine
• Robert MacCready
• Danse
• Arthur Maxson
• Strong
• Conrad Kellog(NPC)
• Mason(Nuka World DLC NPC)
• Mags Black(Nuka World DLC NPC)
• Old Longfellow
• Allen Lee(Far Harbor DLC NPC)
Red Dead Redemption 2
• Arthur Morgan
• John Marston
• Micah Bell
• Charles Smith
• Sadie Adler
• Hosea Matthews
• Lenny Summers
• Bill Williamson
• Sean MacGuire
• Javier Escuella
• Kieran Duffy
• Tilly Jackson
Mafia 2-3
• Lincoln Clay - Mafia III
• Vito Scaletta - Mafia II and III
• Danny Burke - Mafia III
• Thomas Burke - Mafia III
• John Donovan - Mafia III
• Joe Barbaro - Mafia II
• Giorgi Marcano - Mafia III
Game of Thrones
• Sandor Clegane
• Jon Snow
• Daenerys Targaryen
• Tormund Giantsbane
• Tyrion Lannister
• Tywin Lannister
• Cersei Lannister
• Arya Stark
• Sansa Stark
• Jaime Lannister
• Brienne of Tarth
• Theon Greyjoy
• Joffrey Baratheon
• Eddard Stark
• Ramsay Bolton
• Bronn
• Oberyn Martell
• Khal Drogo
• Night King
• Roose Bolton
Mortal Kombat
• Shao Kahn
• Baraka
• Mileena
• Raiden
• Fujin
• Sub-Zero - Kuai Liang
• Noob Saibot - Bi Han
• Scorpion - Hanzo Hisashi
• Kintaro
• Johnny Cage
• Ermac
• Quan Chi
• Shang Tsung
• Jax - Jaxson Briggs
• Jacqui Briggs
• Erron Black
• Frost
• Jade
Ask and I shall write. Your imagination is the limit.
💋-
thy lover
#billy loomis#scream#micheal myers#harry warden#art the clown#freddy krueger#asa emory#the collector#mafia 2#mafia 3#yautja#aliens vs predator#hellboy#prince nuada#abe sapien#kratos#god of war#fallout 4#red dead fanfic#peaky blinder fanfic#game of thrones#wwe smackdown#the vampire diares icons#the originals#the sopranos
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Thoughts : It (2017)
One of the most fascinating things about fandoms is the completely random nature they have in regards to the properties they choose to champion. I’m almost positive that when Stephen King initially wrote It, he never dreamed there would be not only multiple movies, but an extremely devoted fanbase and a general recognition of the collective fear of clowns held by the general public. Personally, I didn’t catch It-mania the first time around (even as a fan of Tim Curry), so when the recent remake hit the theaters, I felt no sense of urgency to see it. It was seeing the trailers for It Chapter Two, however, that finally piqued my interest and brought me to a viewing of the 2017 remake.
Bill Denbrough (Jaeden Lieberher) is home sick, but in a gesture of kindness, he makes a paper boat for his younger brother Georgie (Jackson Robert Scott) to play with in the rain. Georgie loses the boat in the gutter, and while peering in, he is scared, taunted and eventually assaulted by Pennywise (Bill Skargard), an ominous and terrifying clown. Bill is scarred by the event, but with the support of The Losers Club, his close knit group of friends, he plans to comb the sewers of Derry, Maine in hopes of uncovering the truth about his brother. The Losers Club, consisting of the brash Richie Tozier (Finn Wolfhard), mother’s boy Eddie Kaspbrak (Jack Dylan Glazer), and the pragmatic Stanley Uris (Wyatt Oleff), try to console Bill and keep his mind off of things, but Bill is unshaken in his quest for the truth. Meanwhile, tomboy Beverly Marsh (Sophia Lillis), in an attempt to find friendship amidst a nasty rumor campaign the town has adopted about her, befriends newcomer Ben Hanscom (Jeremy Ray Taylor), a shy bookworm that has taken it upon himself to study the turbulent history of Derry. All the while, Mike Hanlon ( Chosen Jacobs), a young black kid from the outskirts of town, is attempting to adapt to a life under the care of his hardworking grandfather in the wake of a housefire that killed his parents. All six children are tormented by the Bowers Gang, led by Henry Bowers (Nicholas Hamilton), the irrationally violent son of a Derry police officer. As the bond grows between the kids amidst the nightmarish attacks by Pennywise and the Bowers Gang, the newly expanded Losers Club must use all the tools at their disposal to defeat an enemy they do not understand, while nurturing a connection deeper than any they’ve ever known.
I really and truly do not know where to begin with this movie, and it is almost impossible to discuss this film without bringing up (if not making direct comparison to) the 1990 TV miniseries. I can flat out state that the 2017 film is an overall better film, and one that will more than likely escape the curse of looking dated decades down the road, save for astronomical leaps in technology. The most interesting thing about this movie, however, is the fact that it is not really a horror or suspense film, despite it having the shapings of one. No matter the nature of your enemy or villain in a horror film, there has to be a hint of reality in the mix to truly instill fear. Freddy may be over the top, but the damage he inflicts is tangible and visible to observers (we will circle back around to the Freddy thing momentarily). Jason instills fear because he never stops coming, and his attack is brutal when he catches you. Vampires, zombies, werewolves and even Frankenstein’s monster are rooted in historical lore. Pennywise, while being a fascinating villain, fails to land as a true terror due to a two-parted shortcoming : his outlandish nature makes him more of a cartoon character than a true threat, and as the kids state multiple times within the film, none of what he does is ‘real’ unless you fear him. It is intriguing how his power is, on the one hand, limited to perspective, but on the other hand, seemingly limitless due to the number of tricks he displays during the film.
For all the things that It does correctly, there is a series (and a villain) that does it better : Nightmare on Elm Street and the aforementioned Freddy. Rag tag group of high school misfits? Check. Ominous threat, based in the history of the city that it dwells in, that manifest mostly in the minds of its victims, though the repercussions of its actions are very much felt in the real world? Check. Heavy dose of the 1980s? Check. Equal doses of fear, controversy and humor? Check. That is not to say that It is not an entertaining and truly fascinating film, but with the burden of comparison to past versions of itself already on the table, it’s got enough of a mountain to climb to win over both those faithful to the creator of the property and those faithful to the original and iconic depiction of the titular character.
It may sound like I’m coming down rough on this film, but there are many things that it does quite well. For a film that displays the levels of violence that this one does, it does not necessarily glorify it or force you to dwell in it... even a broken arm is taken in as more of a realization than a focus, therefore making it easier to digest. The special effects are monumental, yet their visual integration is subtle and natural. For a film that is mostly carried by child and teenage actors, the acting is surprisingly strong across the board, even when the material is failed by forced exposition or finds itself in the realms of tropes. The sound design enhances the experience of the film, towing the line between building real suspense and reliance on jump scares with a finesse and restraint often not found in films of this nature. For a film where the villain/monster is so heavily present, Pennywise surprisingly does not wear out his welcome, remaining stunning and hard not to enjoy from the moment he pops up in the sewer until the moment he falls into the recesses of the well.
Jaeden Lieberher does a solid job as the sympathetic protagonist, finding a good range in regards to the use of his stutter, how believable he executes it, and the moments it goes away. Sophia Lillis steals the show with a confidence that bursts off the screen, and a killer smile to match. Jeremy Ray Taylor manages to dodge typecasting as the ‘fat kid’ as he proves himself to be one of the more valuable members of the Losers Club, while turning in a strong and endearing performance. Wyatt Oleff is forced to show a restraint not placed upon his costars as the groups’ voice of reason, but he does manage to bring dignity and logic to the crew, as well as a sense of rationale and reason in the midst of the mind-blowing. The joy that Finn Wolfhard is feeling in light of being given the green light to fully cut loose is impossible to ignore. Chosen Jacobs is not given much to work with, but similar to Oleff, he provides a grounding nature to the group. Jackson Robert Scott manages to somehow be one of the tougher members of the group while also leaning into his role as momma’s boy. Bill Skargard fully commits to making Pennywise as creepy, off-putting and uncanny valley reminding as he can. Nicholas Hamilton proves to be a serious threat, even as the secondary antagonist. Performances by Stephen Bogaert, Jake Sim, Owen Teague, Logan Thompson, Pip Dwyer and Stuart Hughes also stand out.
As popular as this film was, and as large a fanbase as it was able to garner, I imagine this will find life as a cult classic down the road. I’ve heard mixed reviews for It Chapter Two, and while I did enjoy my viewing of It, I don’t think I’ll rush to the theater for the follow-up. I will, however, be purchasing the two pack on Vudu when it drops, because I am certain I will revisit this film over the years.
#ChiefDoomsday#DOOMonFILM#StephenKing#AndyMuschietti#It#JaedenLieberher#WyattOleff#JeremyRayTaylor#SophiaLillis#FinnWolfhard#JackDylanGrazer#ChosenJacobs#NicholasHamilton#OwenTeague#JacksonRobertScott#StephenBogaert#BillSkarsgard#LoganThompson#JakeSim#StuartHughes#GeoffreyPounsett#PipDwyer#MollyJaneAtkinson#StevenWilliams#MeganCharpentier#JoeBostick#AriCohen#JavierBotet#TatumLee
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New from Al and Linda Lerner on Movies and Shakers: It Chapter Two
If you saw the first IT from 2017, based on Stephen King’s 1986 novel, this is much more of the same, actually too much more. Flashbacks from the original fill out the film, but that’s still no reason to make this It almost 3 hours long. Brought back together in their Derry, Maine hometown, you follow each character as a kid and then as the adult they’ve become.
The return of the young actors who comprise the “Losers Club” shows again how director Andy Muschietti and writer Gary Dauberman worked with an ensemble cast that deserved all the praise and box office cash the original It raked in. Dauberman apparently felt the need to follow each character as child and adult. It just takes too long.
Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård) is back on the prowl looking for revenge and comes up with some creative ways to taunt his old targets, as well as some of the young kids in town now. A very disturbing scene opens this film before the opening credits. It’s the brutal beating of a gay couple by Derry townies that sets the scene. The scenes are not only graphic, but it’s interesting that a big Hollywood studio left it in. Pennywise uses this hate to fuel his return. And we’re off and running.
James McAvoy is earnest as the still stuttering Bill Denbrough who writes horror novels and can’t seem to write a good ending for his books, one of which is being made into a movie starring his wife, Audra (Jess Weixler). Jessica Chastain puts in a strong, stoic performance as Beverly Marsh. We called it after seeing the original. She had to play Bev grown up. She was a young rebel who is now a high powered designer trapped in an abusive marriage to Tom, (Will Beinbrink). She is still strong-willed. Jay Ryan as Ben Hanscom has gone through the greatest transformation from child to adult. He was the fat kid who has become a hunk of a famous architect.
Bill Hader is a standout as Ritchie Tozier who turned his sassy wisecracking into a stand-up comedy career. He’s scruffy, disheveled and alternates between hilarious and heartbreaking. James Ransone as Eddie Kaspbrak is an insurance risk management expert who naturally over-analyzes his situation. Isaiah Mustafa’s Mike Hanson is the only “Loser” who remained in Derry. He’s the town librarian and because he stayed his memories are still clear concerning Pennywise. He sees that there’s something going on now that is too much like what he and his friends, “The Losers” had to deal with long ago.
Flashbacks from the original include young “Loser” Jaeden Martell (Bill), Sophia Lillis (Bev), Jeremy Ray Taylor (Ben), Finn Wolfhard (Richie), Jack Dylan Grazer (Eddie), Chosen Jacobs (Mike), Wyatt Oleff (Stanley).
In this conclusion the adults have to face violent dreams turned into the reality of fighting their ultimate clown/demon, Pennywise, again. The kids swore a blood oath 27 years earlier to band together to defeat Pennywise if he ever returned. It’s time to honor that oath.Is the scary clown Pennywise active once again. The childhood friends are now 40-something adults who have left Derry and the frightening events of their youth far in the rear view mirror. They hardly know each other and are dealing with their own grown-up demons. Stanley (Andy Bean) can’t bring himself to return.
Each of the adult “Losers” has to face their fears. There are a couple of moments that will make you jump. The rest will make you squirm. There are gross, distasteful, scary scenes and chases, but only a couple that will get you out of your seat. When Bev decides to revisit where she lived with her Dad, she’s invited in by the creepy old woman who lives there now. There is great tension and foreboding by the way their movements are shot in shadow. Look out!
The special effects are so frequent and over the top that they begin to lose their effectiveness. The lighting or lack thereof on Pennywise’s entrances and exits help set a scary tone, but not enough. There are all kinds of creatures, big and small, and plenty of red balloons floating around to herald what’s coming. The sets get more and more elaborate. There always seems to be a fun house with someone caught in a room full of mirrors. But look for Stephen King and a famous director to make cameo appearances in this film. That was fun.
The film starts with an effective message about homophobia, but ends with a tepid one about bullying. Muschietti shows the “Losers” battling their fears in a juvenile and simplistic way. There are a couple of terrifying moments, but overall, we were disappointed. Like author Bill’s character having the lack of a good ending for his movie, this one isn’t much better.
Warner Bros. 169 Minutes R
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Avengers & Guardians Family Masterlist *updated 2/12/19*
NONE OF THESE ARE MINE!!! I did NOT write any of these! I believe they are amazing fanfics, written by insanely talented people, and deserve to be shared. ALL CREDIT GOES TO THE AUTHORS!!!
Marvel Masterlist Marvel Smut Masterlist
Tony & Avengers Team
Silent Ilien by everythingispoetry (Parent Tony Stark)(Tony Stark & Avengers Team) Tony is bringing up his autistic son. The world - and the Avengers - are oblivious. They just think Tony is being typical self when he disobeys orders or just disappears. Encounters through years. Pepper, Rhodey, Natasha, Steve, Thor, Bruce, Clint, the team, JARVIS. Bonus: Phil.
An Ever Watchful Eye by torianmist (Tony Stark & Avengers Team) Guardian Angels come in all shapes and sizes and are not always who you think they may be.
I Really Do Trust You by tsjn (Tony Stark & Avengers Team) The team does a very different version of trust falls. Tony, dealing with the aftermath of New York, doesn't participate. The team starts to wonder if Tony really trusts them. Or Tony tries too hard not to disappoint, and has a panic attack because of it.
Not Fighting by arianapeterson19 (Tony Stark & Avengers Team) Fury had no room to complain, he had known what would happen if he made Tony sit through one more meeting without providing decent coffee. He didn't have to be such a dick about it. Or the one where Fury is a shit and the Avengers have some forced bonding.
In Deep Water by itsallAvengers (Steve Rogers x Tony Stark)(Tony Stark & Avengers Team) The Avengers want a pool. Tony can arrange that for them. He can. The thought doesn’t fill him with horrible, daunting dread and crippling fear. Not at all. (Or maybe denial does more harm than good)
Submerge by Oceanbreeze7 (Tony Stark & Avengers Team) Not many people escape being a Prisoner of War untouched. Lucky (unluckily) for Tony, he wasn't entirely the exception. Besides, water is a terrifying thing.
Division of the Heart by TylerM (Tony Stark & Avengers Team) Tony Stark is sick. Surely that's not going to be a problem? When he doesn't tell the team a normal cold is a little more complicated with the Arc Reactor, things get a little out of hand.
Grown Now by TylerM (Tony Stark & Avengers Team) Loki de-ages Tony Stark, and the team have to now deal with a tiny four year old who is nothing like the Tony they're used to, and nothing like they'd expect him to be as a child.
Sick Games by arianapeterson19(Tony Stark & Avengers Team) Anyone who locked Tony in a room with electronics was either stupid or insane. Or both. OR The one where everyone gets kidnapped and Tony’s not exactly useless.
Me and Myself by Kyu_Momo (Insecure Tony Stark)(Tony Stark & Avengers Team) "Tony! If you could just be a little less like you we would all like you a lot more!“
Expendable by Kelady (Steve Rogers x Tony Stark)(Tony Stark & Avengers Team) Tony's expendable and he knows it. So why is the whole team in his hospital room, worried? or Tony gets stabbed by Loki and he learns exactly how much they care. Hint. It's a lot.
TONY STARK, PRESUMED DEAD by Kelady (Tony Stark & Avengers Team) Tony Stark's house is blown up on National television. Of course, the remaining Avengers are going to find out. This is what they do while Tony Stark is Presumed Dead.
Not just a team, but a family. by Thebookofavenging (Tony Stark & Avengers Team) Post the arc-reactor surgery, tony wakes up to find the avengers in his hospital room and needless to say he is a little surprised by it. Fluff and Confusion ensues.
Ghosts by madwamoose (Tony Stark & Avengers Team) The Avengers have been placed under a spell. Each day, a ghost of a member of the team will haunt them until they face their worst fear and stick up to it.
It Only Hurts a Little (He's Lying Through His Teeth) by F-117 Nighthawk (Tony Stark & Avengers Team) Two times Tony hid the fact that the arc reactor was causing him pain and one time Pepper didn't let him.
The Triggers List by TeaSpent (Tony Stark & Avengers Team) After the first 'incident', the triggers list was made. Stuck on to the fancy fridge in the Avenger's Tower with a purple smiley face magnet, the paper has everyone’s name's on it, as well as a bulleted list of triggers. Well, that is, everyone except for Tony.
Truth, Secrets, Mind by Kelady (Tony Stark & Avengers Team) The Avengers team is thrown in to Tony's mind and they are shown some of Tony's bad past.
I Don't Like To Be Handed Things by Kelady (Tony Stark & Avengers Team) Tony Stark doesn't like to be handed things. The avengers find out why.
Not a Soldier by SailorChibi (Tony Stark & Avengers Team) When a villain kidnaps the team and demands sex in exchange for the team's freedom, the obvious choice to offer up is the person who has the most experience (and the worst reputation). Unfortunately, Tony didn't actually consent.
Stuck with us by petroltogo (Tony Stark & Avengers Team)(High School AU) Prompt fill: can u write like a hs au, with avengers as a group of friends. they act like they think tony doesn't have feelings, they seem to never take him seriously and they often tease him or laugh at sth that actually hurts him (they dont know that it makes him feel bad) he usually just takes it, because he thinks he deserves it. but then he has just the worst day ever, and they make some comment abt sth and he just breaks and starts crying, cause he just wants someone to care abt him. they comfort him.
The Star-Spangled Man With A Plan by Mistfire24 (Tony Stark & Avengers Team) Tony is forced to clean out and organize his father's old things. He finds a special surprise that he can't wait to share with the rest of the team. OR Everyone is laughing because Steve Rodgers, A.K.A. Captain America is dressed in SPANDEX
Fix You by Princess_Aleera (Clint Barton x Tony Stark)(Tony Stark & Avengers Team) “Hello, Tony. I want to play a game.“ Tony is taken by the Jigsaw Killer and forced to endure five grueling tasks - each of them representing one of his teammates. The same teammates who, on Jigsaw’s orders, are forced to watch every second of Tony’s torture on a set of monitors. “Hello, Avengers. Today, you are not here to save anyone. You are here to help with the clean-up, for once in your life.”
The Tony Stark Squad by BellaP (Tony Stark Defense Squad)(Not Team Cap Friendly)(Tony Stark & Avengers Team) Because Tony does have loyal friends, and they are not happy with the Avengers.
Me Without You by Wix (Tony Stark Defense Squad)(Not Team Cap Friendly)(Tony Stark & Avengers Team) Tony’s moving on, slowly and one piece at a time, but he’ll get there eventually. With a little help along the way.
We Are Tony’s People [part one, part two, part three] by Tempest_Raining (Tony Stark Defense Squad)(Not Team Cap Friendly)(Tony Stark & Avengers Team) The first time the Exvengers walked into the refurbished compound after three-and-a-half years of sitting in Wakanda they are met with some of the more… vindictive people on Tony’s roster. Or, I just wanted to experiment with Rhodey, Doc Strange, Matt, Foggy, Jessica and FRIDAY working together to confront/warn the Exvengers.
Contractually Obligated [part one, part two, part three]by poetically_ordinary (Tony Stark x Stephen Strange)(Tony Stark Defense Squad)(not team cap friendly)(Tony Stark & Avengers Team) When the wayward Avengers finally sign the Sokovia Accords, they return to a place that is no longer like they remember it to be. Everyone must come together to portray a united front to the world. Even if that’s the last thing happening behind the scenes.
Tony Stark is Not a Supervillain (But his Poker Group All Are) by DaughteroftheSilverMoon (Tony Stark & Marvel Villains)(Tony Stark & Avengers Team) A superhero walks into a room full of villains- and they play poker and give him a drink. After all, it’s the polite thing to do. Only then they get to liking him, and all of a sudden they’re slaying dragons for the good guys. It’s very disconcerting, but kind of nice.
Avenger’s Game of Tag by athletiger (Steve Rogers x Tony Stark) It wasn’t supposed to go on this long, but it just…happened. It started off as a child’s game of tag, but the Avengers just had to evolve it into something long and glorious, collateral damage included. Inspired by Jeremy Renner’s new film “Tag.” In theaters June 15.
Broken by NotEvenCloseToStraight (Tony Stark x Avengers Team) It took months of therapy for Bucky to break his Winter Soldier conditioning, and Steve was there for him, encouraging him to talk about his past, his fears, his time as the Soldier. And Bucky talked about everything– except why the barest mention of an Alpha makes him panic. When Steve brings Bucky home, Alpha!Tony is ready to welcome Bucky with open arms and wings, but Bucky can’t look at him, can’t be in the same room without his wings flaring out to keep the Alpha away, a broken Omega panicking in the presence of a strong Alpha. But Tony is a good Alpha, and the team pulls together to help Bucky, showing him what it means to be loved, to be healthy and whole, and one day when Tony holds his hand out, Bucky trusts him enough to take it. And Bucky realizes that with a family behind him, with the safety hes found in the Omegas, the companionship from the Betas, and the unconditional love from the Alpha–HIS alpha, he isn’t broken at all. But with a team like the Avengers, tragedy is never far off, and this one rocks the family to their core. How can they fix the broken pieces of their lives when their Alpha is gone?
Peter Parker & Avengers Team
In The Home by aloneintherain (Peter Parker & Avengers Team) The Avengers have been infected, turned violent and aggressive against their will. And Peter, the only one unaffected, is trapped inside the Tower with six feral teammates.
He’s Ours To Protect by ImaKaraTabiHe (Parent Tony Stark)(Steve Rogers x Tony Stark)(Kid Peter Parker & Avengers Team) Things are going well at the Tower since Peter was adopted. At least, they were before someone from Peter’s past reappeared.
The Sun Will Come Out by aloneintherain (Peter Parker & Avengers Team) The Avengers bombard Peter’s place of employment, meet his awful boss, and ruin a man’s life. Peter quietly suffers
Working For A Miracle by ImaKaraTabiHe (Peter Parker & Avengers Team) Peter’s alone in the world, struggling to be both Peter Parker and Spider-Man. Sometimes he feels so low, he wonders if he’s living, if it’s worth it. Maybe miracles take some work though?
Fitting In (Tiny Spaces) by aloneintherain (Peter Parker & Avengers Team) Peter’s trapped beneath a collapsed building during a mission, hurt and unable to move. Luckily, his comm still works. Unluckily, the Avengers don’t realize how bad of a state Peter is in, and Peter isn’t inclined to tell them.
Peter’s International Debut by ImaKaraTabiHe(Peter Parker & Avengers Team) “Where the fuck were you!?” It comes out as more of a yell than he would’ve liked, but his control is slipping and all the anger, fear, and hurt are crashing out. In which Peter comes back on a Sunday and he has good reasons to be ticked at the Avengers for leaving him behind to go on a mission.
5 Times Spider-Man Saved an Avenger’s Ass by TunaFishChris(Peter Parker & Avengers Team) What it says on the tin.
Peter & Wanda BFF’s [part one, part two, part three] by TunaFishChris (Peter Parker & Avengers Team)(Peter Parker & Wanda Maximoff) Nobody’s thrilled at the idea of “that kid” Peter Parker on the Avengers team. Nobody’s thrilled at the idea of “that weirdo” Wanda Maximoff on the team, either. Until they disappear, that is. Or, the one where Peter and Wanda are besties and the other Avengers are jerks until they realize how important and awesome they both are.
With Arms Wide Open by xSeshatx (Peter Parker & Avengers Team) 5 times the Avengers helped Peter Parker, and the 1 time Peter Parker helped the Avengers
Peter Parker is a ridiculously nice person by NeighbourhoodGay(Peter Parker & Avengers Team) The realization that Spider Man is in fact the sweetest human being on the planet takes the Avengers by surprise.
void by thepensword (Peter Parker & Avengers Team)(Infinity War Spoilers) He wakes up gasping. For a moment, all he sees is blackness, and he is searching for air that feels as though it will never again enter his lungs. He feels numbness and pain as one, terror and despair racing through his veins, and he thinks this is what it must feel like for the world to end. Peter in the void, after the war.
here comes the sun by porcelaincarnival (Peter Parker & Tony Stark)(Peter Parker & Avengers Team) No one believes that Peter interns at Stark Industries, so when the class takes a field trip there, Peter can’t help but be a little upset about it
Peter Quill & Guardians Team
Breathe by ren (Peter Quill & Team) Peter has asthma. The team don’t know about this until he suddenly has a severe attack in the middle of a battle. To make matters worse, they don’t know what it is in the first place or how to make him better.
Unpack Your Heart by aloneintherain (Peter Quill & Team) The Guardians are captured and Peter is taken to their captors to be questioned. Instead of torturing him, however, the interrogator injects him with a truth drug. Due to his hybrid nature, however, the serum works a little too well: Peter can’t shut up and starts babbling whatever comes into his mind. Frustrated, his captors throw him back into the cell to let the serum wear off. Unfortunately, that means that the Guardians are stuck with a drugged up Peter who can’t stop talking!
If You Need Me, Call Me by AutumnHobbit (Guardians of The Galaxy x Avengers) They’ve all got their issues, and their own unique patterns of brokenness. Except now, they also have each other’s backs. Or: Five Times The Avengers Helped The Guardians, And One Time The Guardians Helped The Avengers.
Darcy Lewis & Avengers Team
Avengers Means Family (a cautionary tale) by moontyrant (Darcy Lewis x Avengers)(Big Brother Avengers) Darcy's cheating (ex)boyfriend won't give her stuff back after she leaves him, and it's up to the Avengers to make it right.
Darcy is Done! by Caiti (Darcy Lewis & Avengers) Darcy is the all-around gofer for these people, and she's sick and tired of not getting thanked. She is going on strike.
Reader & Avengers
Always Remembered by WinterReadingerDixon67 (Bucky Barnes x Reader)(Reader & Avengers) Reader finds out her grandfather has passed away and now attends his funeral with Bucky and the team at her side.
What We Do For Our Own by isntthatjustmarvelous (Avengers & Reader) You experience something traumatic, but your super secret boyband are there to help. And to discuss revenge.
Avengers Team & Team Free Will (Supernatural)
The Touch Point by The67ImpalaDragonChild (Avengers Team & Clint Barton & Team Free Will) When Clint Barton was young, he met two boys. Two boys that became closer to him than his own brother. Years later, Clint is now an Avenger, and his two adoptive brothers are the deadliest hunters in the United States. If not the world. They’re closer than ever. And when Clint is snatched directly from the aftermath of a battle by a face from his past, and only has a few minutes to call for help, Clint makes a call to Natasha Romanov… And Dean Winchester. Now Avengers and Hunters alike must race against time and work together to find Clint. Before his time runs out.
An Occasional Matter of Family by dare_to_do_our_duty (Tony Stark & The Winchester Brothers) In which Tony Stark is related to Sam and Dean Winchester and they drop in on occasion when nobody is busy saving the world. And sometimes when everyone is busy saving the world.
#archive of our own#avengers#Guardians of the Galaxy#avengers team#team as family#protective guardians#protective avengers#avengers masterlist#guardians of the galaxy masterlsit
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This is the second part of my speculations about how I think the Marvel Cinematic Universe would have played out if Zack Snyder and the team behind the DCEU had been in charge of it, the first part outlined here http://comingupforblair.tumblr.com/post/167866014093/if-zack-snyder-had-created-the-mcu-part-1
As I’ve said before, none of this is necessarily an improvement, merely how I think things would have gone. I’ll be going as far as The Avengers and probably leaving it at that as the MCU has a lot of films I don’t really have any strong opinions of and I can’t imagine anyone would care to hear my views even if I did.
Thor
To be honest, there’s not a whole lot I can really suggest or imagine in relation to Thor. I think Kenneth Branagh did a fantastic job with it. He had been a fan of the comics since childhood and his love for the character is clear and I can’t imagine that anyone else could have brought the same elements to it.
Captain America
This is probably the toughest one as I really can’t imagine anyone other than Chris Evans in the role of Steve Rogers. He perfectly captures the nature of Cap as the ideal of how someone given great power would act and infuses it with complete sincerity. It’s a role I couldn’t have cast any better much like Charlie Cox as Daredevil or Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. Nonetheless my choice to take over for him in this alternate setting is Channing Tatum
I’m well aware the mere concept of such a casting has caused many of you to stop reading this post right now and possibly destroy your computers in anger so I feel I should explain. To preface, Tatum’s talent as an actor is not up for debate anymore. He proved in Foxcatcher and other films and in becoming one of Steven Soderbergh’s go to actors. As an actor, he brings a unique sensibility to his roles, a sense of vulnerability and emotion that contrasts his impressive physique. He feels like a lovable nerd that’s trapped in the body of a star athlete. I think that’s a perfect summary of what makes Steve Rogers a compelling character. Like I said, Chris Evans was perfect in the role and I’m open to any other ideas on this one.
I think a Captain America film under Charles Roven’s vision would have put a much greater emphasis on the truly horrifying nature of war and wouldn’t have shied away from being graphic. I could easily imagine a scene in it much like Saving Private Ryan or Hacksaw Ridge that doesn’t hold back from showing just how gut-wrenchingly horrific war is, even in a situation with a pretty clear morality.
I don’t think the film would have given too much attention to moral ambiguity but it’s not a stretch to imagine a scene like in Wonder Woman where we are reminded that the soldiers the hero has been fighting are really just kids who have no idea where They are or hat They’re doing or even what They’re fighting for. I also imagine the film wouldn’t have held back from showing that, while the Nazi’s were unquestionably evil, the Allies were capable of bad actions too with references to internment camps for Japanese Americans, Britain’s rule of India and Churchill’s forced famine and the horrible nature of life under Stalin.
I also imagine the film would have given much more attention to the Red Skull. One of my biggest grievances with the MCU was the way in which the Red Skull felt like such a dull villain, despite having a rich backstory and being a character so vile The Joker once refused to work with him. Made worse by the casting of Hugo Weaving, a brilliant actor who could have made him such a memorable villain if given the chance. I think a version done under a banner similar to the DCEU would have put focus on his childhood, on the hardship of growing up on the streets in a post-war Germany and how it hardened him and how he found in Hitler someone who finally showed him the affection he had never known. I think They would have given him a vibe similar to Lex Luthor, showing him as something of a child that never quite grew up, and General Zod in that he sees himself as someone fighting for a noble cause.
My choice for the role in this continuity would probably be Tom Hardy
He’s one of my favorite actors and I think he could capture Red Skull’s character as someone who has tasted poverty and hardship and has determined never to go back, who has gotten where he is through sheer grit and whose working-class background shines through, no matter how much he tries to escape it, and contrasts his physical power and immense intellect.
As with Chris Evans, it’s extremely difficult to imagine anyone as Peggy Carter other than Hayley Atwell. But I’m going to name Emily Blunt as my alternate choice
I think she would be a great choice to play Peggy as someone whose cool demeanor and professionalism contrasts Steve’s naivety and nervousness and who has been forced to make herself seem cold and tough to get respect but who possesses genuine warmth and kindness underneath it that Steve brings out.
The Avengers
I think a film under Zack Snyder’s direction would have put a greater emphasis on how all these things appear to people on the ground in the way that Man Of Steel, BvS and Justice League showed just how terrifying a real-life fight between super-powered beings would be. A good example would be the scenes in Justice League with the family trapped in a house surrounded by parademons which feels more in line with a horror film. I can imagine people running scared on the streets of Manhattan, getting a full look at just how terrifying it would be for a normal human to come face to face with an alien being.
I know a lot of people haven’t cared all hat much for Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye which takes the pressure off for this casting. My suggestion for the role would be Ryan Gosling
He’s a fantastic actor and Hawkeye as we’ve seen him is a character defined by his stoicism and secretive nature but who also shows immense kindness to those close to him such as Nat and his family. Ryan Gosling excels with such characters and I think would do a great job at bringing Clint to life.
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KEVIN BRYANT is AVAILABLE
AGE: 29
SPECIES: Vampire
OCCUPATION:
GENDER: Male
Pronouns: He/Him
Skills and Abilities: Werewolf bite Immunity.
FACE CLAIM: Taron Egerton
Biography:
Kevin was average. There had never been anything incredible about him. He was born in Crestle Cove and he died in Crestle Cove. Kevin came from a large family in Crestle Cove. Originally Kevin Nettles, Kevin was one of five. He was a relatively easy child and because of this, he was often left to his own devices. His charming and sweet nature meant that he was easily loveable and he was popular in any form of education he passed through. He played football in high school and got a full scholarship to the community college. However, Kevin knew that he wanted to be a police officer. It suited him, he had good morals and a strong sense of justice. He also enjoyed playing hero.
In his mid twenties, Kevin had it all. He’d met the perfect girl, got engaged and was moving quickly through the ranks at the quiet police station. But there was little work to do and Kevin often ran out of things to do. He spent the rest of his time playing games on his computer or playing stupid office games with Ella Henrikson and Anders Wilson. But even in a small town, being an officer has it’s risks. Kevin didn’t take them seriously. He was reckless and careless. One night he was called to an animal sighting. His two co-workers were out of the office and he was sent forward. It was that night he discovered the supernatural. He saw large wolves running through the Henrikson land and when he lifted his gun. He was attacked. Kevin was bitten by a werewolf.
it’s well known that many men do not survive the werewolf bite and for Kevin… things weren’t looking good. The werewolf who bit him - Jeremy Henrikson took the decision to take him to a friend. A vampire. Claudia owed Jeremy a favour and with some persuasion, turned Kevin. Turning her first progeny in centuries. The circumstance of Kevin’s death, means that Kevin is immune to the bite of a werewolf. An incredibly rare skill among vampires, although Kevin is unaware of this immunity. Kevin died with the werewolf venom within is system and as a result has built a tolerance. Kevin woke as a different man, although living in Crestle Cove he couldn’t see his family. He couldn’t put them in danger. The hunger that he felt was insane. He had never wanted anything like he wanted blood. But Claudia has been an experienced maker and Kevin has yet hurt anybody. He has only been a vampire for a few months. Kevin’s personality has intensified and he is just as bubbly and fun loving in death as he was in life.
Connections:
Claudia Bryant: Claudia is his maker and a terrifying woman. But she is fair and kind. She treats him like family and in this new state, he can’t ask for anything more then that.
Jeremy Henrikson: Jeremy is responsible for Kevin’s death, although Kevin doesn’t remember the Henrikson in human form. He will never forget the sight of the wolf coming at him. He once worked with Jeremy’s cousin Ella.
The Nettle siblings: Kevin has not seen any of his siblings since he turned. As far as they are concerned, Kevin has just left town. He didn’t want to put them through any of the trauma of the supernatural world.
Ella Henrikson and Anders Wilson: Once his co-workers, Kevin was their third musketeer and would often be seen messing about with the pair. Kevin has no idea the reason he was called to the animal sighting, was because both Ella and Anders are werewolves.
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kendall 2x01 in pastel colored pencils (from a terrified child played by jeremy strong)
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Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Recap: Part Two -- 25/05/17
Note: In case anyone’s interested, just this part alone is my longest ever recap. In total, both parts of this recap reach almost 21,000 words. I hope this is enough detail for you all!
I’m not going to lie. After Wednesday night I felt really weird. Not unhappy, just odd. On Wednesday it felt like I was going to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, but then it was just so different on Wednesday night, and there were so many things that I was apprehensive about for Part Two, that I simply didn’t know what to expect yesterday.
It’s weird sitting in a familiar theatre, about to watch a play with a script you know back to front, and characters you know inside out, and feel that you have no idea what is about to happen, or what to expect. I was nervous, a little apprehensive, and desperately in need of a hug, which @aberorca kindly provided.
But then it began, and all my fears and worries were allayed. I feel so full of joy and excitement right now. That was really great, and some of the scenes are already my favourite versions of those scenes.
If this is what an ass kicking from John Tiffany does for people, then maybe we all need one of those in our lives. It seems to inspire great things.
I’m going to start by reassessing some of the characters, and giving some impression of the characters we only saw in Part Two. Then we’ll get down to the detail (of which I’m not sure how much there’ll be, because my brain spent most of the show screaming with euphoric relief).
Snape
David is quite literally everything you want in a Snape. He was quiet in a menacing way, full of suppressed emotion, with just the right touch of humour. I enjoyed everything about his performance.
Craig
James Phoon’s Craig might be the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen. He sounds terrifyingly similar to Jeremy in some scenes (which I don’t think is deliberate), and he was just pretty great.
Cedric
Rupert looks so young as Cedric, but he still exudes the same heroic goodness that Milligan always did. He really blew me away in the few seconds he had. It was such a touching scene.
Delphi
You think you’ve seen all there is to Annabel’s Delphi, but then she captures the boys and attains her full power, and she reaches maximum creep mode. This Delphi is Bellatrix all over: laughing hysterically at the boys’ pain, revelling in mayhem, actually licking her lips when she sees she’s causing fear, like she loves the taste of it. She’s brutal and awful and gross.
Draco
This Draco is impressive and powerful, but so broken and afraid. He does things and hates himself for them. He’s terrified of the possibility of sending himself, and more importantly his son, back to Voldemort’s world. His grief seems to ache. He’s become such a good man. And as well as the weight of the serious moments, he’s incredibly funny too.
Scorpius
Sweet, funny, full of pain just like his father, but somehow still in love the world around him. He absolutely adores his dad, and he loves his best friend. He wouldn’t hurt a fly and he’s disgusted by the idea that any version of himself could cause pain.
Harry
Harry is so open to Albus, so warm towards him, so intent to listen. When he’s told to ‘be honest to those you love, show them your pain’ he really takes it to heart. He’s heartbroken with guilt over the people who’ve died on his behalf. I loved the tone that Jamie brought to him in this act.
Albus
I’m going to be honest, I’m still not entirely sure who Albus is, but in a really exciting way. In Part Two there were flashes of a genuinely funny, awkward, ridiculous Albus. An Albus who desperately cares about the people around him. An Albus who adores his best friend and his father. An Albus who could be so many things. Losing the establishing half of Albus’s character makes it difficult to assess, but I’m so excited by the possibility of Theo’s Albus, and I’m jealous of anyone who gets to see him do a really good Part One in the next month, cause I think that’s where you’ll find the heart of him.
And now to the detail.
*
Act Three
Scene One
· Samuel doesn’t fidget like Anthony did, not in the same way at least. He makes lots of little muttering motions with his mouth, like he’s constantly trying to work out the next thing he wants to say, or like he’s having thoughts while other people are speaking but doesn’t want to interrupt.
· During this scene he was moving his hands around really slowly, as though he were scared to make any sudden movements, like he might alert Umbridge to the fact that he’s not the right Scorpius, and she might hurt him.
· Elizabeth, the new Umbridge and Petunia, is really very good. Not funny like Helena, more severe and intimidating, which I prefer. She has a strong presence, and a really great emotional balance. She’s understood the characters she’s playing, and the context of the spaces they inhabit, and really does them justice.
· Samuel’s voice is really deep, in comparison to other Scorpius’s. He has squeaky moments, but he’s not high pitched. His excitable energy isn’t high in his voice, it’s more rooted somehow.
· So apparently this Scorpius’s athleticism (or lack of it) is going to be a running joke. It seems that neither he nor Albus have any confidence in his Quidditch ability. More on that a lot later.
· I absolutely adored what Samuel did with the moments where Scorpius was trying to copy the ‘For Voldemort and Valour’ hand gesture. He would make the motion once, then do it over and over again. It wasn’t in a mocking way, he didn’t do it as a joke, it felt like he was really trying to figure out this bizarre world and its strange customs, and like he was trying to come to terms with the fact that he was expected to make this gesture, and believe in everything it stood for, but that he just couldn’t figure out how. It was a really beautiful choice. Really interesting. Samuel’s Voldemort timeline is already great, but it’s going to become breathtakingly good really soon.
Scene Two
· I’ve never seen Tom Mackley so menacing before. Karl came storming on stage with this look of pure malice on his face. It was genuinely terrifying, and it took me by surprise, because I didn’t know Mackley could look so evil. But then he saw Scorpius backing away from him and started to laugh, and it was actually a relief. A Karl who laughs at the pain he’s causing is something I can handle. A serious, terrifying Karl I cannot. Kudos to Mackley for some really touching, beautiful bits of acting in this part.
· He also put his wand between his teeth for the high-five. Apparently he needed both hands free for that one.
· I really love Sarah as Polly (also she’s the sweetest person at stage door, but more on that later). She still had the purple streak in her hair during the Voldemort timeline, which made me really happy.
· She’s really flirty in an adorable, awkward sort of way. She makes it very clear that she’s flirting, but Scorpius is so confused by it. It’s like he’s never experienced that sort of thing before in his life, and it’s so curious to him. He just sort of stares up at her in amazement, and she seems confused by his lack of understanding.
· I loved the ‘the future is ours to make’ line. This whole scene was done with lots of nervous pauses (acted ones, not real ones), so it was at a slow pace, and this one was too. It felt like Polly was really serious. Serious and a bit scared. Up until that point it was all flirtation, but there was a definite element of seriousness to that line.
· When Polly told Scorpius that the torturing was his idea, he stumbled back a step looking absolutely horrified. @mayhemtothenthdegree and I had been talking earlier in the day about how Samuel’s Scorpius would react to discovering the violence he’d been inflicting in the other world, and Samuel did not disappoint. He just couldn’t believe it, and he hated it. Clearly his Scorpius did not deal at all well with the news about who he was, and it was an illustration of how shallow his confidence actually runs. Penetrate the surface even a little, and you find this broken, scared child, who’s prepared to believe the absolute worst of himself.
Scene Three
· This was the scene I was most excited for, and I’ve been looking forward to it for a long time. It did not disappoint even a little bit.
· It’s so obvious that Samuel and James have an amazing level of chemistry, and James cares for Samuel so much. I couldn’t wait to see what they would be like together in character, and it was just a beautiful moment of seeing our new Draco and Scorpius look each other in the eye for the first time.
· Scorpius didn’t go behind Draco’s desk. He has confidence, but not that much. He seemed a little overwhelmed by the room, and he stayed in the middle of it, staring around, looking up at the banners, just taking it all in.
· Draco came storming in, brusque and busy and irritable. Maybe he’d been waiting for his son for a while, and had had to go off to do other things because he was taking so long to arrive. He really didn’t hesitate to tell Scorpius off for being late.
· Scorpius seemed so shocked by how his dad was treating him. His ‘sorry’ was really genuine, and then when Draco corrected him again he seemed sort of shaken. After that, when Draco said about humiliating him at Hogwarts, there was genuine confusion, the ‘humiliate you, sir?’ was a real question, because Scorpius had no idea how he could have caused humiliation.
· And then the real pain began.
· When Draco said about Scorpius disgracing the Malfoy name, there was a moment of realisation that ran through Scorpius about how deep into this awful world his dad was. And he almost didn’t seem to be able to believe it, but it made sense with all these things he’d seen, and it scared him and angered him.
· He delivered most of the tirade standing in the middle of the room, but he stepped forward when he started talking about his mum, and advanced during the part about his dad being a murderer and a torturer.
· The thing about James’s Draco is that you don’t see the violence coming. It’s swift and awful and appears from nowhere, like Draco just snaps in that moment and acts on instinct without any premeditation.
· When he dragged Scorpius to the table, Scorpius lay there in shock, hands spread and flailing, gasping, eyes wide with intense fear. He was just so afraid, and when Draco let him go he fell away and backed across the room. Meanwhile, Draco made this twitchy movement with his hand, like he was regretting what he’d just done and was wishing he could take it back, or trying to work out how he could stop it happening again.
· There was a real and complete disgust from Scorpius, both with himself, and with the Malfoy name, and with his dad, and with everything they were. He hated everything about who they were in that world. When he said about the bad things he and his dad had done, and asked what they’d become, it wasn’t funny. It wasn’t a humorous line about Draco’s past. It was horror and misery at their position in this world, and it only got worse with the ‘murkier place’ line.
· Draco reacted to that one by slapping his hand against the table with such frustration and violence, then marching out from behind it to face his son. He hated his son’s accusations, and wanted to understand how to help him.
· Scorpius’s ‘I don’t want to be who I am’ and ‘I’ve seen myself in a different way’ were completely heartbreaking. He didn’t know what to say, or how to say it, but he needed his dad to understand, and he wanted both of them to go back to the normal world, where he knew who they both were.
· The ‘did she?’ was tiny and curious and painful.
· Scorpius didn’t take confidence from the meeting with his dad, and Draco didn’t take confidence from him, but there was an understanding they reached something changed between them in that room.
· This has been my favourite scene for as long as I can remember, and wow did they do it justice. One of my favourite versions ever, and it’s only going to get better. We’re really lucky.
Scene Four
· I’ve already said that the new Craig is completely adorable, and he really is. He sounds just like Jeremy, although perhaps a little less angsty and scared about everything?
· Scorpius started off in the library deliberately searching for A History of Magic. He picked up several other books before he got to it.
· There was such a cool reaction when Craig mentioned Snape’s name. Scorpius’s eyes went really wide with amazement, and he was briefly distracted by the news that he hates homework, but mostly his mind was on Snape.
Scene Five
· During the transition into this scene, Anthony and James both used to sort of rush around the turntable. They’d go and peer behind the blackboard to see if it was true, then stumble back in amazement. There was none of that with Samuel. He went for just determined walking in one spot on the turntable, like he knew what he had to do, and he was ready to do it. Scorpius marching through the halls of Hogwarts, ready to save the world.
· When he saw Snape, his eyes widened, and he had a tiny flail moment, and his ‘this is an honour’ was so excitable in the most ridiculous way.
· All Scorpius’s short opening lines to this scene were brimming over with his new brand of ridiculous, excitable, nerdy confidence. I can’t even describe the voice he uses, but let me assure you, it is very ridiculous, and you’re all going to love it.
· Snape is really wonderful. Drier than dry. Just perfect.
· This was a great scene in general. Samuel takes the long speeches at a slightly slower pace than Anthony did (which means the ‘can you see? Can you see it?’ is less hilarious, but you can actually understand what he said).
· At the end of the scene, Snape didn’t really threaten Scorpius. He drew his wand and seemed to think for a long time, and Scorpius was eyeing it, preparing to drop to the floor and duck a spell if he had to. He had his hands held out to Snape, and he did duck down, but it was quite obvious that Snape wasn’t really going to hurt him.
· On a related note, there is no more floorpius. Which is a little sad. But Samuel just isn’t as attached to the floor as Anthony was.
The Campaign Room (Scene Six and Seven)
· Instead of pinning Scorpius to the ground with her foot, Hermione knelt on the floor and put her knee on his chest and her wand to his throat.
· I adored Snape’s ‘you were moderate to average’. There was a long pause after moderate, in which he seemed to consider whether he could be so bold as to call her average. It was truly hilarious.
· Hermione released Scorpius when he mentioned Albus. It was like she had an instinctive reaction to trust anyone who might be connected to Dumbledore. There are so few of them left in her world, that she has to take friends where she can find them.
· Ron threatened Scorpius with the wrong end of his wand for several seconds before realising it was the wrong way round. Also I noticed that Hermione didn’t lower her wand for a second. She kept it pointing right at Scorpius even after she’d got off his chest.
· I loved how Samuel did the transition, when he’s explaining the story to Ron and Hermione. He was flailing his hands around and rolling them over, really doing all the talking with his hands. I loved how you could see that he was telling a story, instead of just dancing around for a bit.
· Samuel called Harry Minister for Magic. That was the only line he messed up in two nights, and I wouldn’t have noticed it if he hadn’t awkwardly tried to correct himself.
· The Romione bits were really great. I love the way Rakie and Thomas play those moments. When Hermione was going through the plan with the map on the wall, when she was done she snapped the screen back up and turned to glare at Ron, like he’d been looking at her too hard. It felt like a continuation of the ‘close your mouth when you’re looking at me’ line, and he sort of swallowed and looked away.
· In the ‘how very irritating’ line, there was a pause before irritating, while Snape considered how he felt about the whole matter.
· When Snape addressed Hermione as Minister, she grinned and gave him this little salute.
Scene Nine
· This was another beautiful Romione moment. There were so many of those with Rakie and Thomas. I absolutely love their chemistry, and I think they’re both really incredible individually too.
· Rakie was clearly nervous about hooking onto the Dementor, cause she kept fiddling with the straps on her costume, like she wanted to reassure herself that they were still there, and like she wanted to find them before the lights went down. She was holding onto them during the kiss. But the Dementor hooking was actually very smooth! She was quicker than Thomas which was nice. They did really well with that.
· This was another scene between Scorpius and Snape that I really enjoyed. Snape’s calm presence, and Scorpius’s immense fear combining.
· When Scorpius talked about the Dementors having sucked out Hermione and Ron’s souls, he made this gesture, like a soul leaving his lips. And he was panicking so much about it that that’s what attracted the Dementors.
· This was the moment where Scorpius really cracked, and you saw through to the terror and pain underneath. The Dementors were inescapable, and he was consumed by the memory of his mother. I’m actually really glad this scene exists, because it was the perfect moment to expose the broken core of Samuel’s Scorpius. It was exactly what his version of Scorpius needed to make it feel complete. And I loved the heartbreak of how he played this moment. Really well done.
· When Umbridge came, Scorpius hid himself behind a tree (he really loves to play hide and seek apparently. It happened again later on), and he only came out when he realised she knew he was there. When he did come out, he looked absolutely petrified of what she was going to do.
· Snape’s Depulso was well timed and just worked really well. I don’t know why I loved it so much, but I did. Really great.
· The doe seemed to take a second to light up, but she got going in the end, and Mark was really careful with her. I really do adore everything Mark does as the Sorting Hat and Hagrid. Just brilliant, interesting, fresh choices. This scene was touching and beautiful.
· When Scorpius got into the lake, Snape leaned over to check that he was okay, and that he’d definitely gone down there, before he went over to the Dementors and offered himself up. When they took him he let out the most awful, gut wrenching scream. David’s Snape is just amazing.
· Scorpius came out of the lake and splashed everyone again. Just don’t sit in the middle of Row AA. It’s not safe. Anthony was restrained with what he did in the lake (if you can believe that). Samuel is not.
· I was a little bit nervous for Theo to show up in Part Two, but you could tell even in these early stages that he was more relaxed, and I started to really enjoy his Albus for the first time.
· Scorpius kept doing all these stupid little dances. Samuel does not sing, but he does dance, which is possibly even more ridiculous. He already has a Professor McGonagall dance.
· The most beautiful moment in this scene was when Scorpius saw his dad. It was just pure relief. He sounded like he wanted to cry with happiness when he said ‘my dad’. And he reached out his arms like he was reaching for a hug, before thinking better of it and pulling them back. And Draco just looked at him for a moment before handing him the robe and saying hello back. Also, Draco didn’t physically touch Scorpius here, he just gestured imperiously offstage, which is a beautiful and important contrast to the manhandling in the office scene.
Scene Ten
· The kids during the gossip scene and during the scene in McGonagall’s office were just spectacular, minus the moment when Henry (Yann) slipped on the water Samuel had been splashing everywhere. They had so many more genuine reactions to what was being said, always glancing at each other and murmuring. There was also a simply beautiful moment, after McGonagall said Rose had been disappeared, Karl reached down and put his hand on Rose’s shoulder, and she looked up at him, heartbroken. Mackley can do truly touching, as well as hilarious funny.
· James’s ‘That seems fair’ got a massive laugh. He really is nailing the humorous moments.
· When Scorpius said that the world with Voldemort was a horrific world, Draco just sort of bowed his head and looked so ashamed. I think he felt personally responsible for Scorpius’s pain, and he absolutely hated everything that he’d become in that other world.
· The hug between Rose and Hermione at the end of this scene almost made me cry. I could see Hermione’s lip trembling when she was looking at her daughter, just on the verge of tears. And I love how every Rose and Hermione just seem to fit so beautifully together when they hug. They always look so perfect, in the most painful way.
Scene Eleven
· This was hands down my favourite scene of the night, which is not something I would have ever in a million years said with Jamie and Sam. I’ve always wanted more from this scene, and I didn’t know what I wanted, but now I do. It was what Theo and Jamie gave us.
· There’s a promo picture somewhere of Jamie and Sam sitting on Albus’s suitcase and both looking miserable. But Jamie and Sam never actually did that on stage. They were always standing for this scene. No such thing with Theo and Jamie, and that was part of what made it so truly touching.
· There was a real hesitant beginning of communication in this scene. Both Albus and Harry were listening to each other so deeply, and struggling to begin to understand each other. There wasn’t the bouncing off each other, just strained and difficult attempts to really talk.
· Albus sat down on the suitcase around when Harry said he could have destroyed everything, and he sat there staring off into the distance and looking heartbroken. Then a few lines later Harry sat beside him, so they were shoulder to shoulder, looking in opposite directions.
· It was the ‘You really scared her… and me’ that began the beautiful moments. Albus sort of froze and glanced around at his dad, and asked ‘Really scared you?’ like it was a concept that he simply couldn’t understand. He just didn’t get how Harry could possibly be scared, because ‘I thought Harry Potter wasn’t afraid of anything?’ And it wasn’t accusatory. It wasn’t angry. It was a genuine attempt to understand. A real question. And Jamie responded in kind with another genuine question, turning to his son in complete bewilderment and shock. ‘Is that how I make you feel?’
· The part about Albus realising that being in Slytherin wasn’t the reason for their problems was the moment where I knew that Theo was going to be good. He was already doing well in this scene, and it felt so much more relaxed, and natural, and Albus began to come out. And as he said it, Albus was looking at Harry, because he really didn’t know what their problems were, and he was really upset about that.
· When Harry asked if Albus was okay it was because he really wanted to know, because he really wasn’t sure, and of course the answer was no, and of course the answer was no for Harry too. And they looked at each other for a moment, before Albus decided he couldn’t handle it anymore and he walked away.
· That scene was breath-taking. That scene showed how Theo and Jamie are playing this relationship, and I am absolutely in love with it. I was completely blown away by this scene. They did such a beautiful job. And if they continue to play that scene like that then I am going to be very very happy (and very very poor) for at least the next year.
The Third Dream (Scene Twelve and Thirteen)
· Elizabeth is a great Petunia. This was the moment where she pitched the emotion at the exact right level. Because this is a dream Petunia, so you can have some leeway with how she is. She’s not real. She’s meant to not be real. This entire scene isn’t real. But also, I don’t think Petunia should be breaking down in tears by Lily and James’s grave. That’s never felt right to me. So this was perfect. Anguish, pain, but not tears. Really brilliant job.
· It was super cool to hear David’s Voldemort voice for the first time. I enjoyed the little flash you get in this scene.
· Great screaming from Theo. He can really nail the drama.
· I really love what Jamie does with Harry’s pain after the dreams. He’s not screaming, he’s not in audible agony, but he just looks so ill. It really reminds me of the descriptions of Harry’s pain from his scar in the books. There are times when he wants to throw up from the pain, and when he woke up from this dream, Jamie looked like he was on the verge of throwing up. It was pretty great.
The Dorm Scene (Scene Fourteen)
· These boys are going to destroy us all. They might have already destroyed me a little bit. This scene was amazing.
· When they were being wheeled on, Scorpius was already tapping his fingers together, full of energy, ready to go, mind racing a million to the dozen. He was probably planning what to say to Albus, and rehearsing the time-turning line over and over in his head. Seeing him awake before the scene even started was just really funny. What a great choice.
· He lay down for the first whispered Albus, sat up a bit for the psst, crept over and whispered in Albus’s ear (all in really silly voices too), and then he screamed in Albus’s ear. Which would have been funny enough, but Albus sat bolt upright and just started attacking him with his pillow. It was unexpected and hilarious and brilliant. I was so delighted by it. I feel like this is how they wake up literally every day. Albus was just really ready for him.
· When he was talking about Mouldy Voldy, Scorpius wrapped the duvet round himself like a cloak and did this creepy little finger wiggle and sinister voice. And Albus just sounded exhausted by his good mood.
· The line about Polly Chapman from Albus was really funny. Loved the way he said that. Like Scorpius should be happier that that had happened, but of course Scorpius completely ignored it and set off on his little angsty speech about the Scorpion King (and wow did he emphasise the upset and amazement about people being frightened of him).
· The bit about Albus fighting alongside Scorpius was truly touching. A lovely moment of connection between the two boys.
Scene Fifteen
· James Phoon was another of the people saying lines that are in the script but that the original cast never bothered with. After McGonagall told Craig to stop being tiresome, he sort of spluttered at her, and the words he said are in the script, but I never heard Jeremy say them. It was a really cool little thing. Also, Craig redid the belt on his dressing gown as he ran off, like he was preparing for battle.
· I loved the heat between Harry and Ginny in this scene, it was one of Emma’s bolder moments, and it worked really well.
The Owlery Scene (Scene Sixteen)
· The Hogwarts echo is gone, which is a shame, but the boys are so sweet and nerdy in this scene that it doesn’t really matter. Also, I feel like I should mention, while I remember, Scorpius’s jumper is really huge on Samuel. It falls so far down his legs. It makes him look even tinier!
· Delphi came and sat right in the middle between the two boys, and Scorpius didn’t appear at all happy about the arrangement. He seemed to feel betrayed that Albus had sent her the owl.
· She had such a reaction to hearing that Voldemort ruled. Because she’s trying to disguise her feelings, it was difficult to tell if it was meant to be anguish, or if it was just pure, breathless, almost tearful excitement. Perhaps it was a combination of both.
· Theo’s Albus is just too much of a little nerd to want to get a tattoo. That line was just hilarious. But also, this boy clearly doesn’t understand subtlety or how to behave around people, so of course he’d say he wanted one to try and impress Delphi. This Albus is just so dorky. I can’t entirely handle it. And it’s almost like he’s unaware of how awkward and nerdy he is.
· When Delphi talked about the Augurey being kept in a cage, she gestured up to the owls around them. Which was actually really cool, because this is the moment when Delphi, the Augurey, escapes her cage and is let loose.
· Before I forget, at one point, Delphi gave Scorpius a little, friendly tap under the chin. I mean, it wasn’t really friendly, but this was before she exploded into full Augurey mode.
· The moment when she trapped the boys, she just ignited with happiness. She threw her head back and started laughing. Every inch her mother. John Tiffany said during the interval that Annabel was on fire, and she really was. Absolutely incredible. Creepy and powerful and actually shocking, because she was so different as the Augurey than she was as Delphi Diggory.
· She was radiating happiness and delight as she snapped their wands, just full of joy to finally be able to be herself.
Scene Seventeen
· All you really need to know about this scene is that Ron and Hermione kissed twice, and Thomas knelt down the reproposal. Also he was sitting in Hermione’s seat at the beginning of the scene, and I just love the idea of Ron sitting around in her office, taking up her chair, just generally getting in the way, but she’s learned to work around him and actually enjoys having him there. It was really sweet.
· Ron and Hermione were still kissing when the others walked in, and Draco gave them (mostly Ron) a look a pure disgust.
· The idea of Theo’s Albus having an older girlfriend was just really entertaining.
· Thomas also stole the Scrupulus line from Paul, but it didn’t get a laugh even though Draco reacted to it. I think he needs time to figure out how to deliver it with Paul’s panache.
· This was the only scene where I believed that Emma and Thomas might actually be brother and sister, and I was really happy with their interaction.
The Maze Sequence (Scene Nineteen and Twenty)
· With this cast you can tell the scenes they’ve done a lot on and the scenes they haven’t. They’ve focused on technical pieces, and on the big emotional scenes that really provide the structure of the show. Scene Nineteen is not one of the scenes they’ve done a lot on.
· It felt emotionally bare. I don’t think the boys (either of them, but especially Theo, who’s the one who really needs to deliver emotionally here) have the confidence to improvise yet, and it’s the improvisation, the in the moment reactions to Delphi’s actions, that really make this a hard hitting scene.
· You didn’t feel Albus’s pain nearly enough when Scorpius was being tortured, or when Craig was killed. I didn’t feel the heartbreak from either boy after Cedric’s murder. But like I say, this clearly wasn’t a scene they’ve focused on, and given time I’m sure it’ll be great.
· Annabel, however, killed it. Powerful and creepy. Playing with the boys, especially Albus. She kissed him on the cheek when she pulled him in at ‘Albus is the unseen child who will kill his father’, and it was the most disgusting thing. It was almost too creepy.
· The maze scene itself, however, was a scene they have worked on! Thankfully, because the moment with Cedric is one of my favourite in the show, and that was completely beautiful.
· I’m kind of sad that Mackley isn’t playing Krum, and I did really miss Jack North during Krum’s movement around the maze. But I assume Mackley is needed as a hedge mover. They seem to be utilising the originals to their fullest extent where set movement is concerned. There was a really sweet moment when the team were bringing a staircase on at one point, and Nuno was with them. The got the staircase in place, and he looked around at them and nodded and led them all off, like an adult duck with a flock of baby ducklings. I love the confidence that Nuno inspires when he’s onstage.
· Anyway, back to this scene. When Albus started talking to Cedric, Scorpius was desperately shaking his head, but Albus just ignored him and kept going. Cedric’s reactions were surprised and confused, but he seemed to take Albus’s words to heart. This Cedric looks an awful lot younger than Milligan did, but I actually like that. Cedric was only seventeen after all. I don’t think it’s bad to have someone young looking.
· Another thing about that Cedric scene – it was perfectly in time with the music. Theo nailed the pacing. In fact the whole cast really improved on the pacing in this performance. It felt the same speed as the old cast would have done it, apart from a couple of tiny moments. I presume pacing was part of the John Tiffany ass kicking.
· I absolutely adored the boys’ heartbreak and fear when they were taken back in time and realised they were lost. Theo was brilliant in that moment.
Scene Twenty-One
· Jamie pronounces the Parseltongue a tiny bit differently to Jamie P, which I actually really liked. They were definitely saying the same words, but the last word varied in pronunciation. I’m not sure which is right, as the Parseltongue isn’t written in the script, but it’s interesting that something like that could be the same bit different.
· Harry sounded so anguished when he said ‘because I’m a parent who hasn’t seen his child’. He was trying so hard, and loves Albus so much, and he’s desperately upset to have failed so badly.
The chat with John Tiffany we had during the interval was really insightful. I love talking to the creative team. You can learn so much from them, and it’s fascinating to hear what they’re thinking. He really seemed to be loving Annabel, and he was talking about how nervous the cast were, knowing they had such huge shoes to fill. We told him we were impressed with how good the technical stuff was, and that was when he told us it was because he’d kicked their asses. I mentioned how good I thought Samuel was, and it seems like he’s already bored of hearing about how good Samuel is. This is clearly old news to him, and he changed the subject to say that the whole cast were doing great. Which they really were.
I was flooded with delight and excitement after that act, so much so that I skipped down the corridor to the loos. It was thrilling, after my nervousness before the show, and I was especially delighted by Theo. It was a really great act. They’re all going to be incredible at Act Three really soon. I think it’ll be a favourite for everyone over the next year.
*
Act Four
Scene One
· I think I might still have been freaking out about how good Act Three was, because I didn't pay nearly enough attention to this scene.
· I don't feel like I've talked nearly enough about Rakie's Hermione, and this seems the perfect opportunity. I absolutely loved her portrayal. She was authoritative, bright and fierce, powerful, sweet, and loving. Her chemistry with Thomas was amazing, and she was simply adorable with Helen. The whole Granger-Weasley family have this air of fun and energy to them. They feel like such a lovely, connected family.
· I think April is one of the standout new ensemble members. She was amazing in the movement sections, and her speaking roles were spot on. She had so much to live up to, stepping into Annabel's track, but she was sharp, and owned every moment. I particularly noticed her in this scene, because she was one of the people who glanced round at Draco when Voldemort's child was first mentioned.
· We felt Harry's authority in this scene too. He rarely raised his voice in the previous acts, but this was Jamie's shouty act. He saved it up for an explosion at the end, and this scene was just the start.
· I really enjoyed Emma in this scene. When Ginny joined Harry on the stairs you felt her fierceness and connection with him. This was probably her best act overall. Lots of lovely little moments.
· James Howard was phenomenal in this scene as he was in so many others. Polished and precise, with all of Draco's authority and impressiveness. But there was so much underneath it too. James's Draco has so many layers of complexity, so much detail. He brings so much understanding of the character to the role, which really makes him one of the stand outs. Both among the crowd and when he was on the stairs, he shone, and was feeling Draco's struggles and fears.
· The moment when Ron pushes past Draco onto the stairs was really funny, and both Thomas and James played it really well. James looked irritated and exasperated, and Thomas was all innocent, but at the end of his line he shared a really nice look with Rakie. The family aspect of this scene, all the adults standing up there together as a group, was really nice.
· Apparently I will now never escape having my heart broken by the line 'then – just like that – most of the people in this room will be gone'. Thanks to Noma for that one. It ached so much on this day when so many of the cast were new, especially knowing that some of the people on that stage had been through the experience of Sunday.
Scene Two
· I don't think Martin really did a Scottish accent in this scene, but it still worked somehow.
· In this act I really started to notice Samuel's mannerisms, and all the things he was doing with his hands. They were mostly expressive things, rather than Scorpius's nervous fiddling, but I get the impression that now I've started paying attention to them I'm never going to stop.
· He touches his face a lot, so many exasperated little pinches of his forehead, touching of his chin when he's thinking. He does a lot of staccato movements with his hands when he's explaining things. His hands really are all over the place. He uses them to illustrate what he’s saying the entire time, and it was particularly noticeable when he was frustrated, like in bits of Godric’s Hollow.
· When Albus couldn’t understand the station master, he just gave up. He stepped back and gestured to Scorpius like, you take this one, I’m out. It was one of their old married couple moments, and really cute. I love the interaction in their friendship. For such a short rehearsal time, they’ve managed to get an awful lot of detail into that.
· Thanks to Samuel, I now realise that the script doesn’t entirely make sense in this scene. He played every line so perfectly that there was a moment where I was like ‘wait what?’ So Scorpius realises why Delphi is in this time, because he knows she’s there to attack Harry. But then he doesn’t realise what prophecy Albus is referring to, but shouldn’t it be obvious?
· Theo’s only slip up on words was in this scene, and it wasn’t even that he forgot the line. It was just that his tongue got twisted around the wording of the prophecy, because he was speaking so fast. For someone who was so terrified (especially on Wednesday) he nailed the script. In fact almost everyone did, apart from that one line in Part One from James Howard, and one slip up from Samuel at the beginning of Part Two. They did a lot better than the original cast were doing during the previews!
Scene Three
· On Sunday I told Chris Jarman that the way he plays out the pumpkin transition in Godric’s Hollow was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. That scene has always been my favourite, and I adored how Chris used the choreography, and the feel he gave it. It was another perfect example of his lyrical, flowing movement. So Mark had absolutely huge shoes to fill, and he absolutely did it justice, to the point where I almost cried again.
· He walked out very briskly, but then he stopped and checked his watch. It was like the Sorting Hat had been travelling in time too, and that wanted to make sure he was in exactly the right place, and that this was the right time for him to summon the pumpkins and the snow. Which it was, so he began sprinkling the snow with a perfectly straight arm, no soft hand movements, just straight and solid, and with this air that he was enjoying himself immensely, loving every second. And when he spread his arms and the pumpkins appeared, it was just pure euphoria. He was basking in their light, and the happiness of the people of Godric’s Hollow. It was absolutely beautiful.
· April had a lot to live up to as Lily, as did Rupert as James Sr, but they both completely delivered, including in this opening transition. The joy with which they played in the snow was just wonderful to behold. Exactly as it should be.
· The boys in this scene were simply delightful. It’s quite clear that the Godric’s Hollow section has been very well rehearsed, and I thought the results were great.
· I loved the moment about the statue of Harry and his parents, and Albus’s surprise about it. He looked right at Scorpius, who started pointing out that he didn’t yet but he hopefully would soon.
· It was the part where the boys hide from Bathilda that really showed the first signs of Theo’s comedic streak. When she came out of the door he dived away from her and went over to the wall where Sam always loved to hide. But inside of flattening himself and hiding behind the lip that sticks out from the wall of the stage, he turned his back on her and leaned his shoulder against the wall, attempting to look casual and as though he’d been there all day. It was ridiculous and brilliant and I loved it.
· Samuel did not do a proper squeak, and I was very disappointed for all of two seconds, because for his ‘my geekness is a-quivering’ he decided to do the dorkiest little disco dance wiggle sort of thing. I cannot describe it accurately for you. It has to be seen to be believed. But it involved him putting his hands up in the air and wiggling his body around.
· James ended up playing with baby Harry while Lily shut the door. He did the peekaboo blanket thing with him, and the kiss between Lily and James after that was very sweet.
· Scorpius grabbed the back of Albus’s jacket to stop him running after them.
· One thing I do particularly like about this cast is the way they end their scenes. Some of these Godric’s Hollow scenes, where Albus and Scorpius just run off, have always felt a bit weird to me, but I liked how they were handled by this cast. They felt smooth and well-paced.
Scene Four
· This was the scene I knew about be weirdest of all. Jamie P’s version of this scene is so iconic, that I was really worried about how it would turn out without him. But I actually ended up quite liking it. It’s certainly very different, but I’m actually grateful that Jamie is taking this role and making it the way he wants it to be. It would be so easy to copy Jamie P, for any of the actors to copy their predecessors, but none of them are doing that, which is brave and brilliant.
· It was a lot softer, and the breakdown came so much later. There was none of the shouting. Anger and pain, yes, but not shouting.
· I love how Jamie listens. He really listens to other people on stage, in a way that’s really palpable, and it gives all the conversations he’s part of so much meaning. I felt like he was listening to Dumbledore, and in him doing so, I listened more too, and I found myself watching Dumbledore more as well.
· It’s the words ‘be honest with those you love, show them your pain’ that felt as though they resonated most of all with Harry. I felt as though they harkened back to his conversation with Albus, and the way he didn’t realise Albus didn’t see his pain and fear. It seemed like he was really thinking about that, and that that was what slowly began to break him down, because it was from that moment that he began to spiral downwards in terms of emotion.
· The line ‘I loved you too, Dumbledore’ was desperate and childlike, and garbled. You almost couldn’t understand it because it came out as such a desperate rush to catch Dumbledore before he walked away.
· Only after Dumbledore left did Harry finally allow himself to fall apart, and he’d really only just begun sobbing when Draco showed up. He quickly cleaned himself up once he realised Draco was there, but of course Draco had seen enough.
· Somehow, James Howard managed to get the biggest laugh ever for the ‘no five minute problem’ line. He just delivered it, and the audience ate it up. I really do love how well he balances the humour with the seriousness of Draco. Because his Draco really is so serious, but he still gets those laughs, and it’s a testament to how skilled he is that he can do both so easily.
· James Howard’s Draco continues to break my heart by playing with his wedding ring while he’s talking about Astoria. It’s always been a signature move of his, and I’m sure it will continue to be so for a very long time to come.
· I also still hate how James delivers the line ‘Our child, Scorpius was born’. I have always hated it and always will. I’ve seen him do it differently in the past, but he seems to have reverted to his old ways which is a shame. It’s the one thing I dislike about his Draco.
· Something I do love about James is how he pushes to an emotional brink, but holds himself back from it. Draco is determined not to crack, not to break down, especially not in front of Harry. He was almost about to cry at ‘She wanted me to have somebody when she left’, but when he began talking about himself he pulled back, like talking about his life, and his guilt, somehow steadied him. It’s not about her, or about his feelings, it’s about Scorpius, and the damage he’s caused Scorpius, and how he will rectify it and save his son at all costs.
· Jamie did the most wonderful thing at the end of this scene, and I’ve only just realised that it’s even more wonderful than I thought. Right on the stage direction ‘they look at each other as friends’, he reached out and took hold of Draco’s wrist. And I thought at first that he was just stopping Draco using the Time-Turner and doing something reckless, but now I wonder if that’s Harry’s version of taking the hand that was offered to him back when he was eleven years old. Whatever it was, my Drarry shipper heart got just a tiny bit excited at that moment. It was fascinating to see a physical connection between the two of them, and at such a profound moment too.
Scene Five
· Theo started this scene sitting in the classic tiny scrunched up Albus position down on one of the doorsteps. I could see the snow collecting in his hair and it made me very happy indeed. But then he got up and started wandering round the stage with Samuel while they both thought very hard.
· I loved how excited they both get whenever either of them had an idea. They would both be so on board with it, at least initially.
· I hope Samuel develops his ‘HELP. HELP. HELP’ line. I’m sure he will. It’s a very iconic Scorpius line, and I’m excited to see what ridiculousness he comes up with there when he’s had some time to think about it. I did love how done Albus was with Scorpius’s ridiculousness. He didn’t even try to mock him, just gave him a withering look and repeated ‘help’ when it came his turn to say it.
· When Albus said his line about it being pleasurable to hide in a hole with Scorpius, he actually put his arm round him. I’m not sure anyone has explained the meaning of the word ‘subtlety’ or ‘appropriacy’ to Theo’s Albus. But I’m kind of glad they haven’t.
· The great thing about having the two boys both standing up and facing each other, was that when Scorpius said he line about choosing a companion for the return of eternal darkness, he was looking right at Albus, and they were inches apart. I loved how Albus responded to that line. Just casual and easy, and his line really made sense too, because Samuel is very tiny.
· Here we had another classic Scorpius hide and seek moment. I said I’d come back to that. When Lily came out of the house, Scorpius dragged Albus over to the row of houses to hide, then decided they weren’t hidden enough, so he dragged him further down the row, creeping away and away until Scorpius deemed that they were safe.
· When Albus saw Lily putting the blanket on Harry he broke free of Scorpius and walked out into the middle of the street like he was in a trance, and there was so much wonder in his voice when he talked about the blanket. It was like he almost didn’t realise he was in the middle of the street until Lily walked up to him, and he did this really shy grin (Theo’s smiles are shy and cute and bright) and waved at her. She looked perplexed for a moment, then waved back and walked on past him.
· Samuel’s ‘I wish I could tell my dad’ line got a little laugh from the audience, because of how he delivered the ‘well, I’m not sure what’.
· I very much enjoyed how Theo did the whole explanation to Scorpius. Really great. I particularly liked (not sure why this line stood out but it really did) ‘so if we were to get that blanket and write on it in Tincture of Demiguise…’
· It didn’t feel so much like Albus had a fully formed plan, and was giving Scorpius the satisfaction of figuring it out for himself. The questions and suggestions felt genuine, like he was slowly figuring things out, and that Scorpius was just a step behind.
· Both boys’ delight in the Eureka moment was beautiful to behold. Some leaping up and down and excitable cheering was involved. Then they both went to Bathilda’s door together, and when it opened they sprinted through it at the same time. It was lovely how they stayed right together at that moment. They were really together for the whole scene. Such a beautiful feeling between the two of them.
Scene Six
· This is where Harry’s real breakdown came. He was sobbing inconsolably when talking about the people who had died for him. Maybe again this was a result of his earlier thoughts about showing Albus his pain. This right here is Harry’s pain, and Albus never saw any of it. (The more I think about it, that lovely conversation in the dorm scene really set up everything of Albus and Harry’s relationship through the rest of the play. I truly hope they keep playing that scene like that.)
· This was one of Emma’s best scenes. She was really great in all of Act Four, but this was a good one. The way she reacted to how upset Harry was was really beautiful, trying to reassure him.
· I read someone else’s recap about how in the earlier scene after Albus and Scorpius go missing for the third time, about how Emma’s Ginny jumped on Harry in that scene, and got really accusatory with him, and I think that just perfectly set up her apology in this scene. This cast may not have a massive amount of character detail yet, but they have great technique, and are amazing at introducing new significance and connections between scenes. All those already exist in the script, but they really play them out in an excellent way that signposts and does great justice to Jack Thorne’s writing.
· There were two nice Hinny kisses in this scene (I swear Jamie and Poppy were only doing one by the end, but I could be wrong. I was certainly excited that there were two, because it felt different.)
· I loved Emma’s ‘and it is us’ line. Full of Ginny’s fierce determination, giving Harry a serious look that said ‘don’t you dare go without me’.
Outside St Jerome’s (Scene Seven and Eight)
· Absolutely loved James’s farmers’ market line, and I made a point of looking at Thomas, and saw the disgruntled little glare he shot Draco for his attempts to be funny.
· I’m a bit upset with how close attention this cast actually pay to the script, because Thomas definitely says ‘unwelcome’ not ‘unwanted’ in the ponytail line, and I was very much attached to the unwanted ponytail.
· Hermione was really amused with Ron saying Draco had really nice hair. She gave this little smile before going back to getting everyone in place for going back in time.
· Emma and Jamie took a while to get to their time-turning positions, because they were having some sort of silent interaction between Harry and Ginny. It was actually pretty sweet.
· At first it seemed like the boys didn’t notice the parents arriving, but the second they did, Albus absolutely yelled at his mum, and she went sprinting across to give him the hugest hug. She actually gave him multiple hugs, and a kiss on the cheek.
· I was so looking forward to this Malfoy hug and it was very sweet. It got a huge aww from the audience. It wasn’t super drawn out, and there wasn’t a lot of interaction afterwards, but the hug itself was wonderful. Scorpius didn’t do all the shrieking we’ve heard before, he just stalled in front of his dad and looked uncertain, until Draco told him they could hug too, at which point he flung himself forward.
· Samuel’s ‘how did you – how did you without the Time-Turner’ was just adorable. So much curiosity and interest.
Inside St Jerome’s (Scenes Nine, Ten, and Eleven)
· Theo fits perfectly on the bench in Godric’s Hollow. I know Albus doesn’t exactly do much in this scene, but I always absolutely love watching him lie there and sleep. He looks so peaceful.
· I quite liked this scene between Jamie and Emma. There was a sweetness to it. I don’t have many details about it, but I remember it being just nice, and lovely.
· I love seeing what the actors do in the slow mo transitions between scenes, and the real standout here was that Scorpius waved at Albus as he came through the door with his dad. It was like they hadn’t seen each other for hours, and Scorpius had missed him. These two have their co-dependent moments.
· Albus delivered virtually all his lines in this scene to Scorpius, like he was constantly checking that what he was saying wasn’t completely idiotic, and that it all made sense. This also meant that when he was asking about the history books, he really was asking Scorpius, even though he didn’t use Scorpius’s name.
· Rakie and Samuel did not nail saying ‘you’re not wrong’ together. Rakie went for it, Samuel kind of hesitated and squeaked out his version so it was almost too quiet to hear. They’ll get there.
· I loved Rakie in this scene, especially when they were talking about the Transfiguration. She looked round at everyone, kind of assessing them, before she said there were ‘some excellent witches and wizards’ right there.
· In this scene we really saw scared Draco. When Draco is picking apart the plan, it felt like it was because he was so scared of what would happen if something went wrong. If their efforts failed, they’d all be plunged back into the world with Voldemort, and having heard about it from Scorpius, he was terrified to go back there. Not just for himself, but for Scorpius. He didn’t want Scorpius to have to suffer that.
· Jamie did the Transfiguration very well indeed. Some lovely pained screaming. I’m looking forward to hearing more of that as the year unfolds. I was also really happy that David made it out safely without falling over Harry’s cloak or anything.
· The Malfoys were being cute at the back of the stage while they were watching out of the door. Draco put his hand on Scorpius’s shoulder. I really do enjoy watching them in the background of this scene, and sometimes I struggle to pay any attention to Albus and Ginny at all, but I managed it this time!
· Ginny was sitting all alone on the bench, looking lost, and forlorn, and worried. Albus was kind of standing in the middle of the room like he didn’t know what to do with himself now his dad had disappeared, but when he saw his mum he took the time to go over and comfort her. It was one of his strongest, bravest moments of the night.
· The hug between Ginny and Albus, when she holds him in her arms, was absolutely beautiful.
· Scorpius was definitely embarrassed by his dad in the ‘I’m being bossed around’ line, and Thomas has taken a leaf out of Paul’s book, and stuck around to glare after Draco when he disappeared through the door.
The Duel (Scene Eleven)
· I’m just splitting up scene eleven because it’s so long, and I hope this will help with clarity!
· Both Annabel and David were excellent in this scene. I wish I had more specific notes about it. But David’s Voldemort voice is great, and Annabel is desperate as Delphi, trying to convince her father to love her.
· The really cool thing about this scene was listening to the recordings of the Augurey voice effect. Both Annabel and Jamie have really deep voices, so the effect for them was boomy and ominous, rather than musical like Jamie P and Esther’s recordings were.
· The end of the bit with Annabel and David was pretty excellent. I loved how Annabel played Delphi’s slow realisation that it was Harry in there. She went from looking anxious, to this sort of slow, lazy smile that grew and grew as she realised what was going on and decided to play with her food a bit before eating it.
· As a note, Annabel doesn’t have all the detailing and markings on her face that Esther always did. I’m not sure why! I never really knew why Esther had them to be honest, but it’s an interesting difference in the make-up. I love how the wigs and make-up people seem to be going for some subtle new stuff (like Polly’s purple hair).
· The ‘Incendio!’ at the beginning of the duel was absolutely bang on in time, and I was so impressed. They were both completely committed and in synch, and it was exceptional.
· Harry went over and really explicitly tried to pull one of the doors open, instead of doing it subtly like Jamie P used to.
· I felt like Jamie’s scream of terror as the bench was dropped on him was completely genuine. Having got through a year of seeing Jamie P do that and survive, and I now have a whole other Jamie to worry about. That bench terrifies me. I would not fancy being under there.
· Thanks to Jamie for grabbing hold of Albus and crouching in front of him for the duel. I always appreciate seeing Harry protect Albus in this scene.
· There were so many little touching things at the end of this scene between Albus and Harry and Ginny, like Albus trying to reassure Harry that he was okay, and Ginny rushing to check on him.
· There was also a touching moment between the Malfoys too. So Draco always goes and collects Delphi’s wand. She throws it when she’s disarmed, and he goes and gets it. And at one point I noticed the Malfoys kind of reach out to each other, and I thought Draco might be handing something to Scorpius, although I couldn’t see what because Theo was in the way. But Scorpius was looking down at this thing in his hand with so much disgust that I realised it must be Delphi’s wand. I asked someone sitting at a different angle later, and they said that yes, they had seen Scorpius holding a wand, and that he’d pocketed it, so there we go! Draco gave Scorpius Delphi’s wand. It’s really sweet to see how Draco trusts his son and treats him as an adult. That’s not the kind of object you’d give to someone you didn’t respect and trust to look after it.
· Delphi was completely heartbroken and desperate at the end of this scene, wanting to see her father. Her begging to ‘take my mind, take my memory’ was awful. It was like she couldn’t handle the idea of living with the knowledge of his death, and her reaction to being told she was going to Azkaban was complete terror.
· After Harry collapsed because Voldemort was coming, I loved Albus’s terrified little ���what?’ at the sight of his dad writhing on the ground, and I even more loved Thomas’s ‘Voldemort’. Ron was looking right at Harry, and it was the way he assessed his friend’s symptoms, and the way he was clutching his scar, and just knew. You really felt in that moment that here was Harry’s best friend, someone who’s seen this countless times before and understands what’s going on and accepts it, ready to face whatever it might mean.
The Death Scene and Aftermath (Scenes Twelve and Thirteen)
· I loved Theo’s line in this, Albus addressing his dad. I loved how Albus was in this scene. Theo had really got going by this point. He was just great.
· It was the Malfoys (of course) who I spent all my time watching in this scene. Scorpius was tearing up, staring in horror and shock. Draco’s expression was one of pain and disgust, although he kept glancing at his son, wanting to check that he was okay. Scorpius held out until Voldemort blasted into Harry’s room, and only then did bury his face in his dad’s chest, while Draco stroked his hair and held him, eyes closed, head bowed.
· I really loved this version of Hagrid’s speech. There was more of Mark’s classic staccato activity. The lines at the beginning were so disjointed, like he really couldn’t cope with what he was seeing, and didn’t know what to say about it. (He was milking this scene for all it was worth, and he takes so much time over everything.)
· The most interesting thing about what he did was that, instead of addressing the speech to the burning bed, he addressed it to the floor beside the bed, like he was speaking directly to Lily’s body. She must have been lying there, and obviously the audience couldn’t see her, but Hagrid definitely could.
· The way he spoke to Harry was so tender and lovely. Also, I realised that the blanket has a sort of hood on top, so when he puts his hand inside it to make it look like the baby, it’s already folded in place.
Scene Fourteen
· Scorpius was breathless with amazement at the stupid thing he’d just done. (This was one of Samuel’s most adorable scenes.)
· This was another scene where the actors said the lines from the script, not some random alternative version they’d come up with. Anthony used to say: “I’d agree with you, only Pretty Polly did ask me out.” Whereas Samuel says: “I’d agree with you, only Polly Chapman did ask me to the school ball.” Samuel’s version definitely sounds a bit nerdier, and a bit more like a high school prom sort of deal, as opposed to a more mature sort of asking out.
· Samuel said ‘a rose is a rose’ in the most adorable accent. I can’t describe it, but it’s an entirely different accent to the posh one Anthony used for that line, yet still thoroughly ridiculous. Us regulars nearly died at that line, simply because it was so cute.
· I think ‘palace of love’ got the Samuel disco dance treatment. Someone might have to check that for me.
· Helen’s Rose is just the cutest thing in this scene. She’s as cute as a button. When she leans against the bottom of the staircase and overhears them, she looks so delighted, grinning so broadly, and then she bursts out with such confidence.
· When Rose appeared, Scorpius started patting Albus on the shoulder for some reason. I honestly have no idea why he thought it was a good idea, it just made him look ridiculous, but it was certainly weird, as in ‘this is only going to be weird if you let it be weird’. Also Albus was grinning at the two of them, fascinated by their interaction.
· Helen didn’t reel Samuel in or anything, Samuel stayed at the top of the stairs with Theo, so there was none of the close up interaction, but that didn’t make it less funny. When Scorpius said ‘received and entirely understood’, she said her line and ran away cackling wildly. It was clear she was going to have so much fun torturing Scorpius about his crush before she let it go anywhere, and was really looking forward to doing so.
· When Scorpius said he thought he might make the house Quidditch team eventually, Albus threw his head back and laughed so hard. It was a definite throwback to Scorpius’s ‘athletic’ sarcasm in the Voldy timeline.
· The hug was very sweet and tight. Albus didn’t hug back, but Scorpius lingered for a moment, and his ‘I wasn’t sure if I should or not’ was just the right sort of breathless and uncertain, and full of meaning. And Albus responded with this big grin, and sort of teasingly walked his fingers all the way up Scorpius’s arm to his shoulder when he said he should ask Rose if it was the right thing to do.
· Such a great scene, and this is only the start.
A Beautiful Hill (Scene Fifteen)
· I adored the way Theo delivered the smoke ring line, just a hint of excitement to be telling his dad about this thing he’d witnessed, before trailing away and worrying if he should have said it. Also, Harry’s ‘yeah?’ wasn’t so much a question, but a statement that he already knew this but loved hearing about it again.
· I simply loved how all Jamie’s set up for this scene came to fruition with the ‘you don’t think I’m scared of anything’. He and Theo had worked so hard for this moment, and it was wonderful, Harry finally being able to tell Albus about all his fears.
· Albus’s line about his childhood being a constant struggle just like Harry’s got a really cute little laugh. That’s one line that was really believable, thanks to the awkward, insecure Albus we were presented with.
· There was no touching of Albus’s heart in this version of the scene, but it was still really nice and it still worked as a moment between the two of them.
· Theo absolutely nailed the pigeon racing line. Knocked it out of the park. It was hilarious. The delivery was perfect. (Which I was really happy about, because not every Albus does a great job with that one. It’s my least favourite line of Mackley’s performance.)
· The end of the scene went back to the dorm scene again. It had the same feel to it as that scene. Harry and Albus really listening to one another, and understand each other.
· They actually started off a little away from Cedric’s grave, and Harry guided Albus a step or two across to it, which I really liked.
· When Harry asked how well Albus knew Craig, he really wanted to hear the answer. It was an attempt to connect with Albus. And Albus seemed really sad when he said ‘not well enough’. His emotion was the same as Harry’s, so they were both sharing in this moment of loss. And I loved how Harry’s recounting of what Cedric could have been felt like he’d picked this information up over the years, like he didn’t know it at the time, but that he’d worked to find out about Cedric (which goes nicely with his line to Amos earlier about Amos knowing he sympathises with his efforts to memorialise Cedric), and that he was now recounting everything he’d found out, and trying to make Albus understand what they were doing there. And Albus did understand.
· The final moment was beautiful. They delivered the last two lines, and then stood apart for a moment, not touching. Then slowly Harry reached out and put an arm around Albus. Albus glanced at him, then stepped across and really melted into him. And only then did the lights go down. I loved that they waited for that moment to play out, and I adored how that all important moment of Albus and Harry’s coming together was handled. Fantastic job.
Brief curtain call notes:
· Samuel was tearing up when he saw the standing ovation. He looked so overwhelmed with pride and happiness. It was the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. Also, James Howard put an arm round him as they went off after the last bow.
· The ensemble bow was a mess, but I guess no one ever has time to rehearse curtain calls and they’re always carnage.
· Mark took the Sorting Hat’s hat off for his bow, which I thought was a lovely touch.
· Jamie was so bouncy during the curtain call. He’s inherited Jamie P’s enthusiasm for leading the bows.
· The whole cast just looked so happy and amazed and overwhelmed by the love from the audience. It was so cute.
Final thoughts – what a lovely Part Two. They pulled it out of the bag. I’m so desperate to go again immediately and see a really good Part One, but I’m going to restrain myself. Also, all the cast are so sweet and lovely at stage door. James Howard is so proud of Samuel (and Theo). We finally have a Jamie who does stage door! James Phoon entered Friday Forty all last year and never won. Apparently Samuel and Theo met up before rehearsals started and went to see the play a couple of times, plus Samuel is a massive Potterhead. April is simply amazing and lovely (she checked if it was alright to sign my programme in green pen when everyone else had used black). Sarah who plays Polly was delightful and said she didn’t ask for the purple streak in the wig, they just gave it to her and she loved it!
Also, we had a brilliant and insightful chat with Sonia Friedman. But if you want to know more about that, please message me or ask, because I think I’ve rambled on quite enough!
Thank you so much for reading this epic recap (if you’ve made it to the end), and I hope you will enjoy the new cast if/when you see them. I know I’m in love with them already. They’re going to be spectacular.
#Harry Potter and the Cursed Child#Samuel Blenkin#James Howard#Jamie Glover#Theo Ancient#Rakie Ayola#Thomas Aldridge#Helen Aluko#Emma Lowndes#Annabel Baldwin#John Tiffany#Tom Mackley#Scorbus#Keep The Secrets#Notes from the show#cursedchildnetwork#god this took ages#sorry for the terrible formatting#I've been writing for hours and I'm exhausted#seriously though#I love doing these#it's been fun#and to anyone seeing the show soon...#ENJOY!#We're going to love these people#I can tell#four days of tech rehearsals
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I want an answer to all the questions 😁
Gee, thanks T ;)
1. What is you middle name?
Lee. It’s my Dads middle name, and my brother and I have my Mum’s surname seeing as they were never married (now separated) so she gave us our Dads middle name as our own. So me my brother and my Dad all have the same middle name. Oh and and my oldest brother (different Dad) has Lee hyphenated into his first name so there ya go hahah.
2. How old are you?
23, 24 in 5 weeks :)
3. When is your birthday?
August 20th
4. What is your zodiac sign?
Leo (it fits)
5. What is your favorite color?
Purple
6. What’s your lucky number?
My favourite number is 2, so therefore my lucky number is 22.
7. Do you have any pets?
There is a cat at the flat I’m currently living in, he’s the fattest ever and his name is Zinny.
8. Where are you from?
Born in London. Moved to NZ when I was 6 months old. So legally British, but I am a Kiwi. 9. How tall are you?
I honestly don’t know but I’m tall. 5′9 maybe?
10. What shoe size are you?
In NZ I’m a 9 or a 10. I think it’s 8 UK, 42 US? I have big feet okay haha.
11. How many pairs of shoes do you own?
At the moment only like 4 cause I just moved country and gave a lot away.
12. What was your last dream about?
I wish I could remember :(
13. What talents do you have?
I can rap? Haha like don’t get me wrong I can’t freestyle but if I hear a song enough I get pretty good. But that probably ties in with my ability to just know the words to nearly every fucking song. My boyfriend always plays this game where he’ll start singing a song and then I have to sing the whole thing haha.
14. Are you psychic in any way?
I mean I say I am all the time but it’s not serious.
15. Favorite song?
This is so hard to answer. I have so many. it depends on my mood haha. 16. Favorite movie?
I am a movie buff. I cannot simply pick one. Although one film I could watch at any time is Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Oh and Shutter Island. Mark Ruffalo & Leo Dicaprio are my faves. Breakfast Club? Only Lovers Left Alive. I can’t pick.
17. Who would be your ideal partner?
Seth Cohen.
18. Do you want children?
I do, but there are days I wonder if I actually do, you know?
19. Do you want a church wedding?
Nooo.
20. Are you religious?
Noooo.
21. Have you ever been to the hospital?
Plenty of times, haha.
22. Have you ever got in trouble with the law?
I can’t say I have, no
23. Have you ever met any celebrities?
Yes! Quite a few if I can boast haha. Aidan Turner, Dean O’Gorman, Karen Gillan, Jamie Campbell Bower, Marl Ruffalo, Aaron Taylor Johnson, Jeremy Renner, Chris Hemsworth, Robert Downey Jr, Andrew Scott, Jenna Coleman. That’s all I can recall right now haha. I have photographic evidence of all except RDJ :(
24. Baths or showers?
It depends!
25. What color socks are you wearing?
Black :)
26. Have you ever been famous?
Haha no.
27. Would you like to be a big celebrity?
I don’t think so, to be honest.
28. What type of music do you like?
A broad range. A lot is like indie/pop, and I really do listen to a lot of rnb/rap which always surprises people.
29. Have you ever been skinny dipping?
God no haha. If I had the balls.
30. How many pillows do you sleep with?
1 since we moved here but ideally 2.
31. What position do you usually sleep in?
On my side.
32. How big is your house?
Not very. It’s converted (typical London) so it’s basically fit anything where you can haha.
33. What do you typically have for breakfast?
I don’t eat it normally, but if I do it’s cereal or toast. Also love pancakes.
34. Have you ever fired a gun?
Nope.
35. Have you ever tried archery?
At a school camp, once.
36. Favorite clean word?
Clean word? LIke non swear word? Lovely.
37. Favorite swear word?
Fuck. Classic.
38. What’s the longest you’ve ever gone without sleep?
Like 36 hours or so but I don’t do well on no sleep.
39. Do you have any scars?
Just little cuts and things, nothing major.
40. Have you ever had a secret admirer?
No, had a stalker once.
41. Are you a good liar?
Kind of.
42. Are you a good judge of character?
I believe so.
43. Can you do any other accents other than your own?
Not at all I am terrible at accents haha.
44. Do you have a strong accent?
I’m told not really, not compared to others. It’s probably because my family were English so it’s buffered.
45. What is your favorite accent?
Irish.
46. What is your personality type?
INFP-T
47. What is your most expensive piece of clothing?
Nothing I own is expensive haha.
48. Can you curl your tongue?
Yes.
49. Are you an innie or an outie?
Innie!
50. Left or right handed?
Right :)
51. Are you scared of spiders?
Yes, any creepy crawlies ew.
52. Favorite food?
Mexican!
53. Favorite foreign food?
^^^
54. Are you a clean or messy person?
Messy but hates mess.
55. Most used phrased?
Oh my god.
56. Most used word?
Probably a swear word.
57. How long does it take for you to get ready?
Depends on whether it’s just going out or like going out out. Anywhere from 10 mins to an hour.
58. Do you have much of an ego?
I don’t think so no.
59. Do you suck or bite lollipops?
Suck.
60. Do you talk to yourself?
Often haha.
61. Do you sing to yourself?
Very often haha.
62. Are you a good singer?
I’ve been told I’m actually not that bad a few times haha so thats something I guess.
63. Biggest Fear?
Whales.
64. Are you a gossip?
Sometimes… hahah.
65. Best dramatic movie you’ve seen?
What kind of dramatic? Prisoners was so good and that sprung to mind.
66. Do you like long or short hair?
My hair? Looooog. I cut it short 2 years ago and regretted it so much. On others? Unphased. Love a good man bun but don’t we all..
67. Can you name all 50 states of America?
I doubt it haha.
68. Favorite school subject?
Biology.
69. Extrovert or Introvert?
Introvert mainly, extrovert tendencies.
70. Have you ever been scuba diving?
No, terrified of the ocean. Which is annoying because it’s beautiful but ugh.
71. What makes you nervous?
Lots, especially having so speak to people I don’t know, about jobs etc.
72. Are you scared of the dark?
Love the dark.
73. Do you correct people when they make mistakes?
My boyfriend all the time,because he’ll still love me, but not normally anyone else haha.
74. Are you ticklish?
No.
75. Have you ever started a rumor?
No.
76. Have you ever been in a position of authority?
In my previous management jobs, yeah.
77. Have you ever drank underage?
A lot.
78. Have you ever done drugs?
A couple times..
79. Who was your first real crush?
Non celeb? When I was like 12 I was obsessed with a guy my cousin has been with for 3 years and owns a house with haha.
80. How many piercings do you have?
Nose & ears.
81. Can you roll your Rs?“
No?
82. How fast can you type?
If I get going quite fast. Dunno actual speed.
83. How fast can you run?
Not very anymore haha.
84. What color is your hair?
Naturally dark brown. Dyed darker but not black.
85. What color is your eyes?
Blue.
86. What are you allergic to?
Nothing I know of.
87. Do you keep a journal?
I want too!
88. What do your parents do?
Mum Retail, Dad Accounting to put it simply cause I don’t actually know.
89. Do you like your age?
23 has been good to me.
90. What makes you angry?
Inequality.
91. Do you like your own name?
I don’t hate it, but it’s boring.
92. Have you already thought of baby names, and if so what are they?
I have a few.
93. Do you want a boy a girl for a child?
If I could pick, 2 boys 1 girl.
94. What are you strengths?
I’m fiercely loyal.
95. What are your weaknesses?
Also stubborn, is that a weakness? V shy.
96. How did you get your name?
My Nans name was Jennifer, my Mum wanted to name me after her but not completely so therefore; Jenna. Also my family has a history of J’s. My Nan, Mum, oldest brither and 2 cousins are J names.
97. Were your ancestors royalty?
I wish haha.
98. Do you have any scars?
Answered.
99. Color of your bedspread?
Pretty patterned pink/blue.
100. Color of your room?
These walls are like a light yellow but I did not chose it haha.
That took way too long god I am boring.
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Quiet || Rommie || *TW*
[This one’s a pretty dark one, guys.]
The first time it happened she was too young, too innocent to understand what exactly was being done to her. All she knew was that it hurt and she wanted it to stop, but when she begged in a small voice, staring up at her stepfather, the only response she received were harsh word as he hissed at her to shut up.
Her crying quickly turned to screaming, shouting for her mother, shouting for someone to come and stop this man from hurting her. This earned her a sharp slap, her stepfather grabbing her face so tightly she was sure he was going to leave a mark. His expression was one of rage for a second, but as tears slipped down her face, it softened, as did his grip. “Shhh,” he whispered in her ear. “Romilda --- It’s okay, Sweetheart. You don’t want to wake your mother.”
When he was done, he made sure to clean up, tucking her in neatly and softly instructing her not to tell anyone. If she told anyone they would think she was bad, that she should be ashamed. “I know you shouldn’t, but others wouldn’t understand,” he said quietly, brushing a stray tear from her face. With that he left, returning to the parents’ bedroom and leaving her sobbing, confused, and petrified.
She wet the bed that night, too afraid to get up and not wanting to move because it hurt to do so. When her mother found her in the morning, there was a look in her eye, a look that Rommie would never forget. It was a hateful look. “You disgusting child,” she growled, pushing her from the bed and yanking the sheets from the mattress angrily. “Look at this mess!”
It was the first time her mother had ever spoken so harshly to her, with so much disgust in her voice. Rommie cried loudly, clutching her stuffed giraffe to her chest. “Shut up!” her mother had screamed, yanking the giraffe from her grip. “You’ll get this back when you learn to behave!” With that, she was left alone and sobbing on her bedroom floor.
It was one of her earliest memories, and it was the moment that she learned no one, not even her own mother, would come save her when she screamed.
-
By the time she was seven, she had grown far too used to the midnight visits. She no longer screamed and cried, she simply stared at the ceiling, concentrating hard on the chips in the paint, trying hard not to make a sound as her stepfather whispered sickly sweet words of comfort in her ear. As he left, he always gave her the same reminder, and she always nodded mutely, knowing his words to be true.
It wasn’t until the man had disappeared from sight that she allowed herself to cry, muffling the sobs in her pillow. She would lie still, not daring to move for a very long time. When she finally mustered the courage to shift, she would gather up all of the stuffed toys that her father had bought her and line them up around her, shielding her from the world.
Sleep was difficult to come by on these nights and she was always greeted in the morning by her mother, already with a bottle in her hand, hissing ‘bitch’ or ‘slut’ as she made herself a pathetic breakfast of dry, stale toast.
-
Weekends with her father felt like a wonderful dream to Rommie. Her father - her real father - always made her a big breakfast. He brought her out of the house to Diagon Alley, bought her ice cream, gave her hugs and read her bedtime stories. She loved every second of it, wishing it could last forever.
But the weekend always came to an end. The first time she’d stayed with her father after being raped, she had cried and clung so tightly to his arm that it had taken both her mother and her father to pull her free.
Her mother had locked her in her bedroom without dinner that night, screaming about what a terrible child she was and refusing to let her out until morning. The only good that came of this was that her stepfather hadn’t been able to visit that night.
She loved weekends with her father, but she often wished they never happened. They gave her hope, gave her a taste of freedom from her nightmarish life, only to tear it away from her again.
-
Now, her father was a smart man, he’d noticed her behaviour was odd. Unfortunately, her father was also somewhat insecure after her mother had cheated on him with another man and eventually left him. At first, he took her behaviour to mean she didn’t like staying with him. She always cried, she was shy and reserved, and she always looked so miserable when she was being dropped off. At first, he almost decided to stop seeing her. It was only selfishness that stopped him.
It wasn’t until Rommie was eight that her father finally clued in. One mistake, it was one little mistake on her part. Most of the time she was good at keeping quiet. Her nightmares always woke her silently and she had become adept at cleaning up after herself when she wet the bed.
This night was different. This time her magic shook the books from the shelf of her room as she screamed and begged, trapped in her nightmare with eyes wide open.
Her father had come running into her room, gripping her shoulder to try and wake her. “Don’t touch me!” she’d gasped harshly, scrambling up and away, blinking as she fully woke. There was a beat of silence between them as Rommie stared at the mess she’d made, and then she burst into sobs. “I’m sorry, I’m s-sorry, I’ll --- I’ll clean it up! I’ll clean it up! I’m sorry.”
No amount of comforting words could soothe the wailing child. Her father had been at a loss for what to do, but he had knelt by her side and asked her what was wrong, his eyes pleading as he wished there was some way he could make her feel better.
“I don’t --- don’t make me go back,” she cried softly, tugging at the soiled sheets with shaking hands. “Don’t make me go back,” she begged.
-
It took longer than he would have liked - far too long - for him to legally remove his daughter from the abusive household. Custody was not an easy thing to win when the mother would wail with her crocodile tears, telling some awful sob story and forcing her daughter to play along.
Eventually they won, though. Eventually her father was able to convince Rommie to speak up for herself and tell the truth.
-
Things were not immediately wonderful. Rommie was terrified to leave the house for a long time, shaking and growing distant any time they were in large crowds. Contact made her flinch, it took a while for her to stop wetting the bed, now that she’d found a safe place where she knew she wasn’t going to be hurt, she locked herself away and didn’t dare step outside the door. There were monsters outside.
“Ever thought ‘bout fighting?” her father asked one day.
Rommie shook her head, staring curiously up at her father. “Fighting what?”
“People --- Well, I mean, getting trained for fighting. There’s a place not far from here, I could take you to learn.”
At first, Rommie hated the idea. Fighting people meant seeing people --- seeing strangers and touching them. She wanted nothing to do with it.
A month later, she was begging her father to sign her up for more classes.
-
Fighting made her feel strong, it made her feel like she didn’t need her stuffed animals or her father to be safe anymore - she could make herself safe. Winning a fight made her feel powerful, and until that moment Rommie had never felt anything but powerless.
Fighting put spirit back into her life.
-
“She punched me in the face!”
“She’s crazy!”
Rommie glared at the two boys, both sporting injuries as Professor Sprout shook her head sadly. “Why did you hurt these boys, Ms Rhoades?” She didn’t say a word, merely turned her glare to the head of her house. “Very well, I have no choice but to give you a detention - every night for the next week you will be sweeping the greenhouses.”
As they left the office, Rommie pushed past the boys heading to the hospital wing. One of the lads grew bold and called, “Fuck off, slut!”
She got a month’s worth of detention after that, the boy took a week to recover.
-
“You are banned from Quidditch for the rest of the year! Merlin --- What were you thinking?”
“I was thinking that Jeremy is a fucking arsehole who deserved it!” She spat back, still holding her bloodied beater's bat.
-
“Get the fuck off me!”
“Oh, come on, Sweetheart, don’t be like---”
The man gave a pathetic squawk as she kicked him hard in the crotch, bringing him to his knees and following up with a kick to the face. She left him bleeding in the alley, brushing past a gawking witness and making her way to her gym so she could punch a punching bag until her knuckles bled.
-
“What’s wrong?”
Rommie rubbed the tears from her eyes, refusing to roll over and look at her boyfriend. When she didn’t say or do anything, Edgar reached a warm hand over to grip her shoulder gently. “A nightmare?” he asked.
She nodded, dragging in a deep breath. It had been a while since she’d had one of her old nightmares. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to flinch away from the hand gripping her shoulder or turn and bury her face in the man’s chest. She couldn’t show weakness, she couldn’t be weak, she needed to stay strong - stay in control.
“Talk to me, please,” he begged softly, leaning over to get a good look at her.
Closing her eyes briefly, she found that no matter how she tried she couldn’t stop the tears. She wanted to tell him so badly, to finally admit to this secret that had been festering in her chest the entire time they’d been together. She was damaged goods. She had been for her entire life. If she told him, he would reject her, he would hate her---
He won’t understand.
It was the voice of her stepfather that made her roll over, staring at her boyfriend with wide, frightened eyes. She couldn’t let that man control her life anymore. “I --- I --- I can’t. I don’t --- What if you hate me.” She hated how pathetic she sounded.
There was a stunned look in her boyfriend’s eyes, as though he hadn’t expected her to be this nervous, but a second later his expression softened. “I won’t,” he told her firmly. “I love you, I don’t care what you’ve done or what’s happened in the past --- I won’t hate you, I promise. Whatever it is, you can tell me.”
Her chest suddenly felt tight and warm, as though her heart was swelling. Tears continued to slip down her cheeks as she dragged in a harsh breath. It was terrifying, the thought of finally telling him, but his voice was comforting, his words were honest, and for the first time ever she truly believed she had found someone she could trust with everything.
“Okay,” she breathed, leaning into his warm touch.
#self para#sp: quiet#rommie#tw rape#trigger warning#//I told myself I was going to go to bed earlier tonight#I lied#for some reason Rommie wanted her story told
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