Crikey!

[birdsofshore]

There's going to be a Harry Potter prequel play. A proper one, in the West End, with JKR co-producing and stuff. About the 'previously untold story of Harry Potter’s early years as an orphan and outcast’.

(sob, so no Draco, then.... OR WILL THERE BE??)

A little bit more info here if you don't mind the - yeuch - Daily Mail, sorry.

I am tentatively excited about this! But, I don't know, something about it leaves me slightly nervous. I think it's the 'orphan and outcast' bit. I'm imagining Annie or something, with lots of feelgood songs. O_o Let's hope I will be proved SO WRONG.

However, I REALLY like the look of the new UK HP art by Jim Kay. I never liked the UK book covers in the slightest, and I am jealous of the US illustrations, which I admire. The new UK editions will be fully illustrated *glee*.



Oh, pretty! Fresh, lovely colours and Harry is very charming with his clear eyes and mussed hair. The style of this one reminds me of leochi, or is that just because it's watercolour?

Harry looks more sly and mischievous in the b/w drawing, however, I think this one is actually my favourite of the two:



Hogwarts looks utterly magical, but not in a cute and sparkly way. I would say it's gorgeously creepy with fairy-tale influences:



It's hard to draw many conclusions from these couple of pieces, but I'm hoping the illustrations are all going to have this slight edge to them.  Either way I'm very happy we are getting a whole lot of new art, and yes, it'll be tempting to buy an entire new set...

I really like the quote where Jim Kay says "the commission of a lifetime" brought "an explosion of delight, followed instantly by an implosion of brain-freezing terror". :DDDDD

I have a feeling we are in safe hands with this one. <3

Comments

[who_la_hoop]

The thing about the play is that it will be full of hideous British stage-school-trained child actors. I would rather eat my own toes, frankly :DD

[birdsofshore]

Noooooo! Surely it'll be full of fab British actors, like Benny and Hiddles ;-D I've heard they have Benny signed for Petunia, and Hiddles is going to fatten himself up specially for the role of Vernon.

[who_la_hoop]

Benny would be an ace Petunia. Although I think he has great potential for Mrs Figg - I see him rocking an old-lady wig, covered in cats.

[birdsofshore]

Maybe it'll be like a panto, with all the actors in drag, slapping their thighs and wearing frilly drawers?

XDDD

[who_la_hoop]

THAT WOULD BE AMAZING. Probably more amazing than the actual play will be :DD

I don't know; it'll either be all nauseatingly 'chin up, Harry' and with a hideous moral message to be brave, or it'll be depressing. I don't know why the don't want to just stage the first book - that would be so much fun! I'm sure they could do the magic brilliantly with stage-craft and puppets. I could probably put up with the kiddies overacting for that.

[birdsofshore]

It would be wonderful, wouldn't it, the first book could be superb!

I cannot imagine how they can make a prequel amazing, but I am going to HAVE FAITH and drag you to see it no matter how shit it is

[who_la_hoop]

I don't know - your line in the sand was American Psycho the Musical, mine just might be small acting children :DD I will withhold judgement until Benny's casting as Mrs Figg is confirmed.

Now I am thinking about Hamlet! Is it too early to be excited? :D

[birdsofshore]

I would say the answer to that is:



NO.

???

[nevrafire.livejournal.com]

what's wrong my with british stage-school-trained child actors?

Re: ???

[who_la_hoop]

In general, they're over confident and precocious. I find it irritating and unnatural. But then I am not a fan of children acting in general - they're rarely any good at it. And I say that as someone who acted as a child myself.

Re: ???

[birdsofshore]

You're making baby Tom Felton sad D:

Re: ???

[who_la_hoop]

Oh god! I bet he was unspeakable. He looks it; all that curly hair :DD Was he Little Orphan Annie, by any chance? Arf!

Re: ???

[birdsofshore]

Watch it, I'm mother to a curly ;-)

He was Peagreen in the Borrowers :DD (who? O_o)

I'm sure he wasn't insufferable AT ALL

Re: ???

[who_la_hoop]

I'm sure your child is ADORABLE. But as soon as he starts acting, he becomes the devil's child, just saying :DD

HDU not know Peregrine Overmantel :DD Are you not a fan of the series? I always liked the sequels better than the first book, mind you.

Re: ???

[birdsofshore]

I adore the first one! I couldn't get on with the others, at all! Is Peagreen a real book character, then? I thought they'd made him up :DD

Re: ???

[who_la_hoop]

He is a very lovely, lonely borrower who likes books <3

My favourite is the one where they live in a model village, until they are kidnapped! And have to escape in a tiny hot air balloon! :D Marvellous stuff.

Re: ???

[birdsofshore]

Gosh. Well, I may try them again one day. As I recall, my eldest wasn't keen on the later ones, either, but I shall ask him tomorrow.

He said at bedtime, btw, that he was going to rewrite COS from Snape's POV :DDD

Re: ???

[nevrafire.livejournal.com]

what did you acted on?