Harry Potter: The Exhibition - Stepping into a Magical World

Please note that the opinions expressed in this article do not reflect the views of the author or the publisher. It is crucial to foster inclusivity and respect for all individuals, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. J. K. Rowling's controversial views on transgender women have sparked a discourse within the Wizarding World fandom about how to navigate fandom in a way that celebrates diversity and unity among all fans, embracing the rich experiences that this magical universe offers.

Click here to see photos of the exhibition.

Growing up, the Harry Potter series captivated my sister and me, immersing ourselves in both books and films. We saw it as our generation's equivalent to Star Wars. I vividly recall my third-grade teacher gathering us around a quiet corner of the classroom, interrupting our work to read aloud from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

The first book captivated us with its simple yet interesting plot: the titular protagonist, Harry, is accepted into a magical school in a region resembling Scotland. As the story unfolds, we learn the Wizarding World regards as "The Boy Who Lived". This title stems from his survival from an attack by Lord Voldemort, an evil wizard who killed Harry's birth parents. The attack left a lightning-bolt-shaped scar on Harry's forehead.

Throughout the series, Harry makes lifelong friends, is sorted into Gryffindor house, becomes a seeker on the Quidditch team, and faces the challenge of confronting Voldemort and his Death Eaters, who have spread darkness and corruption over the Wizarding World. Later books feature various adventures and misadventures that reshape the world as Harry and his friends know it.

When the Harry Potter films were released in theaters, our parents ensured we had tickets to witness the magic of Hogwarts and the Wizarding World come to life on the big screen for the first time. I would identify myself as a Ravenclaw and my sister would consider herself a Hufflepuff. Despite the film's strengths in handling the source material, developing characters, and maintaining the main storyline, we believe that there were many elements from the books that could not be incorporated into the eight 90+-minute movies. The films prioritized the main plot over subplots and character arcs that were explored in the books. As a result, my sister is eager to see HBO's Harry Potter series because she believes it has the potential to align more closely with the books than the 2000s film series.

Over the years, we have had the pleasure of visiting the enchanting Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios' Islands of Adventure. We have also embarked on a journey to Scotland, the country that served as inspiration for various elements of the Wizarding World, including Hogwarts and Diagon Alley. Along the way, we stumbled upon delightful fan-made Harry Potter-themed gift shops. To further immerse ourselves in the magical realm, we have dedicated countless hours listening to captivating audiobooks on Audible, which serve as a constant reminder of the shortcomings of the film adaptations. While I would not classify myself as an ardent aficionado of the Harry Potter series like my sister, I have thoroughly enjoyed each book and movie.

Now, allow me to share my review of this enchanting world (or exhibition):

The Review

After watching a commercial promoting the Harry Potter exhibition in Boston, both my mother and I thought about my sister. I thought to myself, "Janis would love this." I quickly opened the website on my phone to check for tickets, and we settled on opening day at 1 pm.

The tickets were $9.75 each, excluding tax, which we considered a good deal since they were only available for opening day. Once the tickets were purchased, my mother texted me screenshots of the receipt so I could surprise my sister. I knew she needed a distraction from her stressful day at work.

When my sister received the message, she was thrilled to spend a Saturday at "Hogwarts," even though it meant a day trip to Boston. With the excitement of the exhibition, we looked forward to a fun and magical day together.

One week later, we journeyed to Cambridgeshire for an afternoon to experience the Harry Potter exhibition.

Upon our arrival, we entered a small room filled with several interactive kiosk machines. These machines allowed us to create our wizarding world profiles by choosing a house, a wand, and a Patronus. This process was started by activating a wristband given to us by the staff upon entering the exhibition.

After completing our profiles, including a photo of ourselves, we proceeded to an exhibit featuring two significant props. The first was a first edition copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone from its initial publication in 1998, while the second was a student trunk and luggage trolley used by Harry himself and later his son, Albus, in the films.

The room housing these props was adorned with a stunning map of Hogwarts that extended from the wall to the floor. Two giant interactive screens on the wall displayed concept art from the first film and captivating CGI animations of the grounds surrounding Hogwarts.

Our experience was further enriched by a tour guide who presented a trivia challenge to our group. My sister, Janis, emerged as the trivia champion, showcasing her extensive knowledge of the Harry Potter universe.

Following the trivia challenge, the guide led us into the "main" room through a door modeled after Hogwarts School and introduced the exhibition's highlights.

As we wandered through a recreated version of the paintings on the Grand Stair Case, we marveled at how many of the subjects could move, speak, and even travel between portraits. Remarkably, to see how some people in the portraits could move about, smile, and interact with visitors. Among these, I stumbled upon my favorite portrait, none other than Anne Boylen, who, ironically, was labeled a "witch" in real life. Interestingly, she wore her signature necklace with an "H" pennant for Hogwarts, replacing the "B" pennant that represented the first letter of her surname.

Filmmakers adorned the walls with over 200 paintings based on real art and new subjects, including members of the production team and their families. Studio artists meticulously created the original pieces in the style of renowned historical artists, each artwork representing various periods of history. Through collaboration between the art, set decoration, and prop departments, tableaus were crafted, comprising backdrops, props, and actors. These tableaus were then photographed and animated on computers to achieve the visual texture of oil paintings.

To create the moving portraits, actors and their props were filmed on blue-screen overlays within frames, allowing for seamless animation. This process brought the portraits to life, making them appear as if they were stepping out of the canvas.

Upon arriving at the heart of the exhibition, we briefly separated to be "officially" sorted into our chosen houses, allowing us to fully explore the exhibition. As a Ravenclaw, I began my journey in the Ravenclaw section of the first exhibit.

For those unfamiliar, Ravenclaw House is named after Rowena Ravenclaw, one of Hogwarts' four founders. Embracing the belief that "Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure," Ravenclaw represents the intelligence, learning, and wisdom of its students. Its ghost is the Grey Lady, and Filius Flitwick, a charms professor, was Head of the House during Harry Potter's time at Hogwarts.

The Ravenclaw crest features an eagle bordered by the house colors of blue and bronze, which surprised me since I had initially assumed the house's bird was a raven, not an eagle.

Notable Ravenclaw characters include Cho Chang, Harry's former love interest before Ginny Weasley, and Luna Lovegood, a friend of Harry's who played a crucial role in the battle against Voldemort by utilizing her knowledge.

In each section of the room, regardless of the chosen house, costumes and props belonging to characters associated with that house were prominently displayed. For instance, in the Gryffindor section, visitors could find the costumes of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, along with some of their props. Similarly, in the Slytherin section, Albus Potter's Slytherin uniform from Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was present. The Ravenclaw section showcased the costumes of students Chow Chang and Luna Lovegood. Notably, the school uniform designs developed. The earlier versions did not feature the house colors, which were only introduced in the "modern" uniforms. Each of these costumes and props were accompanied by trivia about its first appearance in the films and the process of its creation by the production team.

Our next stop on the tour was a recreation of the Great Hall, featuring two grand tables adorned with grail cups, golden plates, silverware, and floating candles. It offered an excellent photo opportunity for those wishing to immerse themselves in their own Hogwarts story. Janis captured me gazing out of a window as if expecting a companion for an afternoon of studying, while I returned the favor, portraying her as a model for a Hogwarts ad in the Daily Prophet, adding a touch of humor to the experience.

Moving on, we encountered our first interactive exhibit on transfiguration, involving the use of wands. In an Ollivander-like room, we explored various wands used in the films, learning about their unique designs and the inspiration behind them. Interactive touch screens in each display case showcased clips of characters wielding their wands in action, accompanied by captivating trivia. For instance, Voldemort's bone wand resembled a sinister finger, while Harry's canon wand, simple in its design, was crafted from Indian rosewood.

Our first interactive booth focused on transfiguration. To activate the screen, we had to tap it with our wristbands and follow the pattern displayed with our fingers. Successful completion rewarded us with 50 points for our house, adding an element of competition and excitement to the experience.

Within the thrilling exhibition, interactive booths provide immersive experiences for visitors. These booths include divination, potion making, extracting mandrakes at the herbology exhibit, a captivating defense against the dark arts booth to confront one's fears, casting a patronus, and activating a portkey. Additionally, captivating photo opportunities await, such as sitting in Hagrid's house or attempting Quidditch by shooting bludgers into hoops.

Each exhibition room showcases an array of impressive props and costumes used in the films, accompanied by insights into various scenes, storylines, and the translation from books to films. Furthermore, some rooms feature life-size models of magical animals from the Wizarding World franchise, including the dragon from The Goblet of Fire and Fawkes the Phoenix from The Chamber of Secrets, all set within recreated scenes from the films.

Exhibition Ticket Prices:

Weekdays:

• Adults: Starting at $25
• Children (ages 3-12): Around $19

Weekends and Holidays:

• Adults: $29
• Children (ages 3-12): $24

Prices exclude taxes and fees.

Location:

• 100 Cambridgeside Place, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02141

Personal Rating:

8 out of 10

Enjoy your visit to the exhibition!