Everyone who walks away from this play and gives their thoughts, quiet and desperate not to ruin the performance for anyone, says that they loved the stage magic. And I’m gonna be a repetitive jerk here and say that yes, I did in fact love the stage magic. We scored free tickets to the dress rehearsal, which we felt certain would have a few trips and misfires, but it went off without a hitch as everyone gasped and applauded the magic unfolding onstage. But theatre is magic. What’s shared in those dark spaces, night after night between utter strangers, and then packed away forever or until the script is dusted off again by some bright eyed maker – it’s always going to be something special, something that can only be and should be described as magic.

But really the heart of this play was William Mckenna and Sean Rees-Wemyss as Scorpius and Albus. Any gripes with the piece are forgotten as you watch these two genuine, flawed, loving friends on stage. Scorpius is incredibly endearing in the audience favourite turn of the night, while Albus’s actions – which seemed alienating on the page – make sense in Sean’s capable hands. Sean and William have such an easy chemistry onstage, that will only grow with time and practice. It’s difficult to believe this was just a dress rehearsal and second preview, as everyone already seems to know this piece like a familiar old cloak.

While Scorpius whoos audience members with his awkward charm, it’s Harry that I can’t take my eyes off of. It’s so rare that I’m stunned by a performance, but Gareth Reeves gives himself over so wholly and completely to the role. There’s a scene later on in part two which had me in tears when I first read it, but it ripped through my soul when I watched it on stage. His Harry breaks your heart and puts it back together again. He’s deeply traumatised by the wizarding war and as a consequence he’s pushing everyone away. But it’s such an open, honest performance and I found myself falling in love again with this dear, beloved character over these four nights.

There must be such enormous pressure on this cast and crew. This is a huge undertaking. Each role is a ridiculous challenge, from those who occupy the centre stage to the ensemble who lift this performance with their controlled, practised, delicate movements, to the back of house technical crew with the utter wizardry of their work which creates such a real and tangible world. But I think, after what I’ve seen these last four nights, that they’re going to be just fine. And from what I heard from that audience at the dress rehearsal and these preview performances, Melbourne loves them already – unconditionally and without reserve.