The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Bit of a
mouth full isn’t it?! Based on the much loved novel by Mark Haddon, This recent
National Theatre production had a majorly successful run at the Cottesloe. The
production was also shown throughout cinemas worldwide in the National Theatre
Live programme. The production has now transferred to the Apollo Theatre in
London’s West End and has extended its initial run by 14 weeks, now finishing
on the 31st August.
This touching story is about 15 year old Christopher who has Asperger Syndrome, one of his neighbours Dogs gets killed and he decides to become a detective and find out who did this, along the way he finds out things he wish he never knew and also finds his mother. Although Christopher has Asperger Syndrome it is never actually said in the play, I think it’s very important that as an audience you don’t watch the play knowing he has this otherwise it becomes an observing experience. The clever thing that Simon Stephens has clearly done in his adaptation of the production is to not make reference to it, as an audience you can clearly see this fact about Christopher but by this not being pointed out you can then freely go on the journey with the character and the experience of watching the play becomes an emotional experience and one that means you can really understand this fascinating boy.
This touching story is about 15 year old Christopher who has Asperger Syndrome, one of his neighbours Dogs gets killed and he decides to become a detective and find out who did this, along the way he finds out things he wish he never knew and also finds his mother. Although Christopher has Asperger Syndrome it is never actually said in the play, I think it’s very important that as an audience you don’t watch the play knowing he has this otherwise it becomes an observing experience. The clever thing that Simon Stephens has clearly done in his adaptation of the production is to not make reference to it, as an audience you can clearly see this fact about Christopher but by this not being pointed out you can then freely go on the journey with the character and the experience of watching the play becomes an emotional experience and one that means you can really understand this fascinating boy.
Marianne
Elliot has created an incredible piece of theatre, as the director she has
created a very sharp and slick production which moves fast enough that you don’t
get bored but gives the emotional scenes enough time for your attention to be
locked onto that stage. I can tell you that I have never been in such a quiet theatre before, you usually get a few people who whisper a few times throughout
the show or start munching on their sweets but not there. The theatre was dead
silent throughout the whole show; you could have heard a pin drop. Every single
audience member didn’t take their eyes off that stage for the whole two and a
half hours.
Bunny (?) Christie is the designer on this production, oh my! The
set was incredible. I did think that I was back in the Garrick Theatre about to
watch Loserville when I first walked in but as soon as the play started I knew
it was one of the best designs I’ve ever come across. It almost felt like you
were in Christopher’s head, the way the train tracks built up over the first
act and then represented the journey he made to London was spectacular. The use
of projections in this production really transformed the theatre into a magical
space that was almost hypnotising. I also loved the way they portrayed the
London Underground in this production, the escalator was astonishing! The stairs
came out from the back wall and the projections were used to create the
backdrop, you can obviously tell it’s still the same set and you know its
projections but whilst watching it you wouldn’t second guess that it’s not
real.
Luke Treadaway stars in this production as Christopher, what an actor! He
really gets this character and you can tell he completely understands what goes
on in his head. He delivers each line perfectly, the amount of research he must
have done to make that part what is it must have been excruciating and unbelievably
hard but it pays off. It must be very daunting having to play a part like that
but I cannot find any faults in his performance, he needs to win every award
going for this show!
Seán Gleeson plays Christopher’s Father, Ed, and he really
plays the struggling single dad really well. His frustration in the role was
really believable and the great thing about this production is that you not
only get to know and understand Christopher but also the characters that are
involved in his life. He doesn’t ask for sympathy off the audience, he plays
the character as someone who just gets on with his life and it’s really heart
warming but also tragic to watch him struggle. Holly Aird plays Christopher’s
Mother, Judy. She really shows her love for her son so clearly in this show and
you can tell that despite his condition her character loves him more than
anything. I also really admired the way that Holly almost chose to ignore the
fact that the Christopher has Asperger Syndrome, I really think this is what Mark
Haddon wanted. Niamh Cusack plays Siobhan who is Christopher’s teacher at his
school for children with Special Needs and throughout the show she almost acts
as his conscience. She really has a nice relationship with him on stage and her
connection with him throughout the production is beautiful.
The show also has a
really strong ensemble; each cast member had such good focus on stage and
performed with such grace and sharpness. This production is incredible, it is
very rare that I actually can sit for two and a half hours and give something
my full attention but I could not take my eyes off that stage. Everything about
this production is astonishing, the only down fall was that the seats in the
theatre have been raised and that resulted in my feet not actually being able
to touch the ground (see where the pocketsizeboy name comes from now?!) which
really hurt my knees when I tried to get up in the interval and after the show!
The production has to be one of the best
plays of not only 2013 but of this decade, I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t
enjoy this show. A production with the qualities it has doesn’t come around
very often so if you miss it you’re missing a play of a life time.
Rating: *****
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is at the Apollo Theatre until the 31st August
Cast Includes: Luke Treadaway, Niamh Cusack, Seán Gleeson, Holly Aird, Tilly Tremayne, Sophie Duval, Nick Sidi, Matthew Barker, Rhiannon Harper-Rafferty, Howard Ward, Johnny Gibbon, Jake Ferretti, Jane Lambert, David Mara and Claire Winsper.
