The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time: Review

Mark Haddon’s “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” was published in 2003. It was the winner of more than seventeen literary awards and has now been adapted by Simon Stephens for the production that opened at the Apollo theatre in March 2013 after a successful stint at the Cottesloe with the National Theatre. It received much critical acclaim and won seven Olivier Awards including Best New Play. It has now transferred to the Gielgud Theatre where it re-opened on Monday 7^th July 2014.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time follows the story of 15 year old Christopher Boone who suffers from Aspergers Syndrome, and Autism. After his next door neighbour’s dog, Wellington, is killed with a garden fork, Christopher sets it upon himself to be a detective who must be “very very brave” and find out who the murderer is. As his journey takes off, we see his life at his “special school” where the kids are “stupid, although I’m not supposed to say that” (says Christopher). Despite his illnesses, Christopher is a superb mathematician and has set it upon himself to be the first 15 year old at his school to sit a Maths A-Level exam.  We also learn about his family life, and his career aspirations for the future as we follow his journey from 12:07am on the night of the dog’s murder…

Cynthia Erivo | Interview

Cynthia Erivo trained at RADA and she is currently playing the role of Deloris Van Carter in the UK Tour of the West End hit, Sister Act. Before that she played Madeleine in the Umbrellas of Cherbourg at the Gielgud Theatre. Her other credits include Ellie Jackson in Marine Parade, Leila in I was Looking at the Ceiling and then I saw the Sky and Constance in The Three Musketeers and the Princess of Spain. Cynthia also was a support act for American Idol winner Fantasia Burrino and was nominated for a BEFFTA for best female act 2010. I caught up with Cynthia on her busy tour schedule to talk about her...

How and when did you realise you wanted to perform?
As cliché as it sounds, I knew I was going to be a performer when I was five, it's actually one of my clearest memories..... I was asked to sing silent night on my own in the nativity play that year, and I remember that after I ?nished singing there was applause, I remember loving how it felt to hear that and see people happy..... I was hooked.

Were your family and friends supportive about your career decision?
They always have they always will be, they've been with me every step of the way.

Lend me a Tenor the Musical: Theatre Review

Lend me a Tenor is running at the Gielgud Theatre, with an opening night of June 15^th2011, with previews from June 2^nd2011.This musical transfers from the out of town tryout in Plymouth which ran in September to October 2010. Tito Merelli has come to sing in the Grand Opera Company's production of Otello, but Max (The assistant to the Opera's director) gets thrown on in the place of Tito which leads to confusion for everyone in the show and create chaos! On June 13^thI was invited to see a preview of the show, and I have to say I was impressed. I was not expecting to like the musical as I'm not a fan of slapstick or musicals set in that particular period of time but it was fantastic!

The musical stars Matthew Kelly, and from watching the show I can see that this is stunt casting to get in some extra people. His mannerisms as Henry Saunders were cringe worthy the whole way through, his characterisation in the role is poor but he was ok, he wasn't terrible.

The rest of the cast however were brilliant! Each character had their own personality and you can tell the actors love this show! Joanna Riding and Michael Matus are perfect as the Merellis, Joanna Riding especially plays a brilliant stubborn Italian woman, with Michael Matus complementing her well as Tito.