Okay, I’m going to admit something…when I first read Mark
Haddon’s novel The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time, back in 2012,
I couldn't get through it. So what? It’s
only a dog! What’s the big deal? Looking back now, I realise that I was
completely missing the point of the story, and had I persevered and gotten past the first few chapters, no doubt I’d have found the rest of the novel pretty fantastic. But sadly, thanks to 16 year old me's one act of philistinism, I had kept clear of the award winning and critically acclaimed Simon
Stephens play of the same name for years. However, when the UK tour stopped off
at my local theatre, I decided to book a ticket...
Without giving away any spoilers, the play follows Christopher
Boone, a 15 year old boy who begins investigating a
mysterious crime, against the wishes of his father. As his investigation takes
him further and further away from his comfort zone, Christopher begins to unravel an even bigger mystery,
which will change his whole life.
Honestly, I was
gripped from start to finish. The book is honest, touching and full of twists
and turns which will definitely keep you on your toes. The moment you think you
know what’s going to happen next, the plot will take another sharp turn and you’ll
be just as enthralled as you were before.
For me, though, it was the impressive movement pieces which
really gave The Curious Incident[…] the wow factor! I am a huge fan of the work
of Frantic Assembly and as usual their choreography was breathtakingly
daring. A particular standout scene for me was a scene in which physical
theatre was used to bring the mad hustle and bustle of the London Underground
to vivid life. This, combined with amazing visual effects, a top class set
(Bunny Christie strikes again!) and interesting lighting and sound design made
The Curious Incident[…] a visual treat unlike any I’ve seen in a long while. I
was thoroughly wowed!
The cast were also brilliant, and I particularly enjoyed the
emotionally charged and incredibly poignant relationship between Christopher (Joshua
Jenkins) and his father (Stuart Laing). Their relationship was totally
believable and I really rooted for them both throughout.
As soon as I left the theatre, I was wanted to book myself
another ticket and see the show again. I 'd laughed and cried in equal measure
(and had also done that thing where something is just so adorable that you laugh and
then it turns into a sob and you’re crying before you even realise what’s happening!)
and the emotional payoff at the end was well worth the wait. I may very well be
one of the only people who hadn’t seen The Curious Incident[…] until now, but
if you’ve somehow managed to ignore the hype as well I recommend that you overlook it no more. It’s an affecting piece of theatre which NEEDS to be seen!
Verdict – 4.5 stars
Twitter: @OddJazzShoes
Bloglovin: Talkstageytome
