http://musicaltheatreaddict.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/the-curious-incident-of-dog-in-night.html
I honestly don’t know how to do this play any justice in a
small blog, with very little journalistic or media background. It really is
phenomenal. It is such an intense play. I get the intense vibes before I even
enter the theatre knowing what is going to happen. As soon as that first boom
strikes and the lights flash, you know you are being transported into a whole
different world. The perspective on life from a teenage boy who has Asperger’s
and the way he operates in the world. I have a fascination with this play due
to my background in this sector, working with children who have autism and
Asperger’s for many years. I love the fact that the play was developed alongside
autism consultants from professional to people with the ‘diagnosis’ (sorry to
be so crude) were involved in the making of it and you can definitely see that.
Although the play is very humorous in parts it is also very serious and tells
the difficulties (or should I say our difficulties) with a person who has
autism/Asperger’s living in the busy chaotic and god damn confusing world as we
know it. It shows the interesting side to autism, but also the hardship. I don’t
mean to sound patronising here but it captures everything. Ma Beez didn’t want
to laugh at some points saying how she was too engrossed in the drama.
I have to say Curious Incident makes me tingle. I get
shivers throughout the whole play and just near the end as the protagonist receives
a little surprise I well up, often cry, laugh as I am also enjoying myself so
much and then tingle more. The programme is well worth a purchase wherever you
see this play. It has such interesting stories from the author of the novel to
the playwright to adapted it into a play. There is also information about some
complicated physics and mathematical theories and a famous psychologist who has
researched and worked clinically for many years in the autism and Asperger field.
Christopher Boone is our protagonist and he is portrayed this time by Scott
Reid. The whole cast are different from the first time I saw the play. Although
different and differently portraying the characters, they were all fantastic.
Reid plays the character so well. I am still amazed how much that one person on
stage has to remember and coordinate. They centre that show and are amazing. So
much work has to go into creating that character live on stage every night and
Reid does the role enormous credit.
My Golden Star Award (I’m sure I change the title of this
award every time I write about it) has to go to Lucianne McEvoy who plays Siobhan.
Siobhan is Christopher’s tutor and mentor. She is there in Christopher’s head
helping him along his brave journey. She is there reading his story and giving
him amazing opportunities. She is not his brain or conscience or spirit-like ma
Beez thought; she is far too deep and analytical to think she’s a bloody
teacher. Haha love ya beez. She is so empathic on stage, so warm and inspiring.
If I was going to change career and be a teacher I would want to be like
Siobhan. And McEvoy is able to emulate this fantastic person on stage. Perfect
performance! Christopher’s mother and father are played by Emma Beattie and
David Michaels, respectively. These two are so intense on stage. You feel every
emotion they feel and every emotion they express. Both fantastic portrayals of
Ed and Judy. The minor characters as well as general ensemble characters are of
the upmost skill and talent, everyone has their place on that stage and they
all own it. Some sections of the play are choreographed better than most of the
musicals I see. Everyone is position perfect, knowing where to go and what to
do. You were all fantastic. I have to also mention Eliza Collings who plays
many characters including Mrs Gascoyne, the Headmistress at Christopher’s school.
She was very comedic as that character and I thought she was wonderful at it. Really
made me chuckle in the midst of a serious play. Really lovely performance.
The staging and creative team are also blooming fantastic. They
create such a modern play on stage that is full of technology but simple things
are beautiful also. I do think thought that the finale of Act One could have
been slightly extended. I am sure it was last time and I do wonder if there was
a slight problem with what should of actually happened. Giving no secrets away,
sorry. Paule Constable is your lighting designer who is award-winning standard.
The lights are so intense. Each bulb on that stage carries with it a heart full
of emotion that you are going to get the full whack of. Directed by Bunny
Christie, we have Finn Ross designing the video material. This again makes the
play very modern but also adds an additional dimension to the play. I love the
use of chalk boards that are also capable of playing videos that create the
scenery almost, yet we create all this scenery in our minds. As I said earlier
most musicals cannot compete with the gorgeous movements that are directed by
Stan Graham and Steven Hoggett. In some parts the movement resembles a ballet,
an intense, beautifully chaotic ballet we know as the London Underground. The
music has been provided by Adrian Sutton. I thought I was in a club of some
sort at one point which is a bit extravagant for me these days but again, this
music is fuelled by the emotions by the characters, the audience, everyone is
just spilling their hearts out tonight.
I really have to say that Curious Incident is my favourite
play, EVER! I was so excited when I saw this wonderful creation was coming back
to Norwich. I really don’t have much more else to say other than that. It hits
all the right buttons. It makes me feel happy, excited, anxious, worried,
nervous, proud, empowered and tingly all within the first five minutes of this
story that is brought to life in front of us by a really dedicated cast and
creative team. You can see this play at the Norwich Theatre Royal all week at
2:30 matinees Weds, Thurs and Sat and nightly performances at 7:30. All shows
have limited spaces as you can imagine. Please keep checking the box office as
tickets do become available and I remember two years ago I had to give up one
of my tickets and it was snapped up within about 30 minutes of the curtain
going up, so it really is worth that check. The current tour ends in Milton Keynes
on the 16th of September this
year and this is a great shame. It has been going around for five years and I do
hope we keep seeing it for another five years. This play needs a West End
revival and another tour for sure. It really is fantastic. Please get in touch
and tell me your opinion on this play. All negative comments will be deleted
with bias. Get in touch on twitter @AaronBurgess89. Until next time
byeeeeeeeeeee.
