The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time 2017 tour

I have to finally’s to get off my chest. Finally I have gotten to see me Beez (Kaz) for a catch up, albeit extremely brief. And finally, I have gotten to see my favourite play ever again, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, known in this blog simply as Curious Incident. So after a mad rush around the city getting four people’s birthday presents (Mother, Nanny Cora, Dad and Amelia the Niece), I was able to write my greeting cards over a pinot in the pub as I have so much organisation before I take a little break away from reviewing.  Then I was able to go and meet with me Beez (who was late! Haha!). It was great to be back at the Norwich Theatre Royal to see the National Theatre’s touring production of Curious Incident. I am not going to give the story away; it’s not fair for anyone who hasn’t seen it. It’s based on the best-selling novel by Mark Haddon and transformed into what I call the best play ever, by Simon Stephens. So that is all your getting on the background to Curious Incident, except that it won loads of Olivier’s, I think there may be a ‘most ever won by a play’ somewhere in the amount awards it has won. I first saw the play back in September 2015 at the Norwich Theatre Royal – where I had to go alone. OMG! It is so much better second time round. You can see my original review by clicking on the following link: 
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 16^th 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.