The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – the award winning play on tour
When reading the book I couldn’t understand how anyone could hope to lift the complex issues and unique viewpoint from the page to the stage in a way that would feel intimate. The physical interpretation of the main character’s internal voice would surely be dry and uninspiring. So I thought. The reality was beyond what I could have imagined. It was fantastic.
The opening scene was astonishing. We were launched into Christopher’s complex world from the very start in a way that showed understanding and empathy. A combination of strobe lighting, inspired staging and fluid, dance-like movements all combined perfectly with the dialogue…and I was absorbed.
The writer and director got around the issue of viewpoint by delivering excerpts of the book as Siobhan, Christopher’s mentor, reading it aloud in class. This contrasted nicely with actors performing the story and helped convey Christopher’s psychology alongside the plot.
The actors were sensational and the final scene of the first half brought me to tears in a way the book had not. This scene depicted Christopher’s father’s struggle. His love and helplessness were desperately raw and accessible. Christopher’s father is only present in the book through the eyes (or pen) of Christopher himself. This detaches the reader from him but, in the play, the father was unavoidably present. He was much more ‘real’ with feelings that I could so easily relate to.
The only gripe I’ve got is regarding the moment that Christopher used a cash machine, presumably for the first time in his life. The actor who voiced the cash machine sexualised the interaction in a way I felt jarred with the whole tone of the play: ‘insert card’. It seemed gratuitous and titillating for no real purpose as Christopher never expresses any kind of sexual desire or lustful feelings. In fact, his references to other people ‘doing sex’ are detached and simplistic. As the story is ultimately from his point of view and his psychology, the sexualisation felt forced and unnatural. Crowbarred comic relief in an otherwise stressful act.
My husband thought differently. His reading was that Christopher could relate to computers much more easily than with other humans and their emotions. To him, the cash machine may have felt new, exciting and, indeed, sexy. I’m sceptical, but you should decide for yourself.
Ultimately this play was totally deserving of all praise it receives. The acting, set, lighting and choreography were extraordinary and worked to draw the audience into Christopher’s world. Fans of the book will be pleased at how closely the stage production matches the details.
If you get the opportunity to see The Curious Incident… do not hesitate to book a seat. You will leave the theatre drained and pensive, thrilled and exhilarated. I should have given the creative team more credit at the start and had more faith in their interpretation.
Thank goodness it’s gone on tour – none of us have an excuse to miss out.
Images: www.nationaltheatre.org.uk (23/07/15)
www.curiousonstage.com (23/07/15)
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