Show: The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time
Location: Empire Theatre, Liverpool
Date: Tuesday March 22 2022
Time: 19:30
Running Time: 150 Minutes
Age Rating: 11+
Performers: David Breeds, Connor Curren, Rebecca Root, Tom Peters, Kate Kordel & Sophie Stone
Production Company: The National Theatre
Writer: Mark Haddon
Director: Marianne Elliott
It’s nearly twenty years since the release of Mark Haddon’s book, and a decade on from its National Theatre debut. Now, The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time returns to captivate new audiences. It brings expert storytelling and mastery of lighting and sound. And a plot which has audiences laughing one minute, clutching at their hearts the next, but consistently rooting for Christopher.
This is our review of The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time at Liverpool’s Empire Theatre this year. So, let’s take a look at The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time!
Synopsis Of The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time
The play starts by throwing us headfirst into a newly-found crime scene: fifteen-year-old Christopher Boone reeling over the body of his neighbour Mrs Shears’ dog Wellington, a garden fork impaling the latter. We find out that Christopher lives with his father and pet rat Toby, and that his mother had passed away two years prior. He possesses a gift in mathematics but struggles in social situations and it is heavily implied that Christopher has autism.
Eager to find out who committed the crime, and against his father’s wishes to stay out of others’ business “because I don’t always do what I am told”, he sets out, armed with notepad and pen, to find out what his neighbours know, all the while writing his story down, which is the story we listen to. Along the way, Christopher meets the elderly Mrs Alexander, whose revelation that Christopher’s mother is not dead but instead left after feeling that her son would be better off without her serves as one of the play’s Pandora’s Box moments. This, along with Christopher’s discovery of both why his mother left and the culprit of Wellington’s death sets in motion a new mission for the teen to find and live with his mother.
Journey
A treacherous journey from his home of Swindon to London to find his mother ensues. And the subject matter darkens, which the audience both feels and experiences. Christopher, however, overcomes this. He reunites with his mother, who has heartbreakingly written to him regularly since her departure but whose letters were hidden by his father. He also helps his father to overcome past pain, and through him, the family begin to lay the foundations for a way to move on from past hurt.
The play’s emergence from the darkness of family trauma is truly felt when Christopher sits his maths A level. By this point, after everything that he has been through, you can feel yourself alongside the rest of the audience sitting bolt upright, willing with everything we have for him to achieve the sacred A* result. Christopher finishes in triumph, thus answering our prayers.
Analysis Of The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time
There are a lot of elements that make this play so captivating. But perhaps unsurprisingly to those who have watched it, it is the lighting and sound which struck me. Both of these are intertwined, indeed choreographed in a way that ensures that the difficulties Christopher encounters are captured accurately and indeed perfectly. As an audience, we join Christopher through all of his experiences. In one particularly beautiful scene, we watch a dream sequence in which Christopher floats through space imagining himself as an astronaut, held up by fellow cast members.
And then of course we have the character of Siobhan. She is Christopher’s teacher and one of the only figures that he trusts. And she actually reads out a lot of the story, written by Christopher, to us. She is a calming presence. Indeed, she appears as Christopher’s internal voice of reason. Not to mention a source of unwavering guidance throughout the play and when he needs it most. She also broke the fourth wall on several occasions, enthralling the audience as we became part of the Curious world. It becomes obvious very quickly that once the spotlight finds her, good things are coming.
Sadness
The story is witty even through the sadness. It shows that humour is a great source of relief when times prove tough. Simon Stephens, who adapted the book, highlighted that “A play which starts with a boy finding the bravery to leave his cul-de-sac in Swindon has ended taking him all over the world.” This is really brought home with Christopher’s last lines which are to Siobhan. Those lines are about seeking reassurance that he can do anything. Siobhan doesn’t answer but it is obvious – through his story, Christopher has proven that the answer is “yes”. Through Marianne Elliott and the whole team, Christopher’s story continues to delight audiences and instil hope into us all.
Summary Of The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time
The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time is a fantastic production and is definitely worth watching. Be sure to wait around at the end of the show for a special encore from Christopher himself. It’s must-see!
Furthermore, The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time continues to keep the conversation of representation and diversity very much alive. That happens via numerous actions such as collaborating with neurodiverse and autistic advisors and consultants. So, the play and everyone involved proves the power of theatre to enthral, educate and empower.
Notes
Target Audience: 11+
Content: Some strong language, scenes of complete darkness, scenes of strobe lighting, smoke and haze effects, high-intensity lighting, sound and white noise, some scenes that people may find distressing.
Recommendation? Yes
