Fan Reviews
(All reviews contain spoilers, so don’t read if you intend to go to the play and don’t want to know anything beforehand. 🙂 )
by Emily, posted on 29 August 2012
The most curious aspect of this play was not what happened to the dog in the night-time (you find that out halfway through). No, what was truly curious about this play was how it presented the treatment of people with what Christopher terms ‘Behavioural Problems’. This play is from the perspective of a teenager with Aspergers Syndrome and gives the audience a chance to see how such mental disabilities affect not only the person, but all those around them. From the overbearing father who shows the strain through physical violence, to the absent mother who struggles with depression, ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’ is drowning in issues that are silent in our society.
It was not a play about Christopher, but a play about everyone around Christopher; his teachers, his parents, his neighbours and even complete strangers. In order to effectively show these reactions, a strong ensemble cast was needed and the play without a doubt succeeded in this.
Luke Treadaway as Christopher, the young man with Aspergers, was a delight to watch. His grasp of the social disorder was moving and his performance was a complete juxtaposition; his rendition of a lack of emotional understanding was in itself incredibly emotional. He truly encompassed the character of Christopher. It must have been incredibly difficult to portray something that you can’t understand, but I thought he pulled it off with a panache and class that older and more veteran actors would not have been able to emulate.
Paul Ritter as the father was another moving performance. I found myself constantly battling over whether to empathise with the father or not and this, I feel, gives credit to Paul’s characterisation. The father’s fits of anger at Christopher were heartbreaking and I found it incredibly hard to watch as you are fully aware that Christopher just doesn’t understand what is happening. However, through other characters, particularly the mother, we become aware that the father has actually been an anchor for the young Christopher and, at the end of the play, it was difficult to stay mad with his present to Christopher of a puppy. That’s right, a real live puppy on stage. A very cute touch that had the entire audience cooing and asking whether the puppy had a home to go to (including Nicola herself).
Una Stubbs also deserves a mention here as the friendly neighbour who tries to befriend Christopher during his investigation into the death of Wellington, the dog. Though she didn’t get a lot of time on stage, her moments with Christopher were touching and it was nice to see someone trying to break down Christopher’s social barriers and get to know him and treat him like a real human being, while the other characters tended to mollycoddle him too much, telling him he shouldn’t be out or investigating.
Finally, after all this, I come to Nicola Walker whose performance was once again outstanding, though I’m sure it comes to no-ones surprise who is reading this. Time and time again, Nicola’s portrayal manages to emotionally bewilder me. In Curious Incident, I wanted so badly to dislike the mother for abandoning Christopher, for running off and leaving him. However, Nicola’s characterisation, as usual, peels away so many layers that you find yourself unable to condemn her. At one point, she almost brought me to tears as she explained to Christopher (through reading a letter she had written aloud) what happened and why she left. The desperation, the anger and the anguish, so perfectly presented just in the way Nicola said her lines, created an incredibly moving moment where she admitted that she ran because she just couldn’t handle it.
Another touching moment for me came when Christopher was reliving a prominent memory of his mother. This moment involved Nicola on the shoulders of a few people and being revolved in mid-air, going backwards over them and landing crouched on the floor. I asked her afterwards how on earth she managed to do that in front of so many people and she replied with a smile that actually she did nothing, she just relied on the people below her to flip her. However, what made me remember this moment of the play above others wasn’t the backwards somersault but how natural the scene was between Luke and Nicola. It was like watching a real memory. It wasn’t the perfect beach moment, it was just the mother trying to get her son into the sea with her. It was entirely realistic and Nicola and Luke in this moment appeared so natural that I found myself watching Christopher and Judy, not the actors.
As the play progresses, Christopher runs away to meet his mother at her house (which involves a rather light-hearted but touching train journey performed with little props and such creativity). Judy is overwhelmed to see her son and the scenes between Nicola and Luke are, yet again, heartbreaking to watch. The audience look on as once again Judy struggles with Christopher’s disability (such as his reaction to his altered A-level plans and her attempts to hug him), but instead of running, we see the mother start to fight for her son.
Another moment to briefly pick out where Nicola truly shines is when Judy fights with the father, Ed, after being told by Christopher that he thought she was dead. Nicola once again shows her versatility as an actress, managing to hit all extremes of emotion within very few scenes.
A rather amusing comment from Nicola afterwards brings me to a final moment to mention. There were a lot of scenes that involved synchronised walking which Nicola was part of. She managed to match the rhythm of everyone else and it was a solid performance, though she admitted afterwards that during rehearsal she was always the one that was out of sync and everyone else seemed to fall into the rhythm so much more easily than she did.
There is so much more to say about this play, but I fear that it would then go on for pages and pages. I will therefore keep this conclusion short and simple. ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’ was an utter delight to watch. It was incredibly light-hearted at times, yet gave the audience a deeper, more serious look into how mental disorders such as autism affect everyone. I feel that Simon Stephens struck a perfect balance in his adaptation and I cannot give the play higher recommendations. If you go to watch this play just for Nicola, you will come out with so much more, not least the book itself.
Also, something to remember: stay seated after the curtain call.
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To my fellow Virginian, you capture all the essentials. It is a play and book for everyone. I too have seen all you describe in the classroom and it is appropriate love, not violence that makes connections with the students. They can learn and interact with general education peers given the chance unfortunately too often that doesn’t happen. I’m proud my school promotes as much interaction as possible. The R word rarely used. I’ve had to calm students when upset. Sometimes they want to make me feel better if I say I’m having a bad day. Sometimes it’s to see how much they’ve learned to interact. I love teaching Special Education. To me they try the hardest to do their best. Families struggle, divorce happens. You have captured it all in your review and don’t give up working with special education students. Good teachers, aides and paras are needed. These are the students who need the best. Re Sandy, I’d forgotten the dog’s name and can see the appropriateness of it and how it would bring such a laugh. Stay safe, I’m in the Mnts. but in the wedge where we’re only getting a bit of wind and light snow.
[Ed : this comment refers to Beatrice’s review of the NT Live screening in Washington DC.
Dee wrote a Close Encounters report for us which you can read HERE.]
Dee,
Thank you for your kind remarks. I admire special ed teachers who are so dedicated to their students. It can often be hard for them to deal with the children’s meltdowns (over the years I have met quite a few teachers who were bitten or hit by their students), but it is also a very rewarding profession. As you noted, special needs children are compassionate and surprise their teachers by their creativity and unusual skills. I enjoyed The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time very much. The play did not shield the audience from the realities of the autism spectrum and the actors were fabulous in this very emotional play. I just have to convince my husband to see a live performance of the play, if the same cast is transferred to the West End next March.
I hope that you are not snowed in. We were lucky in Northern Virginia. I would have been very disappointed if the NT live performance had been cancelled.
I braved the storm and was there. I did tell a few people sitting near me to wait to watch Luke solve the math question. Yes the biggest laugh was ‘Sandy’. I found myself laughing at times when I understood the ‘You have to live in England to get this joke’ and being either among the few or only one chuckling.
[Ed : this comment refers to Beatrice’s review of the NT Live screening in Washington DC.]
Excellent review capturing the emotion of the evening. Although I only saw it twice I wish I could have seen the NT Live but maybe another play at another time. Anyway, the review was spot on and meeting Nicola Walker is a fabulous experience.
[Ed : This comment refers to Emily’s report on the final performance of the play at the Cottesloe on 27.10.2012.]
Lucy,
Thank you for your interesting comments. What a timely report! I just worked today in a class with severe autistic children who were nonverbal and who like Christopher became violent out of frustration. However, I am always impressed by the way most of those children can attentively watch plays or concerts performed by the other students of their schools. It is also very touching to see the vibrant and spontaneous reactions of the children to the plays. Surprisingly, they often behave better than their regular classmates.
You have to admire the National Theatre for organizing a relaxed performance, which I hope will be the first of many. I was a bit concerned by the length of the play, but the NT wisely allowed sensory overwhelmed spectators to come and go.
I hope that Nicola gets her wish for her sake and that of her fans.
Dear Editor,
Mr. Grumpy failed not only to notice the irony of his remarks in the context of a play about “autism” but also to realize that he was insulting the fans of one of the main actors of The Curious Incident. Unlike Mr. Grumpy, the NT is so open-minded that it does not hesitate to take the risk to offer the joy of theatre to a special audience.
I saw the film version of this play in Christchurch and have not been able to stop thinking about it since! The acting was absolutely fantastic and I wish I could have seen the play live at the National Theatre. However, the National Theatre Live is a wonderful thing as it transports audience around the world into their magnificent productions. Will be on the lookout for more!
Interesting to read those articles in the NZ and Perth newspapers, it brings home the global reach of NT Live! I wonder which half of the split Luke Treadaway was in during rehearsals – those who hated or loved maths!
Any one whose been to the show care to (a) write a review of the play for us and/or (b) share your photo with Nicola and let us put it up on the We Met Nicola! wall? Please send your contributions to us via Email.
I would love to write a review for the play that I pretty much haven’t stopped thinking about since watching it, and I wish I had read your post a day earlier Editor, but I’m away for the next two weeks, gutted!
I’m yet to actually meet NW as yet, so can’t help there either… Booo!!
There’s no time limit on submitting fan reviews. Any time you’re ready, George, just email your comments through. 😀
I’m going to see the play on the 24th of October which will be nearly the end but I can’t wait to see Nicola Walker in real, not in front of a tv screen! Promise, I’ll try to post a review even if I guess a lot of other fans will have done it by then! I don’t know if there are other French fans on this site but I’m sure I’m not the only one!
All contributions, long or short, submitted at any time, will be gratefully received. 😀
Excellent in every respect. Nicola is brilliant as always. The production is genius.
Anyone going to see the play is in for a real treat.
Really enjoyed the play, and great to see such positive press reviews – I read the one in the London Evening Standard on the train home and had a flashback to the play when 2 policemen suddenly appeared in my carriage… no sign of Christopher though!
I enjoyed the interviews with Marianne Elliot and Simon Stephens, both gave interesting insights on how the play’s taking shape. Also found this interview with Simon Stephens on what it’s like seeing one of his plays performed. Not long to go now!
Have my ticket for Aug 23 evening, can’t wait to see play, will have to take 5 days off work, although just had 10 wks off for summer break, but it seems rare that Nicola Walker does a summer play, so didn’t want to miss golden opportunity. Of course I really want to see the play given that I made my Brit Lit students read it last year. Interesting how things come together. Loved book, admire NW, and both now together in one venue. Adaptation of book should be interesting. I think I am grieving loss of Spooks, but recognize difference between roles and actors, and in that picture she looks so tiny. Would love to be her size. Oddly enough not as excited about Peter Firth new roles, guess I’m fickle.
This is nothing to do with the play but wasn’t sure where else to post it!
I wonder if Nicola was amongst the people on the NT balconies yesterday to see the River Pageant – she must have had a great view if so as Joey the horse seemed to capture the attention of the whole royal party eliciting a few waves!
Wish I’d been there, if only the Jubilee and Olympics had fallen on different years!
Also, just seen that Time Out Theatre’s included The Curious Incident at No. 6 in its list of 10 top theatre shows in London this season – so this play definitely seems to be going places!
Well, look at that? There is a Santa Claus! Thank for the NT Live info. My wish came true! Although it is not listed on their webpage yet. Do you have any indication of what the actual transmission date will be? Sometimes there is a bit of a lag but usually not much of one for my venue. The NT Live page ends with Timon if Athens on 1 Nov.
No details yet re actual transmission dates but will post here as soon as we know. Wish the NT would put these NT Live events on DVD for sale …
Good idea. I’d buy several of them. However, I have no idea what the distribution or copyright the legalities might be.
You can download plays from Digital Theatre to keep and watch on your computer. Surely its only a matter of time before the NT is able to hammer out similar deals with its own productions for some kind of a download service. The NT Live events are great, but there are still a whole lot of countries who do not currently participate in this programme. Even for those countries with participating cinemas, the show times are quite limited. Still, I’m soooo super excited for Nicola that she’s been cast in this wonderful project!
As a point of note, I just phoned the NT box office as I’ve been allocated a ticket on Level 2 next to one of the ‘pillars’ as marked on the Theatremonkey seating plan – only to be assured there are no pillars in the Cottesloe (phew!) So one less thing to worry about!
How frustrating….!
I have ‘Advance Membership’ for the NT, every other play except for this one has its advance ticket sales open!! Come on NT, let me buy some tickets….!
Tickets…… Done!!
Well done you!
Just looked at the play’s page on the NT site and see you were right about casting, Nicola’s to play Christopher’s mother. I wonder how they’ll adapt it for stage, since if they follow the book chronologically she’ll only feature in the latter stages (except maybe for flashbacks). Perhaps those are other details they haven’t finalised yet!
Part of the charm of the book is that it takes you inside Christopher’s head and shows you his version of the world. Obviously the play can’t be just a monologue by Christopher, so the other characters will have to be given more to say and do, on stage. But if they did that, the play might end up being very different from the book. Its too early to say whether that might be a good thing or a bad thing. I’m sure there is a version of a script for the play somewhere, but until they start rehearsals, cast & crew won’t know what will work and what won’t. Simon Stephens is an award winning playwright, so one lives in hope. If his adaptation of the play works, maybe Hollywood will finally figure out how to transfer the book to the big screen.
Did you notice the “Movement Directors” and “Fight Director” amongst the production crew? With the Cottesloe being the smallest of the three NT theaters, this should prove an interesting experience to any one sitting near the front of the stage 😀
Yes, I thought it said ‘Flight Director’ first which really confused me!
Interesting too to note that Christopher’s father will be played by one of the 2 ‘ensemble’ cast members which perhaps suggests less emphasis on the front end of the story and more on Christopher’s London trip onwards… and hence more stage time for Nicola’s part?
I have just heard from the NT, advance booking for members will be open for the next season from 10th April, so I’m guessing it will be a week after that for normal booking. Good luck everyone!!
For National Theatre members who are on the Supporting Cast tier, booking opens on 2 April 2012. 🙂
It’s a bit weird as the NT brochure says public booking for The Curious Incident opens on Friday 4 May which is a fair bit later than for the other plays… any ideas why?
Only just found out from the NT – see our correction to the booking dates above for explanation. Its worrying that details about the play are still so fluid and sketchy. This means that cast and crew haven’t quite finalize how they want to stage the play. Fans thinking of attending the preview shows should take care. Preview shows sometimes get cancelled if the Company has not tweaked the play to its own satisfaction.
I really hope this play starts before July 24 I have to be back teaching on Aug. 5. Having taught this book, and finally having the funds to visit London I really want to see the play and of course Nicola Walker no matter the role she plays. Any chance play will start before July 24. Middle of July would be fine.
Hi Dee,
The play is part of the National Theatre ‘Olympic Festival’ programme. The festival starts on 21st June, and the play from July, so I would have thought the play will be in its second or even third week by your date. I hope so anyway… I have Olympic tickets and I am looking to combine the two trips!
I reckon that renting a flat in London for 2-3 months is the only sure way to see everything you might want this summer, the list is almost endless… Thames Pageant, Olympics, Paralympics, Cutty Sark, Nicola’s play. A bit of a balancing act really!
Oh I wish renting was an option for this seasons festivities!!!
I’m afraid I was speaking hypothetically too of course 🙁 London’s expensive at the best of times, let alone in Jubilee and Olympics year!
Brilliant idea, except that rents for London during this summer are horrendously high! My usual room at the inn costs 3 times higher than before!
A note to all…….
I have just been on the NT website and they have announced that tickets for the July to September season will be available from April…….
Woohoo, thanks for letting us know, George! 😀 Here’s the NT link, in case anyone’s interested.
Having now read the book I’m wondering if Nicola’s been cast as Siobhan, Christopher’s teaching assistant? The book’s written by Christopher in the first person which could be difficult to convey in a play, so one way round this would be to have the story relayed to the audience as Siobhan helps Christopher write the book. Which would be good as it’d mean that Nicola’s role was fairly central to the play.
I’m guessing Una Stubbs will be Mrs Alexander, and Luke Treadaway has to be Christopher – which will be a tough part to get right. It’s a clever, touching and insightful story, so it’s going to be interesting to see how they decide to adapt it to stage.
Siobhan is described in the book as having blonde hair, plus she didn’t have that big a part. Its an adaptation for the stage, so it won’t be completely faithful (though hopefully not in a bad way) to the book. My money is still on Nicola playing Christopher’s mother. 🙂
I don’t think the hair colour need rule Nicola out of playing Siobhan, I’m sure there’ll be bigger deviations from the book than that in the stage adaptation! I was suggesting Siobhan’s role may be given more emphasis in the play to assist with telling the story… we’ll have to wait and see!
Nah, I reckon Nicola’s in the “mum” phase of her career 😛 ! She’s playing one in both Inside Men and Antony & Cleopatra. We’ll know more if they release more casting info.
I disagree, each project is different – and besides I’m sure Nicola wouldn’t wish to be typecast. Either way, we know she’s got a part so that’s good news!
Wish I lived in the UK – I miss all the theatre things. 🙁
Great to hear Nicola has been cast in another stage role, congratulations to her! And at the NT too, so no cross-London tube journeys required either, even better! I’m sure I’m not the only fan who’ll be taking the opportunity to read this book before the summer, it’s one I’ve heard a lot about but never got round to reading.
It’ll be good to see Una Stubbs perform too, currently aka Mrs Hudson from Sherlock… perhaps she could speak to Mark Gatiss/Steven Moffat and see if Nicola could audition for a role in series 3 of Sherlock, that’d also be great!
A regular in Sherlock… what a diamond idea. Its another favourite BBC drama of mine!
Thanks for the info!
I live in hope that this will be “The One.” The production in which NW is cast that will be transmitted via NT Live. I keep telling myself that it’s only a matter of time.
Fingers (arms, legs, toes, eyes…) crossed…
I live in hope that this project will become available as one of the Digital Theatre’s downloads. But sadly, its doesn’t look like the NT is one of Digital Theatre’s theatre partners.
This is excellent news. Can Bonkers But Brilliant keep us all posted when the NT will have this on their website?! I know tickets for the NT can be like gold dust!
Of course, this is what we’re here for. The NT’s brochure for its next season should be out soon. 🙂