*****
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Tue 2 May
This week has seen the arrival of the National Theatre’s adaptation of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff. Based on Mark Haddon’s award-winning novel, Simon Stephens’s adaptation of Curious Incident explores the life of Christopher Boone (Scott Reid), a 15-year-old mathematical genius from Swindon who sees the world in an enchantingly different light to those around him.
The opening scene in which Christopher finds Mr Wellington, his neighbour’s dog, dead on the lawn near his house with a garden fork through its body, acts as the catalyst for the play. Christopher, highly disturbed by the dog’s death, decides to lead his own investigation into the murder and writes a book as a way of documenting his findings. However, as the play unravels, his book, which is narrated by his teacher and confidante, Siobhan (Lucianne McEvoy), provides an ever growing insight into Christopher’s personal life, his relationships with others and the magical workings of his mind.
Interestingly, despite his differences being made clear, Christopher’s mental health isn’t labelled at any point throughout Curious Incident. The choice not to categorise his condition allows the audience to have their own unique perception of Christopher based on his quirks and eccentricities, many of which we can recognise in ourselves or those around us. This technique, along with Marianne Elliott’s exquisite direction, means that, instead of looking at Christopher as an outsider, we are able to see, feel and understand the complications of Christopher’s life through his own eyes.
From the electrifying sound and lighting to the fluid movements between characters, each element of Curious Incident aids in creating a multi-sensory performance which lands you in the centre of the play. One of the most impacting scenes involves Christopher traveling through London in search of his mother. The harsh announcements, bold signs and frantic people of Paddington station leave the audience overwhelmed. It is during such scenes, including the painfully nail biting search to find Christopher’s pet rat on the tracks of the underground, where the audience connect most with Christopher and we begin to truly understand his daily struggles and difficulties in understanding people.
Despite the dark undertones, including themes of death and deceit, Curious Incident succeeds in casting a positive light on the topic of mental health. Christopher’s charmingly comical outlook adds a humorous aspect to the play whilst his relationships, especially that with Siobhan, create a heartwarming authenticity that truly resonates with the audience.
Ultimately, what makes Curious Incident so powerful is the way in which it breakdowns the barriers of mental health. Without division or categories we see Christopher for who he truly is, not defined by a label but by his wonderfully unique personality and understanding of the world. It is this notion of individuality which makes Curious Incident so beautifully refreshing and, as we become enchanted by Christopher’s differences, we begin to appreciate how we, too, are brilliantly unique.
words HOLLY MORGAN
Info: available here.