The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time staged adaptation is based on the novel by Mark Haddon and has been adapted by Simon Stephens.
This staged version has switched the lead role of Chris Boone from a male lead role to female. In this production, Alex Keenan plays the role of Chris. After finding her neighbours dog, Wellington murdered in its garden, Chris took on the role of detective to find out who the culprit was. However, while trying to solve this heinous crime, Chris discovers a lot of uncomfortable secrets, leaving her confused about who she can trust.
Chris is a mathematics genius and understands numbers and equations with ease. It’s human beings that she struggles with and everyday chaos. Chris is neurodivergent and life needs to be structured and relatively calm for her to function relatively stress free. However, life can’t be predicted to go that way, and her life is more complicated by her parents.
Joe McFadden plays Ed and Charlie Brooks Judy in the roles of Chris’ estranged parents. Judy leaves Ed as the pressure of looking after Chris has become overwhelming, and she doesn’t feel that staying was in her daughters best interest.
One thing this production highlights is the lack of support families like Chris’s can be given. The world is chaotic and hard to navigate at times for children and parents alike in these situations.
However, one thing I found myself becoming frustrated about was the adults putting so many of “their” issues onto Chris, who clearly hasn’t the capacity to understand fully what they are talking about and shouldn’t be expected to carry the burdens of the adults. It isn’t a comfortable play to watch at times and echoes real life through the honest, unfiltered lense of Chris, which is refreshing.
The large ensemble cast play multiple roles throughout and also highlights the confusion and frustration that is taking place inside of Chris’s mind and become very distracting and annoying at times, which serves the purpose of the audience experiencing life through her eyes.
A special mention has to Eleanor Bull’s design, Laura Deward (lighting), and the video work by Hayley Egan who who brings the visual and sounds experienced by Chris to life and at times attacks all of your senses at once.
Keenan’s character and performance throughout is superb. However, I wasn’t convinced by some of the other characters’ believability and felt they lacked conviction at times.
For more information about The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and future productions at Woking Theatre, please use the link below.
Three and a half Stars.
Photo credit Johan Persson.
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