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Curious Incidents at the Criterion Theatre

Production Poster - Courtesy of the Criterion Theatre
Production Poster - Courtesy of the Criterion Theatre

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Coventry Criterion Theatre, Saturday 1 Feb – Saturday 8 Feb

Review by David Court


The novel of the same name by Mark Haddon was released to great acclaim in 2003 and was adapted for the theatre by British playwright Simon Stephens in 2012, premiering at the National Theatre. Now, Chris Ingall takes the reins, bringing it to Earlsdon’s Criterion Theatre for a week of performances.


At its core, it’s a simple tale – a teenage boy sets out to solve the mysterious murder of a neighbour’s dog. But this disturbing act is merely the catalyst for a series of twists and reveals, all centered around the play’s lead character, 15-year-old Christopher Boone, a neurodivergent teenager.

Outside the Theatre - Photo by David Court
Outside the Theatre - Photo by David Court

Boone’s condition is never explicitly mentioned in either the book or the play, but it’s assumed to be high-functioning autism. He’s astutely intelligent but struggles with social interactions and loathes physical contact. The book faced various criticisms at the time of its release, partly due to Haddon’s admission of doing little research on the subject, but it’s convincing enough here on stage.


Charlie Maline shines as Christopher, delivering a performance that feels nothing short of a small miracle, given he was brought in with only two weeks’ notice after lead actor Daniel Peckett had to pull out due to illness. He plays the likeable protagonist well—an awkward, stiff soul prone to verbose ramblings about whatever topics flutter through his cluttered mind. There’s a fine line to tread when portraying characters with mental illness, as performances can sometimes feel exaggerated or parody-like. Thankfully, Maline avoids this, delivering a convincing performance throughout.

Charlie Maline as Christopher - Photo courtesy of The Criterion Theatre
Charlie Maline as Christopher - Photo courtesy of The Criterion Theatre

Christopher’s investigations take him from the relatively safe confines of his neighbourhood into the wider world, and it’s here where the stage and sound design really shine. Public situations that many of us would take for granted—like buying a train ticket or travelling on the tube—are directed as if scenes from a horror movie, with overlapping sounds creating a cacophonous racket that mimics Christopher’s inability to drown out the noise of life.


As well as being a physical journey, it’s an emotional one—particularly one of self-discovery, as Christopher learns more about his own past while trying to navigate a confusing and uncertain future.

Anne Bevan as Siobhan and Charlie Maline as Christopher - Photo courtesy of The Criterion Theatre
Anne Bevan as Siobhan and Charlie Maline as Christopher - Photo courtesy of The Criterion Theatre

It might all sound particularly grim, but it’s not without its comedic moments—in which, importantly, we’re laughing at Christopher’s approaches to his skewed version of the world, never at him. A strong ensemble cast carries the narrative along nicely, with the unique element of always having them on stage. Their voices often represent Christopher’s inner turmoil and emotions. Anne Bevan and Lilian McGrath deliver strong performances as his teacher Siobhan and mother Lilian, adding depth and emotional warmth to a complex narrative that jumps through time, again reflecting Christopher’s scatterbrained approach to chronology.


A few stumbled lines and awkward pauses can be chalked up to opening night nerves and didn’t detract from an entertaining and emotional evening of theatre. It’s an ambitious piece, one that has been more than adequately given the respect it deserves.


Tickets are available from the Criterion Website https://criteriontheatre.co.uk/

 

 

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