It's A* all the way for The Talisman's Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time. Adapted by Simon Stephens. Based on the novel by Mark Haddon. At The Talisman Theatre, Kenilworth from 28 September to 3 October. Directed by Sharon Sully.
Review by Ann Evans
The story of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time revolves around 15-year-old Christopher Boone played brilliantly by Will Shelton. Actually, Christopher would point out that his age is actually 15 years, 3 months and 3 days. The accuracy of everything in his life matters – really matters. You ask a question and you’ll get a straight answer from him. And it will be a truthful answer whether you like it or not. Christopher doesn’t tell lies; he can’t tell lies.
Christopher sees the world in a very unique way and struggles to cope with things that most of us take for granted. He’s overwhelmed by crowds, nervous of people he doesn’t know, he can’t cope with noise and arguments, he doesn’t make small talk, he can’t bear to be touched not even by his parents. Without doubt, he’s a difficult child and one his parents have struggled to understand and cope with. But ask him the most complicated maths question or anything about the universe and he’ll have an accurate and exact answer in moments.
Numbers and facts are important to him. He has an incredible brain although most people don’t see beyond the outer shell of an awkward teenager of seemingly lower intelligence. In fact his mathematical brain is genius, yet he’ll scream if he’s touched, have a melt down like a two-year-old when the unexpected happens; and cries so hard he makes himself sick.
Christopher sees life in a totally different way to most people, and this play fabulously portrayed with humour, music, sound effects, simple but effective scenery and background projections is a real eye opener. First time Director Sharon Sully takes us right into the extraordinary mind and emotions of someone – as she puts it: “experiencing life through a different lens.”
This is a powerful story as it is, but the Talisman cast and crew – and of course the Director’s vision takes this production to a new level. The story opens as Christopher finds his neighbour’s dog, Wellington lying dead - killed with a pitchfork. At first, he gets the blame but when cleared, he sets about trying to find out who did it.
Christopher lives with his father, Ed Boone, a man struggling to bring up his teenage son and whose temper often gets the better of him. Ed is excellently portrayed by Paul Sully. Christopher’s mother, Judy is played by Jo Banbury. As a struggling young mum she had been so overwhelmed by life, she had looked beyond the marital home for comfort and support. When she left her husband and son, Ed found the easiest thing to do was tell Christopher that his mother had died.
Probably the most supportive person in Chrisopher’s life is Siobhan, his teacher, played with a gentle understanding by Jane Bracey. Throughout the play Siobhan remains on stage, reading Christopher’s life story that he’d written in an exercise book. Sometimes she reads aloud, sometimes she’s talking to Christopher, giving him advice, supporting him, recognising the unique and exceptional qualities the boy possesses.
Despite him only just 15 and attending a special school, she knows he’s ready to sit his A-Level in Maths. Christopher is excited by this and predicts that he will get an A*. He wants to be an astronaut or a scientist. Siobhan is probably the only person who sees that potential in him. The struggle is dealing with the everyday world.
Christopher’s quest to find out who killed the dog, so they can be punished, turns into something far more than a simple mystery. He discovers his own courageousness, his family and his self-belief.
This is a wonderful story of love, courage and self-discovery, and the Talisman team take it to fabulously entertaining heights with the ensemble creating the world that Christopher sees – the noise, the confusion, the chaos. They enable us to see things as Christopher sees them – everyday things such as buying a train ticket, getting on the underground, using a cash machine – a brilliantly funny moment incidentally – the cast bring it all to life.
The play is full of humour as well as heartfelt incidents. The movement and choreography is absolutely precise and fabulous to watch; the sound effects and special effects are equally as brilliant especially at times when Christopher is overwhelmed by the chaos all around him.
The acting is superb, especially the performance by Will Shelton as Christopher – absolute brilliance! And I think many people in the audience went home with a far better understanding of how others might see the world around them.
Discover more: https://talismantheatre.co.uk/
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