PUBLISHED April 2nd, 2018 06:00 am | UPDATED July 25th, 2024 02:57 pm
The National Theatre’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a lengthy play, with a runtime of nearly three hours. But if you can handle that, you are in for a spectacular show. Based on the bestselling 2003 mystery novel, to see Mark Haddon’s story come to life on stage is, suffice to say, a nostalgic delight for many in the audience.
In 2012, English playwright Simon Stephens and director Marianne Elliott premiered the adaptation at the National Theatre, and has since gone on to win five Tonys, seven Oliviers – including Best Play, Best Design, and Best Director. The story revolves around fifteen-year-old Christopher Boone with an extraordinary brain, who is exceptional at math but ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. Today, he would have been diagnosed with Asperger syndrome. But Asperger’s is a term that’s never seen in the book or the play – rather, Christopher refers to himself as ‘someone who has Behavourial Problems’.
In the Singapore run (till 8 April National Theatre’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is jointly presented by Singapore Repertory Theatre and Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay), Christopher is played by Sam Newton, a young actor whose production credits include A Serious Case of the F*ckits and The Heresy of Love. It surprises me to hear that The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is his professional theatre debut, because the young man is outstanding. While his fellow students in the special needs school are there because of epilepsy or learning difficulties, Christopher is there for his ‘poor’ ability to interact with the world. Newton makes strange sounds, blocks his ears when things get too overwhelming, lashes out at people when they try to touch him, wanders off on his own, and at one point, appears to go into some sort of epileptic seizure, provoked by a scandalous family revelation.
His co-actors are equally impressive. Julie Hale, as Siobhan, jumps between competent narrator and Christopher’s wise teacher, not hesitating to break the fourth wall when it matters. In a way, she serves as his inner voice and guiding light during his family conflict. David Michaels plays a frantic Ed, successfully navigating a moody, anxious father with a tendency to flare up. There’s also Emma Beattie (winner of the 1998 Lilian Baylis Award), the nervous wreck of a mom who quickly wins the audience with her raspy voice and alluring presence.
Still, it is difficult to imagine The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time without its stunning set and lighting design – a large ‘mind cube’ that wouldn’t look out of place in a video game. From intense flashing lights and music as loud as a passing plane, it suggests that the entire show was just in Christopher’s head. The walls and floors are essentially multi-functional screens, serving to represent his thoughts and how he experienced things. There are moments of total blackout and moments of sensorial overload, combining brilliant storytelling and spectacle.
Without doubt, Stephens’ show also succeeds because it is faithful to Haddon’s novel. It is considered a national favourite in England and in Singapore, and is used as a required literature text in many schools. It is a story that resonates for its bravery – the bravery of kids facing the world, the bravery of parents raising their children while maintaining their sanity. When fans of the book see the relationship between Christopher and his family, his neighbours, and his teacher Siobhan, they are reminded of the magic that Haddon created years ago. And as Newton asks at the end of the show, “Does that mean I can do anything?”.
National Theatre’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is running from 29 March to 8 April 2018, and is jointly presented by Singapore Repertory Theatre and Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay. Tickets are priced from $48 to $138, available via SISTIC.