The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time at the Aylesbury Waterside Review
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury
7-11 February 2017
Reviewed by Tricia Shaw
Wow! This was an absolutely fantastic performance of a very thought provoking play. Never having read the book I was unsure what to expect. All I knew was that it was based on a story about an autistic child accused of killing a dog. The play however is about so much more: family life, bravery, travel and of course maths amongst other themes. It is based on the novel by Mark Haddon and adapted for The National Theatre by Simon Stephens.
On arrival in the theatre the set seemed very basic and plane apart from the dead dog centre stage. How wrong was this initial interpretation? It soon became apparent that the set had been designed in such an incredibly clever way that its versatility enabled the play to flow seamlessly; no need for scenery changes and props were readily available in the various cupboards. Words simply cannot do justice to the amazing lighting effects and computer graphics that captivated my attention and imagination from start to finish. The sound effects and background music added perfectly to the already 5 star production. Without giving too much away, I was especially impressed with the train track and the effects during the scenes in the railway stations.
Perhaps not thought of as a comedy, there were still plenty of opportunities to smile and laugh throughout. Equally I could appreciate the frustrations felt by both Christopher Boone and his parents due to the way Christopher understands and reacts to the world. The play opens your eyes to how we as a society misunderstand and consequentially how we treat people who do not conform to what is regarded as normal behaviour.
All the actors played their parts perfectly and it is difficult to single out any one of them as a favourite. Nonetheless, the very realistic interpretation of Christopher Boone by Scott Reid struck a chord with me. Additionally, through her extremely clear diction Lucianne McEvoy conveyed her important role in Christopher’s life as the very patient and understanding teacher, Siobhan.
Such an amazing piece to watch it really is a must see if you get the opportunity. I cannot wait to read the book now. It is suggested that it is suitable for age 11+; my only word of warning is that there is some strong language used particularly at the beginning but also sporadically throughout.
This performance took place at The Waterside Theatre, which is a beautiful modern theatre in the heart of Aylesbury. The facilities were clean and well maintained and the staff, as always, were friendly and helpful. Parking is easy to find, although you would be advised to arrive early to find a space in the multi-storey theatre car park above Waitrose. The play will continue to run in Aylesbury until 11th February 2017.
The UK and Ireland tour continues in Edinburgh and Leeds before heading back down to the South of England with performances following in various locations across the countries before finally coming back to this area with performances in Milton Keynes in September. For more information on dates and venues see the website www.curiousonstage.com/tour.
It is also still playing at the Gielgud Theatre in London’s West End until 3rd June 2017. www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/the-curious-incident-of-the-dog-in-the-night-time
I would rate is 5 stars (although if I could give this more stars I would give, at least 8!)
Rating: 5/5 
Tickets cost from £19.90 to £42.40 (plus £2.85 transaction fee).
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time is at the Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury until 11 February 2017. For more information or to book tickets click here or call the box office on 0844 871 7607.
Waterside Theatre, Exchange Street, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP20 1UG | 0844 871 7607
