A staggering portrayal of a struggle with life
THIS show is one with so much power that I felt exhausted leaving — the pace and intensity draw you in so much that you feel like you are a central part of it.
Based on Mark Haddon’s best-selling novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time tells the story of 15-yearold Christopher, who though brilliant in an academic sense, struggles with everyday emotions and interactions.
He hates being touched, doesn’t trust strangers and can’t get his head around metaphors — why on earth would someone keep a skeleton in a closet?
None of this has particularly adversely affected his life in any way — until he finds his neighbour’s dog Wellington dead, brutally pierced with a garden fork.
His desire to turn detective and solve
The Curious Incident of the Dog in The Night-Time
Until tomorrow, Bord Gais Energy Theatre Verdict: Intensely brilliant ★★★★☆
the mystery forces him to face his fears head-on and in doing so, he uncovers some very unsavoury truths about his own family life and, at a time when he’s also attempting to take his A-level maths exam early, the pressure has far-reaching consequences.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a stage role that demands so much of the lead character. The level of dialogue required from Christopher — ever-present on the stage throughout — is staggering.
Maths equations, long monologues and intense rows all help the audience get inside Christopher’s mind, and David Breeds in the lead role never misses a beat. It is one of the most impressive stage performances I’ve ever seen.
He is helped, of course, by a wonderful supporting cast, with special nods going to Tom Peters as Christopher’s dad Ed, Rebecca Root as his teacher Siobhan and Sophie Stone as his mother Judy.
The latter performance is even more incredible when you learn that Sophie is deaf — indeed, she was the first deaf student to win a place at the drama school RADA.
The set is also impressive, utilising the floor and walls to help convey what’s going on in Christopher’s head. The ensemble cast are perfectly in tune with each other and the scenes in which they all interact on stage are impeccable.
The scenes as Christopher tries to make his way to London via train are particularly intense and the set and lighting combine superbly.
But for me, this show was all about David Breeds. His tics, facial expressions, hand gestures — everything about his presence is tautly wound and depicts brilliantly the world of minefields that autistic people face.
His performance alone is worth the entrance fee, but the rest is a good bonus.
Also, if you’re a maths nerd like me, make sure you wait until the very end.