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Showing posts with label Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Nighttime Broadway. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Nighttime Broadway. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Nighttime Broadway

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The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (play)



The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a play by Simon Stephens based on the novel of the same name by Mark Haddon. During its premiere run, the play tied the record for winning the most Olivier Awards (seven), including Best New Play at the 2013 ceremony (this record was surpassed by Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in 2017 with 9 wins).


The play premiered on 2 August 2012 in the Cottesloe Theatre at the Royal National Theatre in London before transferring to the Apollo Theatre in the West End on 12 March 2013. The production won 7 Olivier Awards in 2013 (including Best New Play), at the time equaling the record with Matilda the Musical in 2012, before both were surpassed by Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in 2017 with 9 awards. During a performance on 19 December 2013, the ceiling of the Apollo Theatre collapsed causing the production to close. It reopened on 9 July 2014 at the Gielgud Theatre. The play closed at the Gielgud on 3 June 2017.


The Broadway production debuted at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on 5 October 2014 and closed on 4 September 2016. It won the 2015 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play, 2015 Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding New Broadway Play, the 2015 Drama League Award for Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Play, and the 2015 Tony Award for Best Play.


The story concerns a mystery surrounding the death of a neighbour's dog that is investigated by young Christopher Boone, who has an autism spectrum condition, and his relationships with his parents and school mentor. The play reworked the source material by changing its voice and presenting the story as a play-within-a-play. The play has received a generally warm reception, with most critics impressed by its ability to convey the point of view of the young protagonist and the compassion of his school mentor. Critics also generally spoke highly of the visual effects employed during the show.[2]



Characters[edit]



  • Christopher John Francis Boone: The 15-year-old protagonist.

  • Mr. Ed Boone: Christopher's father, a boiler engineer.

  • Mrs. Judy Boone: Christopher's mother.

  • Siobhan: Christopher's para-professional and mentor at school.

  • Mrs. Shears:, Christopher's Neighbor. The actor in this role also plays:

    • Mrs. Gascoyne: The head of Christopher's school.

    • Woman on Train

    • Shopkeeper

    • Voice One



  • Roger Shears: Mrs. Shear's ex-husband. The actor in this role also plays:

    • Mr. Wise: one of Christopher's Neighbors.

    • Duty Sergeant

    • Man behind Counter

    • Drunk One

    • Voice Two



  • A Policeman: The actor in this role also plays:

    • Mr. Thompson: one of Christopher's Neighbors

    • London Policeman

    • Man with Socks

    • Drunk Two

    • Voice Three



  • Reverend Peters: a priest and teacher at Christopher's school.

    • Uncle Terry: Christopher's Uncle

    • Station Policeman

    • Station Guard

    • Voice Four



  • No. 37: One of Christopher's Neighbors. The actor in this role also plays

    • Lady in Street

    • Information

    • Punk Girl

    • Voice Five



  • Mrs. Alexander: An old lady, one of Christopher's neighbors. The actor in this role also plays:

    • Posh Woman

    • Voice Six




Plot[edit]


The play involves a significant reworking of the source material. Rather than present the story in the first-person narrative as the original novel did, the play is presented as a reading of Boone's own writing, read aloud in segments by his teacher.[3][4] The result is that the play is presented as a play-within-a-play.[5]


The play, set in Swindon and London[6] is about a 15-year-old amateur detective named Christopher John Francis Boone who is a mathematical genius. He appears to have an unspecified autism spectrum disorder that is variously described as either autism[7] or Asperger's Syndrome,[8] although the condition is never explicitly stated in the play.[9] The titular curious incident is the mystery surrounding the death of a neighbour's dog, Wellington, found speared by a garden fork.[9]


While searching for the murderer of the dog, he encounters resistance from many neighbours, but mostly from his father, Ed Boone. Christopher argues to himself that many rules are made to be broken, so he continues to search for an answer; he compares himself to Sherlock Holmes. When he discovers that his father killed the dog, Christopher fears for his own life and travels to London to find and live with his mother, who his father, after being left by her, had told Christopher she had died from a heart attack. He encounters many problems during the journey, but is welcomed by his mother. However, the road to his ambitions leads him back to Swindon, where he wants to pass an important mathematics tests. Everything seems to be an obstacle, but Christopher is eventually reunited with his father and this improves his own future.


In a short scene after the curtain call, Christopher reappears to brilliantly solve a mathematics problem posed earlier in the play.



Productions[edit]

































































TheatreOpening DateClosing DateDetails
Royal National Theatre, London2 August 201227 October 2012Premiere
Apollo Theatre, West End12 March 201319 December 2013West End Premiere
Teatro de los Insurgentes, Mexico24 October 20134 January 2015International Premiere
Setagaya Public Theater, Tokyo4 April 201420 April 2014Japanese Premiere[10][11]
Gielgud Theatre, West End9 July 20143 June 2017West End Re-Opening
Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway5 October 20144 September 2016Broadway Premiere
Kwanglim Art Center BBCH Hall, Seoul27 November 201531 January 2016Korean Premiere
Citadel Theatre, Edmonton, Alberta22 September 201612 November 2016Canadian Premiere
Le Moderne Théâtre, Liège, Belgium28 April 201713 May 2017Belgian Premiere

West End[edit]


Adapted by Simon Stephens and directed by Marianne Elliott,[12] the show premièred at the Royal National Theatre's Cottesloe Theatre on 2 August 2012.[1] The performance there were played in the round.[13] The production starred Luke Treadaway as Christopher, Niamh Cusack as his inspirational teacher Siobhan, Nicola Walker as his mother Judy, Paul Ritter as his father Ed and Una Stubbs as Mrs. Alexander .[14] The production, which ran until late October 2012, was broadcast live to cinemas worldwide on Thursday 6 September 2012 through the National Theatre Live programme.[15] The show transferred to the West End's Apollo Theatre in March.[16] Performances began on 1 March, with an official opening on 12 March. Seán Gleeson and Holly Aird joined the cast as Christopher's parents.[17]


On 19 December 2013, during a performance, part of the Apollo Theatre's roof collapsed, injuring nearly 80 people.[18] As a result, all further performances were cancelled[19][20]and a new theatre was sought.[21] The Apollo's balcony required extensive repairs.[22][23] In February 2014, the producers staged 8 free lunchtime performances for audiences from 14 secondary schools at the Stratford Old Town Hall.[13] The production finally re-opened at the nearby Gielgud Theatre, beginning previews on 24 June 2014, with its official opening night on 9 July.[24]


The West End production closed on 3 June 2017, after playing over 1,600 performances.[25]



Broadway[edit]


The play opened on Broadway at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on 5 October 2014, after beginning previews on 10 September.[26] It is again produced by the Royal National Theatre[27] and directed by Elliott.[28] The original Broadway cast included Alex Sharp (in his first professional role ever) as Christopher,[29] Enid Graham as his mother Judy, Ian Barford as his father Ed, and Francesca Faridany as Siobhan.[30] The production is choreographed by Scott Graham and Steven Hoggett.[31]


The Broadway production closed on 4 September 2016 after 800 performances.[32][33]



Tours[edit]


The first UK and Ireland tour of the production began in December 2014 at the Lowry Theatre in Salford before completing a 32-city tour across the UK and Ireland.[34]


The first US national tour of the production began on September 27, 2016 at the Auditorium Theatre in Rochester, New York.[35]


A second UK and Ireland tour is scheduled to began in Salford in January 2017 and is scheduled through to September 2017.[36][37]



Mexico[edit]


Before it opened on Broadway, it premiered in Mexico in 2013 with the name "El Curioso Incidente del Perro a Medianoche", thus becoming the first international production of the play. Luis Gerardo Méndez played the main character, alternating with Alfonso Dosal. The play ran in Mexico until 2015.[38]



Seoul[edit]


The third international production of the play played at the Kwanglim Art Center in Seoul, South Korea. Preview shows with the first-ever all Korean cast began on 27 November 2015, and ran until 31 January 2016.[39]



Historical casting[edit]


The following tables show the casts of the principal original productions:






























































































































CharacterRoyal National Theatre[14]
Cottesloe Theatre, 2012
West End[40]Mexico[41]
Teatro de los Insurgentes, 2013
Broadway[42]
Ethel Barrymore Theatre, 2014
First UK National Tour
2015
First US National Tour
2016-2017
Seoul[43]
Kwanglim Art Center, 2015
Apollo Theatre, 2013Gielgud Theatre, 2014
ChristopherLuke TreadawayGraham ButlerLuis Gerardo Méndez
Alfonso Dosal
Alex Sharp
Taylor Trensch*
Joshua Jenkins
Chris Ashby*
Adam Langdon
Benjamin Wheelwright*
Yoon Na Mu
Kim Ryeowook
Jeon Sung Woo
SiobhanNiamh CusackSarah WoodwardCecilia Suárez
Claudia Ramírez
Francesca FaridanyGeraldine AlexanderMaria Elena RamirezBae Hae Seon
Kim Ji Hyun
EdPaul RitterSeán GleesonNicolas TennantAlejandro CamachoIan BarfordStuart LaingGene GilleteKim Young Ho
Shim Hyung Tak
JudyNicola WalkerHolly AirdEmily JoyceRebecca Jones
Mónica Dionne
Enid GrahamGina IsaacFelicity Jones LattaKim Rosa
Yang So Min
Mrs. Shears
Mrs. Gascoyne
Woman on Train
Shopkeeper
Voice One
Sophie DuvalVictoria WillingLuz María AguilarMercedes HerreroClare PerkinsCharlotte MaierHan Se Ra
Roger Shears
Duty Sergeant
Mr. Wise
Man behind Counter
Drunk One
Voice Two
Nick SidiDaniel CaseyMoisés ArrizmendiRichard HollisLucas HareJohn HemphillKim Dong Hyun
Hwang Sung Hyun
Mr. Thompson
Policeman 1
Drunk Two
Man with Socks
London Policeman
Voice Three
Matthew BarkerPaul StockerRamón Cadaval
Gabriel Casanova
Ben HornerEdward GraceBrian Robert BurnsShin Chang Joo
Reverend Peters
Uncle Terry
Station Policeman
Station Guard
Voice Four
Howard WardTony TurnerBernardo BenitezDavid ManisJohn McAndrewGeoffrey WadeKim Jong Chul
No. 37
Lady in Street
Information
Punk Girl
Voice Five
Rhiannon Harper-RaffertyVivienne AcheampongErika Stettner
Paula Watson
Jocelyn BiohEmmanuella ColeFrancesca Choy-KeeJo Han Na
Mrs. Alexander
Posh Woman
Voice Six
Una StubbsTilly TremayneGay SoperLourdes EchavarríaHelen CareyRoberta KerrAmelia WhiteKang Jung Im

* - denotes the actor performing at certain performances


Notable replacements at the Apollo included Rakie Ayola as Siobhan, Amanda Drew as Judy and Daniel Casey as Roger Shears.[44] On 13 September 2015 several members of the original Broadway cast performed their last show and were replaced on 15 September with a new cast.[45][46][47] For its debut, the Korean production double- or triple-cast almost all of the main characters' roles.[43][48]



Awards and nominations[edit]


The nominations for the 2013 Laurence Olivier Awards, which recognise excellence in professional productions staged in London, were announced on 26 March 2013. The production secured the most nominations with eight, including Best New Play, Best Director (Elliott), Best Actor (Treadaway), Best Actress in a Supporting Role, and other categories including Best Set Design, Best Lighting Design, Best Sound Design and Best Choreographer.[49] The production eventually won seven Olivier awards,[50] thereby equalling Matilda the Musical's record win total in 2012.[51][52] The play was also acclaimed with the Best New Play on 17 February 2013 at the Whatsonstage Awards.[53]



West End production[edit]





















































YearAwardCategoryNomineeResult
2013Laurence Olivier Awards[50]Best New PlayWon
Best DirectorMarianne ElliottWon
Best ActorLuke TreadawayWon
Best Actress in a Supporting RoleNicola WalkerWon
Best Sound DesignIan Dickinson and Adrian SuttonWon
Best Lighting DesignPaule ConstableWon
Best Set DesignBunny Christie and Finn RossWon
Best Theatre ChoreographerScott Graham and Steven HoggettNominated

Broadway production[edit]

















































































































YearAwardCategoryNomineeResult
2015Tony Award[54]Best PlayWon
Best Direction of a PlayMarianne ElliottWon
Best Actor in a PlayAlex SharpWon
Best Lighting Design of a PlayPaule ConstableWon
Best Scenic Design of a PlayBunny Christie and Finn RossWon
Best ChoreographyScott Graham and Steven HoggettNominated
Drama Desk Award[55]Outstanding PlayWon
Outstanding Actor in a PlayAlex SharpWon
Outstanding Director of a PlayMarianne ElliottWon
Outstanding Lighting DesignPaule ConstableWon
Outstanding Projection DesignFinn RossWon
Outstanding Sound Design in a PlayIan Dickinson for AutographWon
Drama League Award[56]Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway PlayWon
Distinguished Performance AwardAlexander SharpNominated
Outer Critics Circle Award[57]Outstanding New Broadway PlayWon
Outstanding Director of a PlayMarianne ElliottWon
Outstanding Set DesignBunny ChristieWon
Outstanding Lighting DesignPaule ConstableWon
Outstanding Actor in a PlayAlex SharpWon
Outstanding Featured Actress in a PlayFrancesca FaridanyNominated

Critical response[edit]


West End[edit]


Lyn Gardner of The Guardian wrote a rave review, commenting that "There are times when the show comes perilously close to sentimentality, but the clarity of Christopher's gaze is so unflinching that it often makes you uncomfortable, and the show is equally clear-eyed on the difficulties of parenting, messiness of life, and torment of a child who cannot bear to be touched. ... Leading a fine cast, Luke Treadaway is superb as Christopher, appealing and painful to watch, like the show itself."[12]


Susannah Clapp, of The Observer, wrote in 2013, "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time was one of the most original shows and startling successes at the Nationallast year. It's hard to recall the surprise of this... Yet it at first seemed unlikely that Mark Haddon's novel about a boy with a mathematical gift and 'behavioural problems' could possibly work in the theatre."[58] Paul Taylor of The Independent described the work as an "imaginative adaptation" and "brilliant production" saying that it was presented in a "fresh and arresting light" while balancing humor and tragedy. Taylor judged Treadaway's performance superlative citing, among other things, his rhythm, movements and delivery.[59] Matt Wolf of The New York Times added that the play's debut was well-timed in relation to the 2012 London Summer Olympics: "its triumphalist spirit tallies exactly with the mood of this summer's athletic aspirations".[9]


Ben Brantley, the chief theatre critic of The New York Times, wrote: "As directed by Marianne Elliott, working with an inspired set of designers, Christopher's maiden voyage into an alien metropolis becomes a virtuoso study in sensory overload. Those lights, noises, street signs, road maps, random words that spell themselves into being, and, oh yes, that moving staircase that materializes out of nowhere: it all keeps coming at you". Brantley went on to say that the "extraordinary accomplishment" of the play "is that it forces you to look at the world through Christopher's order-seeking eyes. In doing so you're likely to reconsider the dauntless battle your own mind is always waging against the onslaught of stimuli that is life. Scary, isn't it? Exhilarating too." Brantley found fault, however, with "having Siobhan ... recite the story he has written, presented as a school project. Ms. Cusack does this with a gushy, artificial sense of wonder that you associate with grown-ups talking to small children ... Yuck."[60]


Charles Spencer of The Daily Telegraph, on the other hand, thought that Siobhan's turning the book Christopher writes into a play "may sound cumbersome but it works superbly". Like others, Spencer praised Treadaway: "He is unbearably poignant in moments of distress when he kneels with his face on the ground and moans, but also movingly captures the character's courage, his brilliance at mathematics, and his startling perspectives on the world ... thanks to Treadaway's pained honesty and twitchy awkwardness, as well as his moments of exultant joy, Christopher Boone feels like both a hero and a friend, though the happy ending is rightly qualified." Spencer also praised Gleason and Cusack.[61]



Broadway[edit]


Richard Zoglin of Time described the play as "a demonstration of the power of theater to transport us to exotic places".[3] Steven Suskin, drama critic for The Huffington Post, said the play entertains, illuminates, and brings us to an exalted new place.[62] Adam Green of Vogue says the play is "a testament to the singular power of theater".[5] Brantley, in his review of the New York production, called the work "manipulative", writing that it "retunes the way you see and hear" by forcing you to embrace a heightened sensory perception along with the main protagonist.[7] Elysa Gardner of USA Today described the experience of viewing the play as a journey "inside Christopher's gifted, troubled mind using inventive visual and sonic effects".[63] She lauded Sharp's "movement, expressions and voice making the boy's terrors and his ferocious intelligence seem equally natural".[63]


Peter Marks of The Washington Post praised the visual graphics of the show as being better presented than the "textual and performance elements" noting that the working of Boone's brain upstaged the detective work of finding the killer.[64] Jennifer Farrar of the Associated Press thought the show a "charming, intricately choreographed and dynamic theatrical experience" and that Alex Sharp's presentation of Christopher exemplifies the life skill of overcoming personal challenge.[65] Deadline.com's Jeremy Gerard felt that the production combines the obsessed math prodigy element of A Beautiful Mind with the mentoring compassion of Billy Elliot.[66] Joe Dziemianowicz of The Daily News found Sharp's performance "dazzling" and "physical and emotionally intense" and praised the design, lighting, music and video displays.[67]


Terry Teachout, drama critic for The Wall Street Journal dissented, describing the "fantastically elaborate video projections" pejoratively, saying that they are smothering. He felt the show was popular because of the trendy nature of Asperger's syndrome and that it was too reliant on trickery.[68] His Wall Street Journal colleague Stefanie Cohen thought the play suffered from difficulty in adapting the book to the stage.[4]