Photo by Joan Marcus
There aren't many plays that get to enjoy an open-ended engagement on the Great White Way. Normally that privilege is reserved for the musicals, however, once in a while a play comes along that is so ground-breaking that it defies this unspoken rule and gives producers the confidence to back it for longer than just a 3-month limited run. Such was the case with Simon Stephens' adaptation of the popular Mark Haddon novel, which after almost two whole years on Broadway enters its final week at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. We celebrate the success of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time - our #ShowOfTheWeek!
The National Theatre in London has exported a number of great, theatrical hits over the years, including the Tony-winning Best Play of 2011 War Horse and One Man, Two Guvnors (which earned James Corden his Tony Award in 2012). Just a couple of months after Corden's well-deserved win, the National premiered its latest offering in London that would go on to conquer the theatre world. Directed by Tony winner Marianne Elliott and incorporating a mesmerizing scenic and video design by Bunny Christie and Finn Ross, respectively, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time was brought to life and became a runaway success. It later transferred to the West End's Apollo Theatre and then the Gielgud Theatre, its current London home, winning an impressive 7 Olivier Awards. A Broadway transfer was inevitable and the production began previews at the Barrymore Theatre on 10 September 2014, officially opening on 5 October and going on to win 5 Tony Awards (including Best Play) in 2015.
So why has this play, in particular, managed to capture our imaginations and tempt audiences to its theatres on both sides of the Atlantic for so long? Well, firstly, for my money a play with multi-generational appeal is quite a rare thing in mainstream theatre. 'Curious' is one example that always springs to mind when asked to recommend something for a family with young teens. I know that it would appeal as much to the parents (or grandparents) as it would to the teens in tow. Secondly, its highly-stylized choreography along with other theatrical devices like the miniature trainset gives us as the audience a true insight into the power of theatricality and the advantage theatre as a medium over film and television. Our imaginations are inspired as audience members with a visually stunning attack on the senses, but our imaginations also are forced to work to fill in the gaps.
The show's originality in terms of its staging is without question the driving force behind its success, but the subject matter too is a true testament to how writers and producers keep their finger on the pulse. The lead character of Christopher Boone is clearly on the autistic spectrum and 'Curious' gives those of us who don't find ourselves on that spectrum an ingenious glimpse of what life experiences are like inside Christopher's head. Much like Florian Zeller's play The Father, which earned Frank Langella his fourth Tony Award this year, giving us an insight into the tragic world of dementia, 'Curious' works in the same way with autism - a condition that is perhaps not widely understood in the world.
When theatre can be as entertaining and educational as this at such a high level, the only curious incident would be if you let it slip you by.
Click here for tickets to The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time for performances through to 4 September 2016 at Broadway's Barrymore Theatre.
Rosie Benton & Tyler Lea in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time More Production PhotosOriginally published on