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"The Curious Incident with the Dog in the Night-Time" 1st preview tonight

Posted by: PlayWiz 12:02 am EDT 09/11/14

I enjoyed this play very much tonight.

Christopher Boone, 15 3/4 years old (and few extra days), played by Alex Sharp, is a sort of combination of Sheldon Cooper, the brainy Asperger's-most likely social challenged character from "The Big Bang Theory", along with a bit of Alan Strang from "Equus" with some of his tantrums, some of his shirtlessness and a fixation on a certain dog but not on horses. Christopher, their new British amalgam, decides to play Encyclopedia Brown about a neighborhood crime while dealing with the turbulent history between himself and his family, with lots of secrets and lies revealed along the way. Sharp gives an excellent performance which requires some great physicality since I don't believe he ever left the stage during either of the acts.

The show has quite a bit of humor and has a marvelous, inventive and at times quite whimsical staging and some terrific lighting effects as well. Unfortunately during of of his teacher's narrations at stage right during a particularly delightful fantasy sequence, the sound system made her difficult to hear against a competing sound track which hopefully will be fixed pronto.

Other standout performers included Francesco Fardinay as Siobhan, his teacher and Ian Barford particularly wonderful as his multi-layered and conflicted Dad. The whole ensemble played many roles very well.

It started tonight at 8:10 and finished at 10:45. I think it probably could have been 10 minutes shorter, but I still enjoyed it very much. The audience seemed to relish it as well.


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re: "The Curious Incident with the Dog in the Night-Time" 1st preview tonight

Posted by: sloanereinja 08:13 am EDT 09/11/14
In reply to: "The Curious Incident with the Dog in the Night-Time" 1st preview tonight - PlayWiz 12:02 am EDT 09/11/14

Did you remember to stay after the curtain call?


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re: "The Curious Incident with the Dog in the Night-Time" 1st preview tonight

Posted by: PlayWiz 11:27 am EDT 09/12/14
In reply to: re: "The Curious Incident with the Dog in the Night-Time" 1st preview tonight - sloanereinja 08:13 am EDT 09/11/14

Nothing happened after the curtain call. What happened in London? Did he finally have a chance to give his thought processes for solving his math exam answers at length?


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re: "The Curious Incident with the Dog in the Night-Time" 1st preview tonight

Posted by: jesse21 12:18 pm EDT 09/12/14
In reply to: re: "The Curious Incident with the Dog in the Night-Time" 1st preview tonight - PlayWiz 11:27 am EDT 09/12/14

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After the curtain call when the house lights are turned back on, the actor playing Christopher returns to the stage with a monologue which is the mathematical formula that won him the top score on his A Level exam.

I too was at the first preview and asked why this was not performed that night. The answer was they ran out of time (rehearsal or tech) and something had to give.

I don't know if the monologue is back in the show as yet, but it definitely will be performed eventually.


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"The Curious Incident OF the Dog in the Night-Time" 1st preview tonight

Posted by: PlayWiz 12:52 am EDT 09/11/14
In reply to: "The Curious Incident with the Dog in the Night-Time" 1st preview tonight - PlayWiz 12:02 am EDT 09/11/14

Corrected title above. (It's a bit of a hard one to remember actually)


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re: "The Curious Incident OF the Dog in the Night-Time" 1st preview tonight

Posted by: NightMusic77 12:36 pm EDT 09/11/14
In reply to: "The Curious Incident OF the Dog in the Night-Time" 1st preview tonight - PlayWiz 12:52 am EDT 09/11/14

I was at the show last night as well and agree with pretty much all you said. I found the play to be extremely engaging and well-acted with an exceptional lead performance from Alex Sharp. Some minor snafus aside, I'd say the show was in incredible shape for a first preview.

I wasn't familiar with the source material at all so I really was able to watch the story unfold without any sort of expectations. Overall, I found it entertaining and very moving. I highly recommend it!


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