3/8/17
This play was
different. This play was unique. These two adjectives are what came out of my
mouth as soon as the The Curious Incident
of the Dog in the Nighttime ended
because they were the only two words I could come up with in the moment but as
I had time to think about it this play was so much more than different and
unique. We had the opportunity to see this unique production at the Boston
Opera House on March 7, 2017. The abstract set design allowed the audience to
step inside the mind of Christopher, the main character, who has autism. This is a boy who as a result of his
disability is incredibly bright and intelligent in the domain of mathematics
however, he does not really have an easy time socially interacting and
cooperating with other people. From the
very beginning of the play until the very end the Christopher character portrayed
so brilliantly by Adam Langdon captivates the audience with his intensity and
commitment to a very difficult role. The character choices Langdon makes with
this role to captivate the audience and provide them with a deep understanding
of this character and his personal struggles are like no other. The incredible
set design allowed the audience to truly see inside the mind of Christopher and
the visual representation of words,
phrases, and numbers displayed on the digital walls of the set in combination
with bright flashing lights and booming sounds left me with an immediate
understanding of what this play was truly about. This complex design helped me
to figure out what it is like to be in Christopher's place. The other
characters in the play who interact with Christopher misunderstand his struggle
because in our society there are many people who do not understand autism and
the effects it has on a person. Another
solid component of the play which was notably magnificent was the directing.
The staging, clarity, and movement of
the show and the flawless transitions from one scene to the next was
unbelievable and this was apparent because in a play with a set that remains
the same for the duration of the show, the director was clearly aware of this
fact and if the play did not have these smooth transitions in many ways it
would be a disaster because the audience would not recognize when the play was
transitioning from one scene to the next
without the audience picking up on it which was truly remarkable. Also, the light and sound design was superb
in the sense that it coordinated with the subject of the dialogue in the play.
When Christopher had an emotional outburst or tantrum the light and sound
design helped to convey that and demonstrate what sounds and visions he might
be seeing inside his mind at that very moment.
So, I would strongly praise and encourage you to see this show, it is a
unique opportunity to view a different kind of play that is truly very
"curious".
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