Well, where do I start with this review? Being a Stockport lad myself I am quite familiar with the work of Simon Stephens, but I have to admit this is the first time I have come across this particular play. There were definitely times during the production when I struggled to comprehend what was happening, but that was more due to my lack of understanding rather than anything lacking in the production. Once I got into the characters and began to realise what the story was about I found myself thoroughly absorbed.
This play was first presented to the public a mere 12 years ago in London and this production is the Stockport premier of this play. For others like myself who are not familiar with the storyline, I think a brief synopsis would be appropriate.
The lead character is a fifteen-year-old boy named Christopher Boone (who was admirably played by the extremely talented Toby Fullman). The play starts with him stood over the body of a neighbour’s dog who has been killed with a garden fork. Suspicion for this deed falls immediately on Christopher, who although not guilty is determined to solve the mystery of who committed the murder. Christopher himself has an extraordinary brain which functions in a different manner from what would be thought of as “usual”. He has an exceptional ability at maths and is obsessively truthful at all times, which he equates with feelings of love, so when he discovers later in the play that his father has lied to him, he jumps to the conclusion that his father no longer loves him. All of his feelings and emotions are written down in a book which details the story of everything that happens in his life.
Christopher lives alone with his father (played with a good deal of enthusiasm by John Redfern) in Swindon, believing that his mother had died 2 years ago, when in fact she had left to move to London with a neighbour. Christopher finds out about this from another neighbour, a Mrs Alexander (well characterised by Leanne Thorniley), so comes to realise that his father has lied to him, which destroys any remaining trust he had in him. Christopher’s father finds his book and hides it away, along with numerous letters addressed to him from his mother. This is when Christopher’s father admits that he has lied about his mother (and also admits to killing the neighbour’s dog!) which leaves Christopher feeling confused and upset and afraid of his father so he decides to leave and go to London to find his mother.
Christopher then embarks on a traumatic train journey down to London to find his mother who is shocked to see him and decides to take Christopher back to Swindon and move back in with his father, who works hard to prove to Christopher that he does love him and can be trusted, even buying him a puppy (which bore a remarkable resemblance to the one who starred in the local production of “Annie” by the Drama Department! Certainly gets around this dog).
I won’t divulge the ending of the story but would suggest you go along and see it for yourself.
The production team and cast deserve considerable credit for the way they put this together and I should particularly want to highlight the work done backstage by David Jarvis with the lighting which was very effective and enhanced the production enormously. It is nice to see younger members of the cast progressing into more demanding adult roles, thinking here of the likes of Sam Hardman who I can recall taking on the role of the Artful Dodger in Oliver some 6 years ago! Toby Fullman was of course the star of the show and his performance reminded me somewhat of Dustin Hoffman in “Rain Man”, but all the cast did an exceptional job. I liked the many and varied T-shirts that he wore during the play (I’d love the prime numbers one myself!)
Overall, I’m pleased to recommend this production and congratulate everyone on their combined efforts, well done to all.
Director: Jake Martin & Maisie Noble. Adapted by Simon Stephens from the novel by Mark Haddon.
Reviewer: David S Clarke
Reviewed: 30th October 2024
North West end UK Rating: