The essence of awe: Solidarity triumphs in Paris, ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time’

The saying is “One picture is worth a thousand words.” And it’s never been truer than in the show of solidarity that kept world leaders — some at great odds on their home turf — united among the one million and counting shivering souls who crammed a Paris park last weekend. All were there to pay homage to the victims of terrorists determined to silence the pens and voices of dedicated journalists whose passion for freedom of speech had outweighed their fear of sharing their mind set for decades.
And nothing spoke clearer than the sea of signs held high in many languages declaring “I am Charlie,” “Je suis Charlie” Nothing is sometimes a good thing to say: But even the reports of American brouhaha over President Obama’s absence from the sea of dignitaries in attendance could not dim the awesome show of respect by all for the right to be heard — without vengeful retribution. That sea of harmony was our world in it’s all too rarely achieved cooperation :A lesson to cherish in an increasingly complicated future the world seems determined to bring our way.
‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time’
One of the perks of being a critic is the occasional invitation to participate in a unique event related to theater. One of my favorite plays of the 2014-15 season to date is Simon Stephen’s exquisite adaptation of Mark Haddon’s best-selling novel “The Curious Incident of The Dog In The Night-Time.”
At a truly awesome panel discussion, hosted by the Screen Actors Guild last week, Richie Ridge, secretary of the board of the Drama Desk and lead correspondent for Broadway World — where he hosts the popular “Backstage With Richie Ridge” website — served as moderator for a discussion with the cast of “Curious Incident…The play is surely one of the most emotionally moving and technically dazzling theater to ever grace a Broadway stage.

The discussion focused on how the magnificent cast for the show prepared for their daunting roles under the guidance and “loving care” (a panelist’s phrase!) of award-winning director Marianne Elliot (unanimously beloved by her charges!). And an arduous task it was — both physically and emotionally — to become one with the characters in the play. Each of the performers agreed that the physicality of the play “almost became one of the characters onstage” as each actor came to relate to Alex Sharp’s Christopher. The latter, a 15-year-old boy of exceptional brilliance is totally unprepared at the play’s start to get a handle on everyday life. Suffering from autism, his world becomes even more challenging when he’s suspected of killing his neighbor’s dog; and the boy sets out to find who is the real perpetrator of the dastardly cruelty. Sharp’s moving take on his experience was that “at first Christopher seemed unfathomable — but he came to empathize with him — and in the end “his story became your story!” And how exquisitely Sharp fills that role.
Ian Barford, who plays Christopher’s father spoke of “his final realization of the boy’s bravery,” his will to follow his own course — a “hero’s journey”— that in the end leads to “a moving sense of self that is extraordinary.” And Barford concludes, ”The pursuit of art is to understand another human being. The play uses all of the tools (to do this).” Enid Graham, who plays the boy’s mother, Judy, started off “with no idea what a challenged person would have to meet chronologically”— but explored autism, read biographies about people on the spectrum … read the book, the play—then tried to drop into the character.”
All the cast agreed director Elliot” was” a great listener”—and by the discussions end were equally passionate that ‘the experience is a delightful love fest for the production team!” In summation, how the character of Christopher had affected their lives, Alex Sharp had the last word: “I feel like he’s always behind my eyes — and never leaves me.”
With special kudos to moderator Richie Ridge, whose questions to the cast were challenging — but then let each actor take the ball of his or her own experience — and run with it; and always with a wonderful sense of perspective and humor!
If you haven’t yet visited with finally triumphant young Christopher it’s a journey that will surely enrich your own life and awaken your sensitivity to both the complexity of family dynamics and the wonder of the boy’s triumph over his affliction. Bring a hanky for tears of joy from this unique tale ;And be prepared to be bedazzled by it’s explosive, mind-boggling technical effects that miraculously recreate the teen’s state of mind :allowing us to enter his world and be thrilled by the resolution of “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time.”
This critic can’t remember a more memorable life lesson than sharing the current cast’s insights into their challenging roles! Ethel Barrymore Theater,2 43 West 47th St., (212) 239-6200, telecharge.com.