A play based on a book written by Mark Haddon, published in 2003. One of my daughters; favourites of the time, she didn’t put it down! The Piccadilly Theatre is a short walk from Oxford Circus Station, and it’s a lovely walk, taking in Regent’s Street and Carnaby Street. I stopped on the way for a Taco in a very funky restaurant, luckily I was warned about the VERY hot topping because the basic ingredients were at the top of my hot coping capabilities.
This is a story about Christopher a 15 year old boy, he describes himself as a ‘mathematician with some behavioural difficulties’. When the book was published the blurb suggested Christopher was on the Autistic Spectrum with Aspergers Syndrome mentioned. The author later wrote a blog explaining that the book wasn’t about any particular disorder.
Going to the theatre on a Monday evening as this was often means seeing stand in actors and I believe that was the case here. Charlie was played by Sam Newton and he was really quite remarkable! Charlie could have been one of the boys I worked with at the last school I was at. The character was definitely on the Autistic Spectrum and Sam played it perfectly, the sound effects and flash lighting gave a true insight into what the world looks like when autism is part of life.
The play starts with the ‘murder’ of a dog and an accusation for Charlie, a lad who can’t tell a lie, it’s clear he isn’t the killer. Christopher is determined to find out the truth. His relationship with his Father and estranged Mother show the pain and difficulty of living life with a child who’s different. I was captivated throughout, this is a moving play which is also educational in it’s own way, it’s funny, serious and highly thought provoking.
365 Happy Days 