“I strongly advise you to get in the back of the police car. If you try that monkey business again, I’m seriously going to lose my rag!” an enraged police officer furiously demands of an autistic, teenage Christopher Boone who accidentally finds himself at the centre of a murder mystery.
The classic play, adapted from Mark Haddon’s 2003 book of the same title, was brought to the Caccia Studio by JCAJ (Walpole House) and Director Dr Liviero over the weekend. The play follows the story of 15-year-old Christopher Boone, played by Alfie M, who is autistic and becomes caught up in the death of his neighbour’s dog, which mysteriously dies in the middle of the night. Although he’s told not to interfere with other people’s business, Christopher decides to investigate the incident himself. The story is crafted as a play within a play, with Sean (played by Johnny L) Christopher’s teacher, guiding the production. This added a layer of self-awareness, with occasional breaks of the fourth wall used to alleviate some of the emotional intensity.
A notable feature of the play was the five ‘voices’ (Will M, Aston J, Max H, Philipp H, and Zach O T). Dressed in different colours, they were positioned around the stage, and they not only take on the roles of traditional side characters in plays but also embody the thoughts and inner workings of Christopher’s mind. The constant presence – often overlapping or interrupting – demonstrated to the audience just how overwhelming an autistic mind can be, making Christopher’s emotional outbursts feel more tangible to an audience that may not have had the same experiences.
At first glance, the set appeared minimal. However, as the play unfolded, it became a space that mirrored Christopher’s perspective. The ground and the walls, made of a blackboard-like material, served as a canvas for Christopher to express his thoughts and feelings. Throughout the play, Christopher drew and made calculations on the floors and walls, only for his markings to be unintentionally erased as other characters walked over them – a powerful visual metaphor for how his way of thinking is overlooked or dismissed by those around him. These elements transformed the play from a simple narrative into a journey into Christopher’s mind. The lighting further enhanced the emotional depth of the performance, with its colours and intensity reflecting Christopher’s mood. Additionally, the cast made great use of the traverse staging, ensuring that the audience felt immersed in Christopher’s journey.
Another noteworthy aspect of the play was the acting. Alfie M was a revelation as Christopher. Subtle yet powerful details, such as awkward shifts in eye contact, powerfully conveyed Christopher’s discomfort in social interactions. During Christopher’s breakdowns, Alfie M’s movements and sounds allowed the audience to feel his panic first-hand. The production was not only defined by Alfie M’s performance but also by the outstanding acting of Matteo D as Christopher’s father and Johnny L as Sean, both of whom made the performance truly feel alive.
It is evident that a tremendous amount of effort went into this production, resulting in a truly captivating performance. Many congratulations to the boys of Walpole for such a fantastic production.
