Web extra: Actor Alex Sharp talks to Jane Pauley about experiencing the fear, anxiety and trauma of his autistic character in the Broadway hit, "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time."
I’m currently playing Christopher Boone in my theatre’s version of this show, and I actually have a lot to say about it. 1. It is definitely the hardest role I’ve done, having 345 lines and lots of stage directions. 2. Doing those hand touching scenes always warms my heart, especially with the people I’m working with. 3. Even though I have ASD, there’s some things I do and don’t relate to about Christopher, for example, I relate to his anxiety, but I can’t relate to his interest in math and science. 4. Some of the lines repeat, for example, “Do you know who killed Wellington” repeats a lot in act one, and “Is this the train to London” repeats a lot in act two. 5. This play overall is very moving but also has some funny moments too.
I read the book a couple of years ago. it was kind of insightful about the challenges parents have of raising an autistic child. And how this kid navagates through his life. It was insight about autism.
