The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Adapted by Simon Stephens
Directed by Jonathan Berry
Steppenwolf for Young Adults, Oct. 5 - 27
Review
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time tells the story of 15 year old Christopher Boone, played by Terry Bell in a tour-de-force performance). Christopher sees the world in a very particular way: He is a math prodigy who admires the writing of Sherlock Holmes. He does not like the colors brown or yellow. He asks his priest where heaven is, exactly, and how we can get there, the priest is flummoxed. Like the titular incident, Christopher is curious and direct; not everyone (including his otherwise loving mom and dad) knows quite how to deal with him. He can’t handle loud noises or too much stimulation in general. When presented with such, he puts his hands over his head, curls up into a ball and rocks. He is self-soothing, the best he knows how.
The woman who does see and hear him is Siobhan (Steppenwolf member Caroline Neff), Christopher’s paraprofessional and mentor. She works with him to draw out his particular strengths, and to adapt to a world that isn’t always kind to the hypersensitive.
Much of the play’s narration is delivered by Siobhan, who reads from the notebook that Christopher wrote about the incident. Simon Stephen’s adaptation (of the novel by Mark Haddon) is a play within a play, with many charming asides and meta-commentary. (Christopher says that he “doesn’t like acting” because “it’s not real.” Later, Siobhan warns him of boring the audience as he begins to detail a math proof.)
Our favorite part of this play was that neither the author nor the director diagnoses Christopher Boone; as a result we come to know him more fully, and not through the lens of a reductive diagnosis. Yes, he may have a way of being in the world that is not our own - and yet, we come to understand him.
Steppenwolf’s production, directed by Jonathan Berry, allows us to see the world through Christopher’s eyes - and we are better for it.
Steppenwolf’s design team uses film and lighting and a simple set to highlight the ensemble quality to the production. Six actors make up the ensemble, playing various roles and supporting each other in every scene. There are striking stage pictures, backlit by projections, and ensemble choreography that brings to mind Anne Bogart’s Viewpoints.
Terry Bell so completely inhabits Christopher, in body and mind, that it is hard to imagine him out of character. As his mother, Rebecca Spence is lovely, and maintains one of the more consistent and convincing British accents.
Lozo and the Moms recommend this play for families. Zo thinks that it might be a bit disturbing for kids under 11 years old; he and his buddy loved it, but found it pretty sad, at least in the first act. The Moms found the plot emotionally overwhelming - by intermission she wasn’t sure she could handle any more devastating plot twists. Still, Zo and the Moms know that the pain of this play reflects and sheds light on the pain of life, like all good art; the audience is rewarded for going on this journey with Christopher. You will gain empathy and understanding, and have the chance to live another life, at least for a few hours.
