The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
My thoughts on The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time or … walking a mile in his brain.
No wonder it took two directors to mount this gripping and complex play by Simon Stephens. Curious Incident is one of the most technically stunning plays I have seen in DFW. I can only imagine the challenges Directors Steven D. Morris and Bryan Stevenson faced. Whatever those challenges were, they have succeeded in making Curious Incident exciting, visually compelling theater.
The 2015 Tony award winning play follows 15 year old Christopher Boone, an autistic young man who is brilliant at mathematics but unable to face the challenges of everyday life and fears being touched. When Christopher discovers the neighbor’s dog dead from being skewered on a pitchfork, he begins an investigation that leads to the revelation of family secrets and life altering consequences.
Bryan Stevenson’s nighttime blue set and his brilliant lighting design, coupled with the equally brilliant sound design of Ryan Simón, take us inside the mind of Christopher. His thoughts visualize before us and we enter his world. Sometimes, especially on Christopher’s trip to London, the visuals come at us so furiously that we feel as overwhelmed as Christopher does. Hope Cox provides dozens of character defining costumes for the actors, many of whom play multiple roles in this almost continually in motion drama.
The directors have this incredibly talented cast in fine form, and I was impressed by the various British accents the actors employ, especially those who play many different characters. With so many “expert chameleons” in this cast, I have not the space to mention all their characters, but I would like to recognize them for the role I found most outstanding. Kit Hussey is a warm and friendly Reverend Peters to whom Christopher goes for answers about Heaven and Hell. Octavia Y. Thomas’s enthusiastic school administrator Mrs. Gascoyne reminded me of all the principals I worked for in my teaching career. Darin Martin is the curious, caring, concerned, and ultimately frustrated Station Policeman. Laurel Lynn Collins is great as the kind, grandmotherly neighbor Mrs. Alexander who adjusts to Christopher’s ways and befriends him. Hanna Bell is terrific as Christopher’s blunt and unfriendly neighbor Mrs. Shears. it is her dog Wellington who was killed, and she assumes that the awkward Christopher killed him.
Roger Shears, played by Clayton Younkin, left his wife to run away to London with Christopher’s mother Judy. He is less than happy when Christopher appears at their flat. He has no patience with Christopher. Younkin is super at conveying Roger’s growing frustration and makes his confrontation scene with Christopher truly disturbing.
Rodney Honeycutt is Christopher’s father Ed. He is a complicated man trying to be a good father but is often stymied by knowing how to correctly discipline his autistic son. Ed makes some seriously bad choices, but Honeycutt gives him an aura kindness that makes him sympathetic. Ed struggles to find the right way, but through Honeycutt’s skillful portrayal, he ultimately wins our admiration.
Elizabeth Kensek is Judy, Christopher’s mother, yet another complicated character and Kensek is superb letting us see every layer of that complexity. Judy leaves her husband and son and runs off to London with her neighbor and lover Roger. It’s a selfish act that she has convinced herself was the right thing to do as she feels inadequate to handle her special needs child. When Christopher shows up at her London flat unexpectedly, we begin to see the deep love she has for her son as she fiercely protects him from Roger. Kensek makes Judy a flawed, courageous, and eventually a sympathetic and redeemed character.
Siobhan is an educator for special needs children at the school that Christopher attends and often serves as the narrator of the play. Megan Noble embodies this character perfectly and imbues Siobhan with intelligence, strength, patience, and a determination to see Christopher reach his potential. Christopher gains life skills from her kind and loving teaching. In many ways she is his Annie Sullivan. She never talks down to Christopher and offers him unending support. Noble made me admire this character who is the epitome of a good teacher.
John Marshall is Christopher and is nothing short of phenomenal. In this fantastically visceral performance, Marshall makes Christopher’s every twitch, every groan, every collapse, every scream from being touched, and the pain and frustration of trying to navigate the world, palpable. Christopher is incapable of hugging and can only show love by touching fingertips. Christopher is a mathematical prodigy and the prodigiously talented Marshall whether calling out prime numbers or caring for his pet rat Toby is a marvel. His sheer stamina in always being on stage portraying this intense character is laudable in itself. This a performance you cannot miss.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is beyond great entertainment. The sounds and projected images often made me feel like it was a virtual reality experience. Congratulations to Theatre Arlington and all involved in this extraordinary production.
*Special kudos to Brooke the dog making her debut as Sandy.
John Marshall holding Brooke the Star! photo by Kris Ikejiri
