By Christy Hudson
Don’t let the long title of the play deter you from seeing The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at the Black Box Theatre at Utah State University. It is written by Simon Stephens and is based off of the novel by Mark Haddon. This production is presented by The Restless Observer’s Student Theatre Group.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is about 15-year-old Christopher Boone, who is writing a novel about being incorrectly accused of killing his neighbor’s dog with a pitchfork. He decides to take it upon himself to solve the mystery of the murder, but he ends up discovering a few other, more complicated secrets along the way. (The title comes from a tale from Sherlock Holmes.)
First and foremost, I have to acknowledge Jack Bell as Christopher Boone. Although the play never explicitly says it, Christopher very clearly has autism and Asperger syndrome. Bell’s portrayal of this feels incredibly realistic. All of his movements are reminiscent of people with autism. He fidgets and fails to make eye contact with any of the other characters. I think it can be hard to know how to express emotions anyway, but for people who are autistic, I know it can be a lot more difficult. I think Bell portrays all of these things very well, and he is consistent throughout the whole show. I felt that it was a really good and accurate depiction of what the minds of a lot of people with autism are like.
Alex Smith plays Christopher’s father, Ed, a character who lives with a lot of pain and frustration, who loves his son but does not always know how to show it. Smith’s portrayal is impassioned, filled with a wide range of emotions. You may not agree with all of Ed’s choices, but Smith makes it easy to understand why he makes them. Jaiden Schrubb plays Christopher’s mother Judy. I felt there were two sides to her character: the person Christopher sees her as, and the person that she really is. Schrubb plays Christopher’s mother with a lot of authenticity. We can see her love for Christopher, her frustration with her situation, and her insecurities about herself. Again, Judy’s choices are not always admirable, but we can see why she does what she does. Stormy Knaak plays Siobhan, Christopher’s mentor/paraprofessional, and probably his only real friend (besides his rat, Toby (Chaplin/Barnum)). Her performance is very sweet, and at the very end of the show (no spoilers), I think she has one of the most impactful moments as an observer in Christopher’s life.
All the other characters that Christopher encounters are played by the ensemble, which consists of Madison Nielson, Joe Bayless, James Johnson, and Alison Anderson. They are policemen, neighbors, train passengers, random civilians, etc., all by simply adding a vest, hat, shirt, etc. It is fun to see them all switch from character to character so seamlessly. Their performances, both individually and together as an ensemble, really show how much work has been put into making this production flow so well.
The program includes the story of the Restless Observers’ journey to make this production possible. If you check it out, you’ll see that it has literally been “a year in the making.” Director Brendon Henderson and Technical Director Sterling Brenna have put a lot of effort into creating this, from obtaining the rights to doing the research. All of this paid off for them. They clearly have a profound understanding of the characters, and their show is full of a lot of intricate details that make it that much more enjoyable.
Another tidbit you can find in the program is that the show features original music by Composer Carolee Beck. Beck has created an instrumental score that highlights all of the thoughts and emotions Christopher experiences. Beck said, “The character of Christopher influenced the style of music a lot. I wanted it to be like his brain, which is so smart and always moving. It needed to show how his mind works, and that was the inspiration.” One musical moment is of Christopher explaining his love for the universe. The music soft and pretty, highlighting something that brings Christopher serenity. In contrast, another musical moment is more chaotic, as Christopher is lost and alone in a bustling crowd, struggling to remain calm while experiencing sensory overload. The music really does add to the tone and make Christopher’s emotions clear, and it is also really beautiful.
The set is fairly simple. There are a few black panels in the back, which the actors use for their quick costume and prop changes, but for the most part, the actors spend the majority of the time onstage. Otherwise, there are black chairs, tables, and benches that move around and are set on their sides to create various set pieces. The actors in the ensemble also sometimes serve as the set pieces. This shows that they don’t need elaborate sets to tell this story.
Lighting Designer Jaydon Carling and Sound Designer Gillian Sanville have also created intricate details that add greatly to the tone of each scene. The show starts out with a sort of overture, with the lights dancing around the room. Each scene is full of detailed light and sound cues. We see the universe as Christopher sees it, in all its beauty. We experience the chaos of Christopher’s journey to London, with the dark lights and loud sounds, and so much movement happening around him and making him stressed and afraid. In such an emotional show, the mood can change on a dime, and this is magnified with the lighting and sound effects that really bring the production up to a whole new level.
The Restless Observer’s production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a wonderful example of how small theatre groups are capable of creating something great. Although it has been entirely created by students, you can see how much time and attention to detail has been given to it, making it reach levels of professionalism and quality. I can’t find one fault in this production. Those involved are all really talented. It is an important story, the kind of story not many people attempt to tell. But they tell it so beautifully. If you tend to cry in tearjerker movies, this one may also make you cry. Bring tissues.
*This show features some strong language, as well as some intense light and sound stimulation effects.
The Restless Observer’s Theatre Group Presents The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, written by Simon Stephens, based on the book by Mark Haddon
USU Caine College Black Box Theatre, room 224
Darryl Chase Fine Arts Center, Logan, UT 84321
November 8-11, 2018, 7:30 PM (2:00 PM Matinee November 10th)
Tickets: FREE
The Restless Observer’s Theatre Group Facebook Page
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Facebook Event
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