By Kimberly Harper
I don’t think I’ve ever used the phrase “must see” to refer to a show before. But “The Curious Case of the Dog in the Night-Time,” which won Best Play at the Tony Awards in 2015, is at PPAC through Sunday, and it’s something you want to make time for.
Directed by Marianne Elliott and set in present day England, the show starts with 15-year old Christopher standing over the body of a very large, very dead dog with a pitchfork in its side. Of course, the owner suspects him initially, but not only is Christopher not to blame, he sets out on a course to find the real killer, much to the chagrin of his father.
It’s a big leap for Christopher – though the play never specifically spells it out for us, he’s clearly somewhere on the Autism spectrum, and things like loud noises, strangers and chaos are debilitating for the teenager who finds things like advanced math incredibly simple, but taking the train mind-bendingly daunting. His search for justice for the dead animal leads him to write his story down for his teacher, Siobhan, and also takes him into the darkest corners of his own family’s story. Finding the truth is never easy, but Christopher, possessed by his need for answers, overcomes his own limitations to go farther than he imagined. And that’s saying a lot for a boy who wants to become an astronaut.
Set inside a floor-to-ceiling grid, the play takes place on a minimalist set. Ensemble members act as furniture, the various people Christopher encounters, and also physically manipulate Christopher when the outside stimuli make him unable to move. For this isn’t just a play about a boy looking for answers, it’s a window into the mind of someone with a very different perspective. And as an audience, you are carried away to the point of overstimulation. Noises are loud and jarring. Strobe lights and electronic diodes flash and disorient you, until you empathize with the thin boy crouched center stage, hands over his ears, counting prime numbers until things settle down.
Adam Langdon as Christopher does a spectacular job making his character sympathetic without resorting to caricature. His dad, Ed, played by Gene Gillette, also does a nice job. I would have liked to see more chemistry between some of the other main characters but it didn’t detract from the show. The ensemble is strong, sitting on the sidelines of a box-like stage waiting for Christopher to interact with them. The only props on stage are whatever Christopher deems interesting at the moment, before they are tucked back behind the grid surrounding him. It’s a good premise that’s well executed, and the few bumps in the road along the way are easily forgotten under the impact of the show.
“Curious Incident” is far from a traditional play and is well worth seeing. Make time for this award winner before it leaves town on Sunday.
“The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” runs through Sunday, Feb. 12, at the Providence Performing Arts Center, 220 Weybosset St., Providence. Tickets start at $36 and may be obtained by calling 401-421-2787 or visiting ppacri.org .
