Review: THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME

A play with a name like THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME can inspire lots of questions and thoughts about what it might be about.

I went to the Orpheum Theatre unaware of much about the play -- I knew that it won Tony Awards. I should know more about the show and story (I know, I know!), but I did not and so my blank slate went in without preconceived notions of this play. I did my studying after seeing the show opening night. But I wish I'd read up on it before and I hope reading this now will inspire you to learn more about it before seeing this show.

"Fifteen-year-old Christopher has an extraordinary brain; he is exceptionally intelligent but ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. When he falls under suspicion for killing his neighbor's dog, he sets out to identify the true culprit, which leads to an earth-shattering discovery and a journey that will change his life forever."

If all you read was that, you still would not be prepared for what you were about to see. First, this show is not the typical musical (it's not even a musical) that you may see as part of the Hennepin Theatre Trust's season. But it's a big show with a even bigger set (though no moving set pieces) and lots of lighting and sound and apparently huge numbers of cues. The set looks like a giant 3-D grid paper where Christopher's (Adam Langdon) story unfolds. The part I wish I'd known most before the show began is that it's actually a telling of a book the boy wrote about the "incident" that changes his life forever, and the narrator is his teacher, which is not clear until late in the play.

The other part that is not clear is that his "extraordinary brain" seems to be autistic or have Asperger's Syndrome, though show notes tell us that "Christopher is not defined by any condition - but that as a boy who sees the world more with more clarity than others would see it with a sense of energy and detail." But my impression was that he's (mostly) highly functional and autistic. He does not like to be touched -- at all -- by anyone. He's apparently really good at math and picks up on everything, every detail around him and he remembers it all. He also talks a lot. And fast. Those are just a few things you'll pick up on about Christopher. Call it what you will - he's a handful. Langdon must be exhausted after playing this part several times a week.

When he begins to investigate the murder of his neighbor's dog, against his father's will, he discovers this own family's secrets and the shock of the information causes a huge disruption in this already disruptive life. He pushes himself to get out and experience things he's never had to deal with before. the people in his life learn how to deal with him and how to help him. There's lots of talking, lots of noise, lots of lights and lots of motion. The cast members are the people in Christopher's life as well as objects and set pieces. The show has a very experimental yet very futuristic feel with the videos, music and pace.

Aside from noisy and intoxicated theatre patrons next to us and poor sight lines that distracted from the very busy show (you really need to pay attention as it moves quickly and there's a lot of talking, in British accents), I followed the story and got the gist of the play's meaning (at least I think I did!), but I found the show to be very stressful to watch. Perhaps it was just a long work day but the noise, activity, stark, bright lighting and struggling to see the show, which mostly takes place on the stage floor (so I could not see much of it from my vantage point), but I was worn out by the end of the show. But I also could see that this is a show for thinking people and I appreciated that it gave us credit for being intelligent enough to keep up. I also know that others in the audience found it brilliant judging from the reactions at the curtain call. And those Tony Awards tell me that many, many people have found it brilliant in the years it has run on Broadway; the show is the longest running play in NYC in 10 years after opening in fall 2014.

This play also has a secondary story that is about family. Christopher's family life is challenging just because of who he is, but there's a lot to be said about marriage, raising a special needs child and what happens when a family falls apart from the kid's perspective. That's where the heart of the show is.

Finally, there are a couple important characters to tell you to watch for. One is Toby, who is Christopher's pet rat, "who does not have bubonic plague!" by the way, and does have his own Twitter handle (@curiousToby). And for us Minneapolis theatre vets who've been around the block a few times, you might recognize a familiar name and face -- Christopher's mother, Judy, is played by Felicity Jones Latta, former artistic associate of Theatre de la Jeune Lune from 1985-1995 (pictured above). For those not familiar, Jeune Lune was once one of the top theatre companies in Minneapolis, and Jones Latta is not the Felicity Jones you may know from the new Star Wars film coming out soon. It's always interesting to see what actors who have moved on from Twin Cities theatre are doing now. If you appreciated her work then, check her out now.

THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME runs through Dec. 4. Visit www.hennepintheatretrust.org for tickets and more information.

Photo: Felicity Jones Latta as Judy and the touring production of THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME; Photo by Joan Marcus