Review: Immersive THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME at PPAC

Based on the best-selling book of the same name, THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME debuted in London in 2012 and went on to win a slew of awards as well as capture the respect of experts in set and lighting design for creating a world that perfectly captures the mind of a hyper-sensitive teen. There is something so unique and magical about this production that the audience really feels like they are experiencing it, rather than merely viewing. Compared to the traditional Broadway musical, this is a wholly different type of play that seems at the outset like it shouldn't work, but actually succeeds in surprising and touching ways.

The action of the play is set into motion when a neighborhood dog is killed. Wellington, the dog, is the pet of Mr. and Mrs. Shears, neighbors of our protagonist Christopher, played by Adam Langdon. Christopher is 15-years-old, and attends a special school due to social anxieties and other mental issues that don't impact his intelligence, but that would make traditional school overwhelming for him. He is determined to solve the mystery of what happened to Wellington, and in doing so opens another Pandora's box of secrets that prompt him to challenge his own limits.

Christopher is an intriguing character in that he's very much trapped in his own head. In Act I, we get much of Christopher's internal workings via his teacher, Siobhan (Maria Elena Ramirez), who is reading the story he wrote about solving the Wellington mystery. Rather than relying solely on dialogue to tell the story, the set is an elaborate black box with grid lines that looks like the movie Tron. There are hundreds of led lights that illuminate different set pieces such as houses or roads, and an intense sound system that blasts the audience back into the story at the beginnings of each act and mimics the overwhelming feelings that Christopher experiences at various parts of the story.

Adam Langdon does an impressive job of making a somewhat aloof and distant character loveable. In Act I, it's a bit hard to connect with him, but in Act II when Christopher leaves his safe and controlled world, we really get to see what he's capable of--at the same times as he is discovering it for himself. While Act I gets a little slow at times, which is understandable since there needs to be story setup, Act II is really a unique and immersive experience that is almost indescribable. In Act II, Langdon also gets to be a bit funny, which he does very well. Christopher is not a character who necessarily cracks jokes, but he is 100% honest in his opinions and reactions, which creates some genuinely hilarious and heart-warming situations. Those situations juxtapose with other scenes that are very intense and somewhat scary, creating an experience that is somehow character driven, despite the fact that the main character is emotionally walled off, and his hero's journey is something very simple to most people, but very significant for him.

Somehow the set manages to dwarf the massive PPAC stage and feel intimate. The white on black gridlines of the set contrast with the characters costumes which are mostly simple primary and secondary colors, so it feels like watching the world through Christopher's eyes, which helps him to become even more endearing. It's impossible to say enough about how amazing these sets are. They've taken what is essentially a black box theatre, and managed to make it into an entire world. The side panels open up to reveal pieces of Christopher's train set and other minimalist props and the combination of light and sound make it impossible to tear your eyes away.

Curious Incident is unlike anything else you could ever see. The excellent cast, touching story and amazing sets create a theatrical experience to rival any thrill ride or 3-D experience. It is always delightful to come away from the theatre feeling both delighted and surprised, and this production will leave you marveling for a long time.

CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME runs February 7-12 at Providence Performing Arts Center 220 Weybosset Street, Providence, RI. Tickets at ppacri.org or by calling 401-421-2787

Photo: Adam Langdon as Christopher Boone. Photo byJoan Marcus.