Review: 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time' Boasts Terrific Cast and Production, But The Story Troubles

Burbage Theatre Company's production of "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" is a surreal coming-of-age tale with a twist.

Writer Simon Stephens adapted Mark Haddon's best-selling novel for the stage. The show won the Tony Award for Best Play in 2013.
In Burbage's production, Elijiah Russell is absolutely stunning as Christopher, a 15-year-old boy living in a small town outside of London. Christopher is a math genius and adores his pet rat. He is also autistic.

One night, Christopher discovers Mrs. Shears' dog, Wellington, stabbed to death with a garden fork. He then sets out to solve the mystery of who murdered the dog, but not without meeting resistance from his loving, but impatient, father (Michael Thibeault). Christopher also discovers a stash of letters, which sends him on a journey to find his mother (Amie Lytle), who he believed was dead.

"I find people confusing," Christopher admits at one point.

The performances are excellent across the board. Russell is a thoroughly engaging performer and masterfully conveys Christopher's emotional state, ranging from fear to rage and sadness. Thibeault ("Hand to God") is riveting as a troubled man reeling from a personal betrayal.

Paula Faber ("Playhouse Creatures") is enjoyable as a neighbor who offers some kindness to Christopher. Allison Crews ("The One Act Play That Goes Wrong") shines as Siobhan, Christopher's primary teacher, who sees his potential for success.

On a purely technical level, too, the show is well-executed. Trevor Elliott's set design features two large screens with projected images of Christopher's drawings. Karen Carpenter's direction and staging is imaginative. We are immersed in Christopher's world in a stunning sequence when he dreams of being an astronaut. The ensemble surrounds him and conjures images of stars and planets. It's ethereal and mesmerizing.

There's also an extended sequence on a subway train, where Christopher encounters some very strange characters.

Despite the good acting on display, Haddon's story has several flaws which I found off-putting. Major spoilers are coming up, so stop reading if you want to be surprised when you see this show.

It turns out Christopher's father killed Wellington in a fit of anger after he learns Mr. Shears was having an affair with his wife. He also fooled Christopher into believing his mother was dead.

Christopher's mother is pretty vile as well: an adulteress who abandons her only son and flees to London. Why didn't she contact him for two years? What kind of mother would subject their child to such pain?

I find it reprehensible to use the murder of an animal as the basis for this story. There's also a scene featuring child abuse, which could trigger unpleasant memories in some audience members. Let's face it: Christopher has horrible parents. Incredibly, he forgives his mother and father for their atrocious behavior and celebrates his achievements, which include writing a book and scoring high on the math tests. It's a happy ending, but Christopher has to wade through a lot of misery to get there.

I can't recommend "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time." It has a terrific lead actor, but the plot is ultimately a mess of contrivances and inexplicable character motivations.

"The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time" runs through April 13 at the Burbage Theatre Company, 59 Blackstone Avenue, Pawtucket, RI. Running time is 2 hours, including intermission. For tickets, visit burbagetheatre.org.