The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
On Saturday and Sunday, Feb 29 and March 1, Clear Space Theatre Company, in collaboration with Children’s Beach House, will present the award-winning British mystery play, THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME.
The play is performed in a readers’ theater format in which actors are reading from scripts they are holding in their hands.
“Reader’s theater is about telling the story,” Director Mary Caligiure says. “I have also added stylized staging to the performance so there is a lot more going on than what is normally experienced in a readers’ theater format.”
The 2003 novel THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME was written by Mark Haddon and adopted to the stage by playwright Simon Stephens.
Early in the play, leading character, 15-year-old Christopher, sets out to solve the murder of the neighbor’s dog Wellington, after Christopher himself has been implicated in its demise. But the story is not your typical murder mystery. Instead, it’s an examination of the human condition through the development of Christopher, a mathematical wiz who struggles with the demands of everyday life, and the interactions with others. He’s never gone beyond his street. He fears strangers and doesn’t like to be touched by anyone. Yet, he’s still determined to find out what happened to Wellington.
“I’ve never had a role so dramatic and so emotionally demanding,” says Gavin Conner, who returns to the Clear Space stage to play Christopher. Conner, 16, says that besides reading the script, he has taken time to research the character so he can give it justice. “I want to make sure I am reacting the way he would. And he interacts with a lot of people.”
Director Mary Caligiure says, “The story is about entering Christopher’s mind and his world. He is different than those who don’t have the challenges he has. We learn about his life.”
Caligiure, besides having extensive experience in theater, also is a drama therapist educated in mental health. “I am very excited to work with this play and the members of the cast.”
Other primary characters are Christopher’s father Ed, played by Bryan Whitcomb; his mother Judy, played by Dena Lagonigro; and his teacher Shioban, played by Meg Kelly. Ten additional actors play a chorus of other characters representing Christopher’s thoughts and experiences, which Caligiure says brings depth and energy to the performance.
