The Colonial Players end their 75th season with The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, adapted for the stage by Simon Stephens and based on the novel by Mark Haddon. Expertly directed by theater Board President Steve Tobin, the show is an entertaining mystery about Christopher (Drew Saint Amour, who is fantastic!), a 15-year-old neurodivergent British boy who finds his neighbor’s dog has been killed. He is then determined to solve the mystery of who killed him, and along the way, interacts with his neighbors, his dad (Paul Valleau), and his teacher, Siobhan (Aparna Sri), who often reads from the notebook in which Christopher records his thoughts.
This is a thoughtful and imaginative script that shows the power of perseverance and believing in yourself, no matter how the world regards you, with the production of these themes is exceptionally creative. Colonial Players’ round stage is mostly empty for this show, with the acting ensemble creating a fluid set with blocks and sometimes the actors themselves (some playing multiple roles of characters in the neighborhood). The bare stage also provides a background for projections that provide fullness to the performance with visual representations of the inner workings of Christopher’s mind.
The Colonial Players’ Curious Incident… is an uplifting evening of theater that is entertaining for people ages 13 and up, as there are both adult language and adult themes. I highly recommend this show. My theater companion and I both left the performance inspired by its message of honesty, bravery and humanity.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
The Colonial Players, 108 East St, Annapolis, MD 21401
Tickets are $26, and can be bought here.
Show runs Thursdays-Sundays through May 18
Sensory-Friendly Performances on Saturday, May 11 and Thursday, May 16.
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