The Curious of the Dog in the Night-Time at South Camden Theatre Company
by Brian Herrick
Set in Swindon, England in the year 2013, The Curious Incident Of The Dog In Night-time is a story chronicling 15 year old Christophe John Francis Boone (Jeff Pfeiffer) as he investigates the mysterious murder of his neighbor’s dog, Wellington, who has been fatally speared with a garden fork. Although that sentence scans as the weirdest farce written in the last 20 years, Curious Incident is actually a poignant piece about being an “outsider”. Although it is never blatantly stated, it’s subtly indicated that Christopher John Francis Boone is living on the high functioning autism spectrum (Author Mark Haddon indicates Christopher of having Savant Syndrome in interviews). However, the show never overtly focuses on this, but rather magnifies Christopher’s ability to view the world in a surprising and revealing way. One example is part of Christopher’s symptom of Savant Syndrome is his highly developed mathematical abilities, which is showcased many times throughout the evening (calming himself down by speaking prime numbers, etc). As a viewer (and a self proclaimed math geek), these moments allowed for such a unique platform for storytelling purposes.
I saw Curious Incident on Broadway in 2014, and at the time I felt a slight disconnect to the critical acclaim. To further personify Christopher’s thought processes, there were so many technical elements incorporated into that iteration that it felt like it took away from depth of confusion and pain Christopher and his loved ones encountered throughout the story. I say this to further celebrate what a successful night of Theatre I experienced in South Camden Theatre’s Company’s production. Director Joel Guerrero took advantage of this intimate space, and really made a point to focus on how every single character on stage navigated the unique character of Christopher Boone. Largely an ensemble piece, most actors played 6-7 roles, mostly utility tracks playing all of the day to day people he see’s in his life. By focusing on not just Christopher’s world, but how everyone navigated it, it added so much depth. I walked away from the theatre with a new found appreciation for not just the show, but South Camden Theatre Company’s ability to utilize their lack of stage depth to bring the audience into the world with them, rather than making us feel cramped.
As Christopher, Pfeiffer carried this show like a true seasoned pro. His nuance, his pain, his expression, all felt so authentic, that at times it was hard to watch. This was truly a top tier performance that I can’t adequately celebrate in writing enough. As Edward Boone, Christopher David Roché turned out a stellar rendition of a desperate father trying to keep him and his son above water, as they navigated the difficulties of day to day living. His performance was one the truest examples of this production celebrating the storytelling first and foremost, and how much clearer and more moving this show can be, when we prioritize talented actors letting the text win. Christopher’s mother, Judy (beautifully portrayed by Neena Boyle) is a challenge. She admittedly struggles with the difficulties of Christopher’s communication in such a manner that a large portion of the plot centers around how she separates herself from family. The narrative could easily read as unlikeable and self centered, but Boyle’s depth and nuance helps the audience understand the often navigated reality of parents not having all of the answers and resources we wish we could. There were times I empathized with her more than anyone else, and given the context that’s no easy feat.
As an ensemble Anthony Diaza, Cade Macfee, Susan Dewey, Jens Petersen, and Dana Liu cannot be celebrated enough for their continuous commitment to painting as clear of a picture as possible into Christopher’s world. They took the challenge of these utility tracks in stride, as every character was so clear and precise, it felt like a cast of 20 rather than 9. As Siobhan, Kelsey Hodgkiss gave a great emotional support to Christopher. If I were to have any critique of the show, I would say I’ve never known Siobhan’s purpose. She’s a constant in the show, often voicing Christopher’s narrative as if they were writings in her classroom, but because of the vagueness of her identity in his life (versus his parents, or the other smaller roles exhibited throughout the story which seem spoon-fed to us) I've seen it previously portrayed as a maternal figure calming and nurturing him, (which is a point of contention for Christopher as he states he doesn’t understand that she’s not his parent), but in this production she almost acted as a peer, challenging Christopher in a manner I would a friend, sometimes seemingly shocked by his unique perspectives. In this production, I wish there was a clearer need for the character other than a framing device for some of that internal dialogue.
Lighting designer Corey Goulden-Niatove brilliantly utilized the black box space to his advantage, having continuous projections running to set the shifting scene work, but with an undertone of chalk art. This made us perpetually feel as though Christopher was in a classroom, recounting his affairs. I wondered in that regard if it was the intent of creatives for this perspective to be a memory play. Definitely a very engaging perspective that deserves recognition. Ashley Reiter also added to the atmosphere with her brilliant yet subtle sound designs that painted that picture further, without it feeling heavy handed or kitschy. With a minimal set, these two truly used this space to their advantage, and put us into that world from the word “Go”.
Speaking of Go, I cannot recommend you GO see this production as soon as you can enough. It’s truly top tier storytelling happening in our community. I always say South Camden Theatre Company is the area’s best kept secret, and this production proves no different. The Curious Incident Of The Dog in Nighttime runs through November 19th (closes on a prime number. A coincidence? Who knows). Get your tickets at https://www.southcamdentheatre.org/
