When I heard that the Ottawa Little Theatre (OLT) was performing an adaptation of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, I was intrigued but sceptical. So, I was elated when I caught the show on Aug. 28 and it was spectacular! Marc Haddon’s beautiful novel and its stage version glow with emotionality, and the players at the OLT embraced its nuance wholeheartedly under Riley Stewart’s excellent direction.
Simon-Rys Landry stars as Christopher, a teenage boy with special needs who decides to investigate the killing of his neighbour’s dog. However, his journey unearths deeper secrets for his family and himself. You’ll find an interview with Landry here.
Scene from The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Photo by Maria Vartanova.
The story is intensely personal, as Christopher reasons through the complexities of his human interactions—searching for meaning in the actions and words of those around him. Sarah Aaron plays Siobhan, Christopher’s educational support worker, masterfully weaving Christopher’s inner life through the play as she shares his thoughts and speaks for his conscience. It is her voice that Christopher turns to when he is unsure and overwhelmed.
Sincere performances by Guy Newsham and Juli Heney as Christopher’s parents were equally moving, and the rich integration of lighting, sound, and movement captured the complicated reasoning of a boy exploring a frightening and confusing world.
Scene from The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Photo by Maria Vartanova.
In the playbill, Riley Stewart describes the show as “the result of months of collaboration between a remarkable team of artists.” A remarkable team produces remarkable results, and the audience was raving about it afterward. Stewart adds “the story of Christopher Boone remains captivating and relevant and I trust that we have done it justice.”
All I can say is… Absolutely.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is playing at the Ottawa Little Theatre from Aug. 21–Sept. 7, Wednesday to Saturday at 7:30pm, and Sunday matinees at 2:30pm. To get your tickets, click here. For more information about Ottawa Little Theatre, visit their website.
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